The morning news., 1892-01-27
TIE sTAKED PLAIN OF TEXAS.
as smooth as an Inland Sea end q Mys-
terry to GeoloQists.

- - %--AnAAa SEA ttla = AlVS-
terry to Biologists.
Correspondence ST. Louis Globe Democrat
The geological mystery Of Texas is the
Llano Estacado or Staked Plain. 1t lies
south Of the Canadian and east Of the Pscos
and west Of the 1O1st meridian.
In surface features" Prof. Hill SAYS.
the northwestern half OF this plain Is
similar to the plains of Colorado Kansas
ana northward. But there is this difference.
Instead OF extending to the Rocky moun-
salns on the west or imperceptibly grading
INTO tue level OF tie eastern areas, it is sur
Iounded on every sice except a few miles at
los southeast corner by a more or less pre-
clpltate eScarpmelt Of erosion resembling
pansades- ibis lsolates it from the sur
rounding region except the Edwards plsteau.
"hlcn Is It's southeastern connection already
mentioned" ~'
HE Staked Plain is there. a great steeD-
slded island III an ocean OF land. This eie-
,Tated Tated surface embraces 81, 900 square miles.
q ne geographical tradition was that the
Spanlards gave toe name because tbev had
70 70 QFlVe stakes TO mark their wav across
MS eccords pretty well with Prof. hiiPs
description. he says this vast surface is
perfectly smooth with the exception OF an
occasional depression-So much so as to re-
semole the level Of the ocean at dead aim
~ Is unbrOken by trees or bushes or deep
drained channels. 1t is carpeted
Win rich growth Of gramma
grasses. The new railroads of
Texas and New Mexico, have made socass-
lble to the geologists this largest of all
eXas plains, and perhaps the greatest and
east-studled plateau of our country. The
small amount of surface water which is not
drunk up by the soil is fouud in few widely
distributed ponds. Two streams flow around
the plain. They are the Canadian and the
fecos. Both have cut nearly l 900 feet
oelo" the level. Neither of them receives
any surface drainage from the plain.
Aee toe rainfall on the Staked Plain
from Juue to September is from 20
20 % inches. The surface soil is rich and
from to 30 feet deep. 1t seems like a
laSe deposit, and it differs from all other
parts OF Texas. notwithstanding the rain
fall, the plain is covered with nutritious
grass. AS one approaches the edge Of the
Staked Plain rises like a precipice. This
wall can be seen at distance Of fifty miles.
1he edge Is serrated and cut into by the
rain-Washes to such degree it Is evident
Vne wearing-awRy process is going on
rapidly. This extensive washing Is the same
Eiha as that to be seen in the edges of the
bad Lands OF the DakotAs The reologist
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
a book resting on fiat table gives q good
1dea or the Staked Plain. This plain, taking
1t from the top downward, consists of, first
porous sediment of soil, sand, gravel and
salt IN horizontal layers to depth of 200
feet. Then comes a great floor of sands.
clsys and GRANTEES. Part of the floor is com
posed or the Trinity Sasds Part Of it, where
she sands have been worn away by the con-
Vulsions of nature, is Of the red beds.
The conditions are very curious to the
scientist, but the main question with a
practical generation is about the water oon-
ditions Of this great plain. Running water
In Dickens county Is the only stream on the
vast plain. 1t is a bright, sparkling stream
that suddenly breaks out OF the ground,
ripples over pebbly pottoms for a distance
OF ten miles, and then mysteriously disap-
pears. How is this absence of running
water to be accounted for on $4,000 square
miles Of country possessing a fair rainfall
fhe answer is, the great Gaping strata Of
the Staked Plain are as porous as q sponge.
Every drop of water either evaporates or
slnks downward through the soil.
Until recent years the Staked Plain was
considered utterly waterless. But there
have now been dug into this porous strata
more thar 1000 wells These wells do not
flow, but the water from them is pumped
freely by windmills, and the Staked Plain
ID thereby made pasture for countless
herds Of cattle. These wells have been OBJ
tained 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 morter beds and grits. It is kept
from going further down by the underlying
red beds. 1t constitutes one of the most
remarkable sheets of underground water
in this country.