OF ARKANSAS. 25 



The chemical analysis of this lignite, has not yet been undertaken, but 

 wall be made hereafter.* 



Its appearance, however, hardly justifies the expectation that it will be 

 found sufficiently rich in carbon and hydro-carbons, to be valuable as a 

 fuel, even if the deposit should prove to be extensive. Lignite of a .similar 

 character occurs seven miles a little west of south form the abo\e locality, 

 on the Beech Fork of Cache; also, one mile north, two miles north, and 

 four miles south. 



If it be a continuous bed between all the different out-crops known at 

 present, it would occupy an area of some seventy square miles, but this is 

 by no means certain, since these lignite beds are often quite partial and 

 local. Future detailed examinations in Greene county may throw farther 

 light on its extent. 



It is worthy of remark, that there occurs disseminated in this lignite a 

 yellow pyrites, which contains a small per centage of copper, the exact 

 amount of which will be reported on, as soon as the chemical analysis 

 shall be completed. 



Two miles from Gainesville, near Jones', the quaternary sand is indu- 

 rated into a soft sandstone, which is used in the construction of chimneys. 

 It contains impressions of leaves, one of which appears to belong to the 

 magnolias, and others to some species of water-oak, or willows. When 

 these have been more fully investigated, and more extensive collections 

 made from other localities, we shall then be better able to report in 

 specific detail. 



About two-thirds of the flat Cache lands are " black sand lands," and 

 one-third post-oak lands. The latter are too wet for cultivation, without 

 a complete system of drainage. The highest of the former are cultivated, 

 and are very productive. Hereafter, if the agricultural department of 

 the survey be provided for, we hope to be able to supply comparative 

 chemical analyses of these soils, which will give more insight into their 

 relative productiveness, than we are able to supply in their absence. 



If the flat post-oak lands of the Cache country of Arkansas, could be 

 drained, and subsequently cultivated with profit, it would greatly increase 

 the agricultural resources of Greene, Randolph, and Independence counties, 

 and contribute materially to the settlement of this part of the state. 



Near David Schultz's place, on the east or St. Francis side of the 

 Crowley ridge, and about 2 miles from the St. Francis bottom, near the 

 line between townships 18 and 19 north, range 8 east, there is a deposit 

 of yellow ochre, similar to that previously described as occurring at the 

 " Pine," on the other side of this ridge.* 



*Sce Chemical Report. 



