Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-26
POPULAR SCIENCE.
THE BLACK PRAIRIE REGION OF
TEXAS.
Borders of the Black Prairie-Surface and
Productiveness-Sub-D Divisions and Sub
Structure-Timber and Water.

Our frequent reference to the black
prairie region in Texas las caused US to re-
ceive many letters from distant readers OF
THE GAZETTE asking for information as to
what manner of formation or country this
black prairie is. We take this method Of
answering all our correspondents interested
with reference to the matter, drawing upon
Professor Robert L. Hills paper on tho
cretaceous rocks of Texas. as appearing in
the first annual report of the state geologic
cal survey, for the facts.
~
Professor Hill says of the black prsiria
region of Texas that it occupies an eton-
gated area extending the length of the state
from Red River to the Rio Grande. Its
eastern border is approximately the SOUTH
western termination of the great Atlantic
timber belt. The Missouri Pacific and the
international railroads from Denison to
San Antonio approximately mark the west
ern edge. A little south of the center, along
the Colorado river, the black prairie is re-
s:rcted 10 its narrowest limits.
-
In general the black prairie region Of
Texas consists of level plain, ilnpercepti-
bly, sloping to the southeast, varied only by
gentle undulations and deep drainage val
legs, unmarked by precipitate canyons. 10
is transacted at intervals by the larger
streams, whose deep-cut valleys, together
with their side streams, make indentations
into the plain. but not sufficient to destroy
the characteristic flatness of its wide di-
vides-remnants of the original plain, OF
topog raphic marine base-level which has
not been completely scored by its still use-
full drainage system. The altitude of tho
black prairie plain is from 600 to 500 feea
above the level of the sea.
1.-THE surface of most of the black prairie
region of Texas Is deep black clay soil,
which when wet becomes excessively
tenacious or ''sticky," a fact which often
causes it to be called BLACK waxy prairie.
1t is very rich in lime, and this, acting upon
decomposing vegetable matter, causes tha
black color. The soil is exceedingly fer
tile, and almost every foot of the blac4
prairie is susceptible of high state of eul-
tivation. 1t makes up one of the largest
United States. Large crops of cotton and
corn, with other minor crops, are annually
raised upon these fertile lands, though as
yet they are but thinly settled as whole.
The black prairie of Texas is subdivided
longitudinally into four parallel strips Of
country, differing slightly and distinguish
ahle only nv siioht SiraropceS in tnno.
graphy, and in the underlying rocks. Tho
easternmost of these divisions north of the
Brazos river is disting Unstable by the oc-
currence of sand in its black soil, and occa-
sionally purer belts of sand. Between tho
Brazos and the Colorado rivers, however,
the sand is scarcely perceptible. ImnedL
ately interior of this is located the largest
and most characteristic area, which is
marked by the stifest of the black waxy
clay soils. Upon digging through this area
the substructure is found to consist Of
light blue or yellow calcareous clay This
the main portion of the black prairie con-
stitutes fully two-thirds of It's total area
~
The black prairie region of Texas i
mainly treeless, though occasionally marked
here and there by handsome clumps Of
evergreen oaks. Along the western border,
well up, as about Dallas, the lower cross
timbers approach, and hence give more
trees than further down. We may add
that this black prairie region is not very
well watered on the surface, as a ruls, but