998 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE 
of this character were reached in Mr. Herd’s well, twenty feet below the 
surface, and a similar water obtained. 
A qualitative chemical examination of this mineral water, at the foun- 
tain head, showed its principal constituents to be: 
A small quantity of free sulphuretted hydrogen. 
Bi-carbonate of lime. 
Bi-carbonate of magnesia. 
Sulphate of soda (glauber salts). 
Sulphate of magnesia, (epsom salts). 
Chloride of sodium, (common salt). 
Chloride of magnesium. 
The chemical reactions indicate only small quantities of saline matter. 
It is, therefore, a weak saline sulphuretted water, and its medicinal pro- 
perties will be that of a mild laxative, it will also be found beneficial in 
all cutaneous diseases. 
On section 30, township 10 north, range 30 west, at Mr. Etherly’s black- 
smith shop, a thin coal was struck in digging his well, overlaid by twenty 
feet of hard blue sandstone and blue argillaceous shale. From the shale 
thrown out, specimens of lipidodendron and stigmaria were obtained. 
This coal is most likely the equivalent of the Frog bayou coal, or another 
thin seam in close proximity. 
For further remarks, on the geology of Crawford county, see Report of 
Dr. D. D. Owen, State Geologist. 
FRANKLIN COUNTY. 
The millstone grit series prevails in the northern part of Franklin 
county, composed of conglomerates and thick-bedded coarse sandstones, 
flagstones, and red and blue shales.. Only thin beds of coals can be ex- 
pected to be discovered in such materials as lie below the true productive 
coal measures. 
A slight wave in the strata, carries the coal of Crawford county beneath 
the surface in the northern part of this county, and it is not until you reach 
the waters of Horsehead creek, in Johnson county, that this coal again 
makes its appearance at the surface, on the north side of the Arkansas 
river. 
One and a half miles north-east of Benner’s mill, near William Parker’s 
house, there is an excellent chalybeate spring, which was found on exami- 
nation to contain: 
A trace of free sulphuretted hydrogen. 
