The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-04-20
THE STAKED PLAIN OF TEXAS,
AS Smooth as an Inland Sea and a Mystery
to Biologists.

The geological mystery of Texas is
the Llano Estacado or Staked Plain.
1t lies south of the Canadian and east
of the Pecos and west of the 101st mer-
idian.
in surface features" Prof. Hill SAYS,
"the northwestern half of this plain is
similar to the plains of Colorado, Kan
sas, and northward. But there is this
difference. Instead of extending to
the Rocky Mountains on the west or
imperceptibly grading into the level of
the eastern areas, it is surrounded on
every side, except a few miles at it's
southeast corner, by more or less
precipitate escarpment of erosion re-
sembling palisades. This isolates it
from the surrounding region except
the Edwards plateau, which is its
southeastern connection already men,
toned"
The Staked Plain is there, a great,
steep-sided island in an ocean of land.
This elevated surface embraces $4,000
square miles. The geographical ira
dition is that the Spaniards gave the
name because they had to drive stakes
to mark their way across. This ac-
cords pretty well with Prof. Hill's de-
scription. He says this vast surface is
perfectly smooth, with the exception of
an occasional depression-so much so
as to resemble the level of the ocean at
dead calm. 1t is unbroken by trees or
| bushes or deep drained channels 1t
is carpeted with rich growth of gram
ma grasses. The new railroads of
Texas and New Mexico have made ac-
cessible to the geologists this largest
of all Texas plains and perhaps the
greatest and least studied plateau of
our country. The small amount of
surface water which is not drunk up
by the soil is found in a few widely
distributed ponds. Two streams flow
around the plain. They are the Cana
dian and the Pecos. Both have cut
nearly 1000 feet below the level.
Neither of them receives any surface
drainage from the plain. Yet the
rainfall on the Staked Plain from June
to September is from 20 to 25 inches.
The soil is rich and from 6 to 80 feet
deep. 1t seems like a lake deposit,
and it differs from all other parts of
Texas.
Notwithstanding the rainfall, the
plain is covered with nutritious grass.
AS one approaches, the edge of the
L
This wall can be seen at distance of
fifty miles. The edge is serrated and
cut into by the rain washes to such a
degree it is evident the wearing-away
process is going on rapidly. This ex-
tensive washing is the same kind as
that to be seen in the edges of the Bad
Lands of the Dakotas. The geologist
easily estimates that the Pecos and the
Canadian, flowing around the west and
north sides, and the Red Brazos and
Colorado, heading near the eastern
border, have already worn away great
slices of the Staked Plain. The top of
book resting on flat table gives a
good idea of the Staked Plain. This
plain, taking it from the top down
ward, consists of, first, porous sedi-
ment of soil, sand, gravel, and salt in
horizontal layers to depth of 200 feet.
Then comes a great floor of sands,
clays, and GRANTEES. Part of the floor
is composed of the Trinity sands. Part
of it, where the sands have been worn
away by the convulsions of nature, is
of the red beds.
The conditions are very curious to
| the scientist, but the main question
with practical generation is about
the water condition of this great plain.
Running water in Dickens county is
the only stream on the vast plain. 1t
is bright, sparkling stream that sud-
denly breaks out of the ground, rip
pies over pebbly bottoms for distance
of ten miles, and then mysteriously
disappears. How is this absence of
running water to be accounted for on
$4,000 miles of country possessing fai1
rainfall?
The answer is, the great Gaping
strata of the Staked Plain are as porous
as a sponge. Every drop of water
either evaporates or sinks downward
through the soil. Until recent years
the Staked Plain was considered UTTER
ly waterless. But there have now been
dug into these porous strata more than
1000 wells. These wells do not flow,
but the water from them is pumped
freely by windmills, and the Staked
Plain is thereby made a pasture for
countless herds of cattle. These wells
have been obtained in all parts of the
Plain. Digging is no longer regarded
as an experiment. The water soaks
into the ground and is stored in the
mortar beds and grits. It is kept from
going further down by the underlying
red beds. It constitutes one of the
most remarkable sheets of under
ground water in this country.-St
Louis Globe-DenaocrGt.