Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-03-11
WONDERS OF TEXAS
AN ALMOST UNKNOWN DISTRICT

Remarkable Box canon.-High Walis
Of Perpendicular Rock.-Masnih.
cent View From Lofty chisos Noun.
taIns.
No more interesting area topo-
graphically and internationally II
found In Texas than that known a.
the Big Bend OF the Rio Grando.
Parts OF this district have been
recently mapped by the United States
Geological Survey. acting In coOpera-
ton with the Texas Mineral Survey.
Ut which DR.. w. b. Phillips In direct
or. Tho area under consideration
embraces portions OF four quadran.
giles lying partly In Texas and partly
In Mexico. Only the Texas parts havo
been mapped. Special interest at
taches to these maps from tho fact
that the area covered by them
includes the Terlingua quicksilver dis
trict and the territory OF the recent
cinnahar hnds near San vincente and
Boquilias.
The survey Of this almost unknown
district has made known some striking
Topographic features. About ten miies
northwest OF Terlingun In q circular
area seven miles In diameter. called
I Solitario. II Is formed OF huge.
| curved strata OF limo rock standing
nearly on edge and slantinE inward
like tho slaves OF an inverted tub.
Tho depressed interior. though much
, higher than the adjacent country. II
ktill about 1000 feet below tho encir-
cling rim. The drainage from this
basin finds its exit through two
impossible narrow box cnnons. II
Is impossible to follow. even on foot,
| the course Of either OF these curious
streams. Several volcanic nerks and
series OF quartz-eapped buttes arc
features Of tho basin. The highest
west rim. which was used by tho sur
vcyors aa q primary triansulaiion
point and named Fresno Peak.
Another feature worthy Of note 10
| tac grand canon OF tho Rio Grande.
distinguished from tho many other
, grand canons by tho nnmo Canon
, OF Santa Helene. II IL OF tho box
type. with solid. perpendicular rock
walls. nt the head OF tho canon
these walls are 500 feet high. at tho
mouth 1900 feet. showing . surface
slant Of 1000 feet upwards. though
down stream. Tho river enters tho
canon Mt nm elevation OF 1900 feet and
leaves II at 2.io0 feet. fallin. about 200
f'ct In nftecn miles. n snort put hikh
dam In the canon would form lake
forty miles long and change tho course
o: tho Rio Grandc. ncndin. II across
tho hats within three miles Of Tcriin.
Eua and down tho valley OF Teriingua
creek. Tho canon prcscnts picturesque
possibilities for water storage.
The iittic-known and thinly-inhnbit-
ed ChIfos mountains arc tho chief fca-
tur- OF tho third map. They wcrs
rkc,chcd with great care. Their
beauty. rare indeed In Texas topoSra-
ply. made the tnsk plcaSant change
from tho ordinary routine. Mount
Emory. In tho northeastern part Of the
range. In the highest point, and was
ufrd for a primary trIangula'ion sta
ton. II has nm elevation Of 7.sGo fect
above tho fats thrco miles to the west.
and from It's summit n magnificent
view may be had Of the plains OF Texas
and Mexico and the windin. course OF
tho Rio Grnndc that separates them.
Dcntc srowths Of oak md Pine. luxu-
rant grass and springs Of splendid
water diEtinguish these beautiful noun
tnins and mako them m effective con-
trust to the burnin. alkali Oats BY
which they arc surrounded.