Gilpin observer., 1904-03-10
WONDERS OF TEXAS
AN ALMOST UNKNOWN DISTRICT

Remarkable Box canon.-High Walls
of Perpendicular Roek.-Magnlfi.
cent View From Lofty chisos Noun.
tains. aa-
No more interesting area topo-
graphically and Internationally is
found in Texas than that known as
the Big Bend of the Rio Grande.
Parts OF this district have been
recently mapped by the United States
Geological Survey, acting in co-opera-
uon with the Texas Mineral Survey,
Of which DR.. w. B. Phillips is direct
or. The area under consideration
embraces portions Of four Quadran-
giles lying partly in Texas and partly
IN Mexico. Only the Texas parts have
been mapped. Special interest at
taches to these maps from the fact
that the area covered by them
includes the Terlingua quicksilver dis
trict and the territory of the recent
cinnabar finds near San Vincente and
Boquillas.
The survey of this almost unknown
district has made known some striking
topographic features. About ten miles
northwest of Terlingua is a circular
area seven miles in diameter, called
| Solitario. 1t is formed of huge,
curved strata of lime rock standing
nearly on edge and slanting inward
like the slaves of an inverted tub.
The depressed interior. though much
higher than the adjacent country, is
still about 1000 feet below the encir-
cling rim. The drainage from this
basin finds its exit through two
impossible narrow box canons. 1t
is impossible to follow. even on foot
the course of either of these curious
streams. Several volcanic necks and
a series of .quartz-capped buttes are
features of the basin. The highest
point is a double peak on the south
west rim, which was used by the sur
veyors as a primary triangulation
point and named Fresno Peak.
Another feature worthy of note is
the grand canon of the Rio Grande,
distinguished from the many other
grand canons by the name Canon
of Santa Helene. 1t is of the box
walls. at the head of the canon
these walls are 500 feet high, at the
mouth 1900 feet, showing a surface
slant Of 1000 feet upwards, though
down stream. The river enters the
canon at an elevation of $500 feet and
leaves it at 2,100 feet, falling about 200
feet in fifteen miles, A short but high
dam in the canon would form a lake
forty miles long and change the course
OF the Rio Grande, sending it across
the flats within three miles Of Terlin-
qua and down the valley Of Terlingua
creek. The canon presents picturesque
possibilities for water storage.
The little-known and thinly-inhabit-
ed Chisos mountains are the chief fea-
ture of the third map. They were
sketched with great care. Their
beauty. rare indeed in Texas topogra-
ply, made the task pleasant change
from the ordinary routine. Mount
Emory, in the northeastern part OF the
range, Is the highest point, and was
used for primary triangulation sta
ton. 1t has an elevation of 1850 feet
above the flats three miles to the west.
and from it's summit a magnificent
view may be had of the plains of Texas
and Mexico and the winding course OF
the Rio Grande that separates them.
Dense growths Of oak and pine, luxu-
RANT grass and springs of splendid
water distinguish these beautiful noun
tains and make them an effective con-
trast to the burning alkali fats by
which they are surrounded.