Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-03-12
WONDERS OF TEXAS
AN ALMOST UNKNOWN DISTRICT

Remarkable Box canon.-High WaIIs
Of Perpendicular Rock.--Masnifi-
cent View From Lofty chisos Noun
tsins.
No more interesting area topo-
graphically and mineralogicaliy 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-
ton with the Texas Mineral Survey.
OF which DIR. 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 Vineente and
Boquillas.
The survey of this almost unknown
district has made known some striking
topographic features. About ten miles
northwest of Terlingua is circular
area seven miles in diameter. called
Solitario. II 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 900 feet below the encir-
cling rim. The drainage from this
basin finds its exit through two
impossible narrow box canons. II
is impossible TO follow. even on foot.
the course of either of these curious
streams. Several volcanic necks and
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
yeyors as primary triangulation
point and named Fresno Peak.
Another feature worthy of note Is
iae grand canon of the Rio Grande,
distinguished from the many other
grand eanons by the name Canon
Of Santa Helene. II is OF the box
type. with solid. perpendicular rock
walls at the head of the canon
these walls are 800 feet high, at the
mouth 500 feet. showing surface
slant of 1000 feet upwards. though
down stream. The river enters the
canon at an elevation of 1900 feet and
leaves 1t at 2 100 feet, falling about 290
feet In fifteen miles. A short but high
dam In the canon would form lake
forty miles long and change the course
o: the Rio Grande. sending IL across
the fats 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 a pleasant change
from the ordinary routine. Mount
Emory. in the northeastern part Of the
range. is the highest point. and was
used for a primary triangulatlon sta
tion. 1t has an elevation OF 1850 feet
above the fats three miles to the west.
and from its 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 distin guish these beautiful noun
tains and make them an effective con-
trast to the burning alkali fats by
which they are surrounded.