The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-14
A GEOLOGICAL MYSTERY.
The Curious Llano Estaeado or
Staked Plain of the State
of Texas.
Account Of a Great Steep-Sided
Island in an Ocean Of
Land.
The ~Spaniards SO Named 1t Because
They Had to Drive Stakes to
E."s Guide Them.

The geological mystery of Texas is the
llano estacado or staked plain. It lies
south of the Canadian and east of the Pecos
and west of the 1O1st meridian.
Gin surface features,o Professor Hill
says, "the northwestern half of this plain
is similar to the plains of Colorado, Kansas
and northward. But there is this differ
ence: 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 its southeast corner. by q more or
loss precipitate escarpment of erosion re-
sembling palisades. This ~isolates it from
the surrounding region except the Edwards
plateau, which is its southeastern eonnec-
tion already mentioned"
The staked plain is there, a great, Bteep-
sided island in an ocean of land. This ele-
waited surface embraces 1000 square miles.
The geographical tradition is that tho
Bpaniards gave the name because they had
TO drive stakes to mark their way across.
This accords pretty we'll with Prof. Hills
description. 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. It is unbroken by trees or bushes or
deep drained channels. It is carpeted with
a rich growth of gramma grasses. The
new railroads of Texas and New
Mexico have made accessible to
the geolopists his largest of all
Texas plains, and perhaps the greatest
and least studied plateau of our country.
The small amount of surface water which
su ~~A l,-~Jx -. - 81. ..,J 81 .---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 tho
plain. Yet the rainfall Oh the stakad plain
from Jun to September is from twenty to
twenty-five inches. The soil is rich and
from six to thirty feet deep. 1t seems like
a lake deposit, and it differs from all other
parts of Texas.
Notwithstanding the rainfall the plain ia
covered with nutritious grass. AS one ap-
proaches the edge of the staked plain rises
like a precipice. This wall can be seen at
4 distance of fifty miles. The edge is ser
rated and cut into BY the rain washes to
such Il degree that it is evident the wear
ing-away process is going on rapidly. This
extensive washing is the same kind as that
to be seen in the edges of the Bad Lands Of
the Dakotas. The geologist easily esti-
mates that the Peoos and the Canadian
flowing around the west and north sides
and the Red. Brazos and Colorado, head.
ing near the eastern border, have alread,
WON away great slices of the staked plain
The top OF Il book resting on a fiat table
gives q good idea of the staked plain
This plain taking it from tho tor
downward. consists of, first, porous
sediment Of soil, sand, gravel ant
salt in horizontal layers to a depth of 20
feet. Then comes a great floor of sands
elays and GRANTEES. Part of the floor j