CONCLUSIONS. 231 



cheap fuel, or until the unjustified prejudice against the excellent brown coal 

 of the Tertiary is overcome sufficiently to bring it into use. 



The railroads will no doubt find it to their interest to make cheaper freight 

 rates for coal and ore to and from Trans-Pecos Texas. 



The mineral resources, like those of the Quitman district, will and must 

 attract attention, and will be appreciated and utilized as soon as a more 

 liberal mining law makes them acceptable to prospectors, as soon as the title 

 clouds are removed, and as soon as it is possible to determine the exact loca- 

 tion of the claims. The advantages for mining are fully as great as the dis- 

 advantages that have been mentioned; the proximity of the railroad to 

 most of the mountains being by no means the least. The communication 

 from the mountains to the railroad is easy, the roads either good or capable 

 of being made so at nominal cost. The climate is healthy, and there is not 

 the slightest danger of Indian outbreaks or other disturbances so common in 

 many other mining districts. 



CONCLUSIONS. 

 The mineral deposits of Trans-Pecos Texas are proved to be extensive and 

 of great richness: 



1. By their extensive outcrops, the many assays of which show the almost 

 universal presence of the precious metals in them. - 



2. By the prospecting and work already done. 



The advantages offered the miners and prospectors are: 



1. The ease with which the outcrops may be distinguished. 



2. The proximity to railroad transportation and ease of access by wagon 

 roads. 



3. The healthy climate and freedom from fear of Indian depredations. 



4. Little need of timbering for mines. 

 The disadvantages are: 



1. The present clouded titles of certain districts. 



2. The lack of definite land lines, marking exact boundaries between 

 surveys. 



3. The lack of surface water. (This can be supplied by reservoirs or can 

 be found in the mines themselves). 



4. The demand for a yearly cash payment on each claim in addition to 

 the amount of work required. 



All of these disadvantages except the third can be removed by proper leg- 

 islative action, and the country opened to prospectors in earnest, and as easy 

 terms offered as those by Mexico and other sister States. When this is done, 

 and not sooner, may we expect to see Trans-Pecos Texas take that position 

 among the mining countries of the world which the richness of her deposits 

 so surely warrants. 



