WATER. 171 



part of the territory I have examined. The strata are composed of alternat 

 ing beds of sandstones, shales, and clay beds. The sandstones and shales of 

 the Carboniferous formation are generally of sufficiently open structure to 

 allow the passage of water through them. Then there are also shaly lime- 

 stones that will prove good conductors of water. The strata of the Silurian 

 will also be found a good water-conducting formation. 



There is a gradual dip of these strata to the northwest in both the Silurian 

 and Carboniferous, and there is sufficient elevation to the southward to bring 

 the water to the level of the surface in the northwest, at least as far as the 

 country covered by this examination. Artesian water obtained in the Silu- 

 rian will sometimes be free of salts, and again will be highly impregnated 

 with mineral matter. I do not think it probable that fresh water will be ob- 

 tained anywhere in the Carboniferous. At least none of the water already 

 found in any of the wells has been free from salts. 



A well at Trickham gives flowing water at a depth of 100 feet. The 

 water is too highly impregnated with chloride of sodium to be used for 

 domestic purposes, and other salts may or may not be associated with it 

 which would render it unfit for making common salt. 



One mile west of Trickham, in Coleman County, there is another well in 

 which water was reached at a depth of 280 feet, which rises to the surface 

 and would probably flow if suitably cased. The water in this well is about 

 the same as at Trickham. Three miles southwest of the town of Waldrip, 

 in McCulloch County, is a well in which flowing water was reached at a 

 depth of 80 feet. The water is highly impregnated with chloride of sodium, 

 and has a small percentage of iron in the form of ferrous carbonate. An 

 analysis shows that it has no other ingredients in it that would be deleteri- 

 ous in the manufacture of common salt. In a well belonging to Mr. John 

 R. Nas worthy, four miles south of San Angelo, that is 325 feet deep, salt 

 water was reached at a depth of 80 feet. The well is not cased, yet the water 

 rises to the surface. This water is quite salty, enough so to be excellent for 

 the manufacture of common salt, unless there should be impurities contained 

 therein. This could be easily determined by analysis. 



No wells have been put down below the strata of the Carboniferous to test 

 the water of the Silurian. As the artesian water at Waco, Fort Worth, and 

 other places is found in the Cretaceous strata, and has its origin east of this 

 country, it is useless to expect to find the same water here. 



MINERAL WATERS. 



Mineral waters are abundant, and are found both in springs and in dug or 

 bored wells at various depths. Some of these latter are artesian or flow- 

 ing wells. The most notable springs are those at Lampasas, which have 



