The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-02-03
A MOUNTAIN OF MARBLE.
Remarkable Natural Formation in
West Texas.

To the Editor OF The Post
Maria Texas, February lon a tour OF
inspection and investigation along indus.
trial lines am now in Maria, county seat OF
Preside county, at an elevation OF nearly
5000 feet | have already spent two weeks
n the mountain districts with a result 30
far entirely satisfactory as regards lnforpla-
ton which the people OF Texas should nave
Recently the business world has been star
tied by the discovery OF immense OIL de-
posits near Beaumont. Now and then as we
progress along the lines of industrial de-
velopment we are startled by some discovery
out OF the ordinary Readers OF current NJ
erature have come TO be prepared LOT az
most any report from Texas telling OF SOME
marvellous discovery. The authorities all
agree that we have merely made begin
ming in important discoveries In nature. Geo,
logically this is q region OF surpsises ana
though boundless in extent and unr-Vaieu
in richness the mineral resources of this
State are TO this day unexpected, untesteu
and almost unknown. IL stands as as
credit 10 Texas that i Is without an aae-
ouate report or any State provision for IN
formation concerning the marvellous wealth.
that lies concealed in these hills and val
legs. 1t needs but the enlightenment that
the good geologist can quickly furnish 10
fiji with flowing forge and furnace several
counties and scores OF towns that will spring
TO prominence and prosperity when the picK
end ak ana pr1aer in Sidrrs s sa" 70 w Where
they can be NEST prohtably employed ~
mine and quarry.
Ii has long been known that Texas abound
cd to some extent Ia iron, coal, coplSr, pc
troleum and natural gas, as well as oulid-
ing stone, clay, etc. Granite has heen
quarried IN paying quantities in some local
ties likewise sandstone and ltmcstones, ce-
II, ont and lime kaolin, hrcclay, gypsum, etc.,
nut SO far as | know marble in paying
quantities has not been found uni fe-
Gently. was very much enterlaiI e" yes
of solid marble which | consider one OF the
most remarkable natural formations in the
world This mountain is situated some zen
or twelve miles In southerly d'Ferton
from Paisano station (which. by the way, -
the highest point on the southern Paclhe
railroad from san Antonio TO 81 Pasol anu
twentv-6Ve miles southeast OF Maria. rms
is called the Jordon marble quarry. only
sufficient developing has been done 10 DEM
onstrate the superior quaEy OF lne stoue
and it's general formation, me m9nh,al; /,
( appears TO be some 800 feet IN helght anu
the marble deposit seems TO cover an area OF
some rhrt yacres. The mountains may prop
eriy be termed marble peak. so Tar Us
the surface shows. about one-hat rs Whue
marble and the remainder about equally d.
| yIded between black and rariegated
| was shown specimens WHEN nad peeh
nol'shed bv hand with crude appliances ana
while | am not n marble expert am con-
strained 10 pronounce this equal IN gram
land color TO any yet found IN the thite
states and perhaps not surpassed by Inc
IKE the beaumont oil well in oil this
marble deposit mpresses one IS copta nih5
sufficient material IN manole OF ." csseil S
7 Tbe CITIZENS q this section appear 10 BE-
! quite proud OF the discovery, YET seem 70
Re lacking N capital 10 develop the enter
ne ns Sc some who have looked into the mat,
/ ter claim that the stone can bs tfanspo.'Tl
/ from the quarry to the railroad at ABOUT J..
! nents nsr cubic fant having an approNimgif
weight Of no pounds. The mountain T2o l.-
| Also he easily accessible BY a TAP roau TON
49, r,ain line The discovery of this re-
srabe deposit will d9u6 sns psrs ates'G t.,
a,.srags ctizen OF Texas may yet have tan.
sbe dreams q yns and dSG ~ G @a4bie
| xsrt,hin ,he mast few years mining inter-
ests Ct MS section have wen are nS Seins op
| fully looked INTO. some ie" 's,1atsS sorty-
ave miles in the southwes,s55ly .o asTe yaa4I
rom Marta. have been operalea su5 Az, Se15
| 10 q vieidlng such satisfactory ditiaeDu.
ana tbsIr silver output that they reius.s I.
give out any definite .nfsrmatsl ssn diseoy'
ore IN paying quantities has gen uis'"'
ore , !, ysrious points in that vicinity;
One a, The wonders Of the Woria Is 'n'