The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-07-29

an atmosphere Of brilliant clearncss and
then turns to where the hamlet ncsties con-
ndnglv almost at the base OF tne eomber
/ volcanic cllits he feels that tho Allhg ~
had special prediction for the ciroultr
basin IN which tho soldier cmlsEaries OF
Urclc Sam, many years ago set up tne.r
rumitiyg root Uees and made the location a
4 baso for active operation AGAINST the ma
faud.nS ludians VINO thleateA-u the nv 8 aud
/ fortunes OF the venuresome settlers long be-
/ lore the sunset route pushed Us steel rails
( into ths W ldrrnssS and forced q moderate
J civilization INTO the uutatned wastes
4 Tho JOURNEY from Maria. tha railroad sta
/ ton, to Davis is one OF unique interest to
q newcomer, and OF pleasure alNays 20 tho
returning comfort or htathseeker. The broad
ascending plains SLIP fifteen miles into the
north until tho nils Of tn divide are
reached In every direction, possibly many
miles away the mountains of dozen spurs
push into the sky, and the deep colors OF
/ LivCrmore on tho east aud the Twin hills
IN the west break vlvidly the swelling veldt
Far TO tho south, ATTY miles or more, the
linterninSble hills sweep riGndiy TO the Rio
Graud,, while tha tall cupala OF the Maria
court house seems ike dull blot on an
ocean OF gr en-.
Crossing tho divide the stage drops into
TN amphithcNter its perimeter oeing marked
by Jagged mounds OF basalt Gently descend
INK. the Fort Davis road twists mildly along
through yiatas Of sufpassng loVpliness until
the lttl, town, the little adobe built village,
is reached and then the view reaches
climax that threatens to exhaust the suoply
OF ordinations. and assuradly is beyond
scripuon always INADEQUATE, even when cleV-
erly dcae
A rain had fallen during the night and the
air was sharp but vet halmY. The wa5h
! of the hills The sands Of time, as ii were.
) g'istened IN the sunlight whore tive grass had
failed to cover Fire acarrtd rocks o. vary,
ing sizes lie on cverV hand, where they had
fallen only brief VIII le ago geoioglchly
speaking, and the ASPECT Of the view was
so entirely different from what the dwe;l
/ Of the gulf level Was accustomed to q q.
the contrast was vivid and almost mysterious.
There is little variety Of opinion among
tho birds of passage who seek the eleya-
( Hons ana cool breeZcs during the summer
season. An altitude OF n mile, trace OF
humidity an absfuce OF onervauon. le5l-
ing OF IMMIGRATION and comforlaDIe loca-
ton, or, alta combination dtncuIt 10 tN-
sd anywhere, and II is heae characters
tics which 30 delight the heart ana nina
Of tho visitor In the world, but not of II,
would probably describe the situation anu
vet the tired nsas and bodies lnEurlAte IN
the unwontod conditions and lifo takes on a
new ASPECT amid the mighty enyironments
OF the Auaches. The little colony OF llous-
, ton and Galveston now located Ut Fort Davis
seem to thoroughly enjoy the pleasures oil
the place and 40 not appear TO regret be-
ing so securely removed from the madden
ing crowd 1t seems pity that more OF the
, ! % ople OF Texas do not take advantage OF
the opportunities AFFORDED by DAYS, but tnls
may be explained by the fact that It's pos
abilities for pleasure and rest have not
dawned upon their tired minds as yet.
Robert f, Hii, the wen knoSn govern
1 /
ing series Of Investigations among th2
mountains OF DAVIS. said Yesterday that Inc
climate Of that location was decidedly ths
finest and most lightful he had experienced
during his ten years of active service among
b the natural pecul 'arlties OF Texas. and a
Dickens might have said. " Il is a man as
In connect on with the work OF Mr., HILL
It Is interesting to note that h has about
concluded his work Of plating the geolos'cal
and Photographed conditions OF Western
! Texas, and his departure for New Mckee,
which will take place during the next few
weeks will marx praCt cally the closing chap
tors OF a decade OF hard and earnest effort
? in his chosen field Of exploration. II may rs
remembered that Nj. Hill last year made a
survey under difficult conditions OF tins great
lbCud of tho Rio Grnnde that norton OF IN ,
, boundary south and east from Ell Paso al
\ most to Del Rio. Three months were oceu-
pied In the work and. as rsult, much mas
been added TO the general knowledge OF an
almost unknown section. and tne canyon or
the Grnnde. according to the energetic ge1lo-
fisi. is as magnificent In many OF Us Tea
lures US tho famed canyon OF the ColoFauo.
THIS seems borne out by a series OF ~ emu !
IN photographs madp By Mr. Hlll ana eXhlolle1
by him In his tent yesterday TO small
coteriO OF admirng acuunintanees.
These mountains are of recent formation
h. said. being but a mill Oh wears or -
old: quite young YOU know with sightY
deprCcating small but the formation Is es-
scntlal!y different from other portions OF tns
State The rock ie volcanic and. az least IN
this Immediate vicinity, being az black ba-
$ sGit. a lava which like a prehistoric mo-
4 iasses. flowed from the vents and covered a
4 large area with its sticky substance har1eh,
/ Ing however, in q brief while | also noted
- evidences OF volcanic action H. en- ths
i matter voided bv the eruption was composed
u OF oinders which In time csnented and
i, formed q hard-rock substance"
, Mr.. Hin is also endeayor ne to locate the
a limits Of the water bearing strata. and he
d finds this feature OF his work greatly appre-
lciatsd by the residents OF The West Texas
n elevation. where water Is as much sought as
e gold M various locatiuns Advice In the dl-
. reotion Indicated Will prove OF inestGnable
h value generally. for while the mountains ana
. valleys about Maria and Davis are lloerally
: supplied with the precious fluid. localities on
b either side more or less distant. are N nus,
81 He hnds that conditions are similar as re-
8 CARDS the water-b bearing sands In terri-
a tory including West Texas and the more
n central portions Of the state.
1t Mr. Hill is native OF the state Ia which
l. no has operated for the past ten wears and
n priced member OF tho governmental depar :
X ment having charge Of the geological work.
X His explorations are always nrduous and
Is often dangerous. requiring an undivided at,
q ten ton and application and. as he expressed
n H. "a good many hard Knocks He Is an
x enthusiast however ard lows IN what the
nerality OF men would term a most unde-
n srab,e occupation. He has written most
a interesting volume descriptive OF the natural
Is TEXTURES OF Cuba and Porto Ricq and 70 roin-
n plc,ing the contours OF tho entire mountain
" systems ~ Texas. having issued map snow
a In