Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-20
THE STAKED PLAIN.
A Texas Wonder Which Bothers the Geolo
gists.

/
gists.
From the 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 Pecos and west of the
101st meridian.
I'm surface features" Prof Hill says, "the
northwestern half of this plain is similar to the
plains of Colorado Kansas and northwsrd
But there is this difference. Instead Of extend
ing to the Rocky mountains on the west or im-
perceptibly grading into the level of the eastern
areas, it is surrounded on every side, except q
few miles at its southeast corner, by more or
less precipitate eScarpment of erosion resem-
bling palisades. This isolates it from the sur
rounding region except the Edwards plateau,
which is it's southeastern connection already
mentioned"
The ssaked Plain is there--a great, steep
sided island in an ocean OF land. This elevated
surface embraces $4,000 square miles. The
geographical tradition 10 that the Spaniards
gave the name because they had to drive
stakes to mark their way across This accOrds
pretty well with Prot. Hill description. He
says that this vast surface is perfectly smooth,
with the exception OF an occasional depression
so much as to resemble the level OF the
ocean at dead calm. 1t is unbroken by trees or
bushes or deep drained channels. 1t is car
petsd with rich growth Of gramma grasses.
The new railroads of Texas and New Mexico
have made accessible to the geoiogists this
largest of al Texas plains aud perhaps the
greatest and least studied plateau of our coun-
try. 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 Canadian
feet below the level. Neither OF them receives
any surface drainage from the plain. Yet the
rainfall on the Staked Plain from June to Sep
TENDER is from 20 to Is inches. The soil is rich
and from to 80 feet deep. 1t seems like lake
deposit, and it differs from all other parts OF
Texas.
Notwithstanding the rainfall the plain is COW
cred with nutritious grass. As one approaches
the edge Of the Staked Plain rises like a preci-
pice. This wall can be seen at distance OF
fifty miles. The edge is serrsted and cut into
by the rain washes to such degree that it is
evident the wearing-sway process is going on
rapidly. This extensive washing is the came
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 q
book resting on fiat table gives q good idea OF
the Staked Plain. This plain, taking it from
the top downward, consists Of. first, porous
oculmcut Va sOl, pauu, SIbNtl AIl AL uOEf
zonsal layers to a depth Of 200 feet Then
comes great floor Of sands .clays and GRANTEES
Part OF the floor is composed Of the Trinity
eands. Part of it, where the sands have been
worn away by the commissions of nature, 10 Of
the red beds.
The conditions are very curious to the sci
enlist, but the main question with practica
generation Is about the water condition of thi,
great plain. Running water in Dickens county
| is the only streams on the vast plain. 1t il .
bright, sparkling stream that suddenly breaks
out of the ground, ripples over pebbly bottoms
for distance OF ten miles and then mysteri
ously disappears. How is this absence Of
| running water to be accounted for Oh 10000
miles OF country possessing fair rainfaIR
The answer is the great Gaping strata Of the
Staked Plain are as porous AZ q sponge. Every
drop OF water either evaporates or sinks down
| ward through the soil. Until recent years the
S.aked Plain was considered utterly waterlsss
But there have now been dug into these porou
| strata more than /, 600 wells. These wells d.
not flow, but the water from them is pumped
freely by wind mills, and the Staked Plain il
thereby made pasture for countless herds O
CATTLE These wells have been Obtained in al
parts of the plain. Digging is no longer re
| garded as an experiment. The water soaks iuts
| the ground and is stored in the mortar bed
| and grits. 1t is kept from going fur Their dow
| by the underlying red beds. Itconstitutes on,
of the most remarkable aheets Of underground
water in this country.