REPORT OF THE STATE GEOLOGIST. XX111 



counties, and at the same time to study the associated clays and lignites. 

 In pursuance of instructions he proceeded to Cass County, after map- 

 ping which he took up the investigation of Harrison County, and before 

 returning to Austin made a brief reconnaissance of parts of Gregg and 

 Marion counties. 



In order to complete enough of the mapping of the district to make 

 a satisfactory report, it was determined to send Messrs. J. B. Walker 

 and J. H. Herndon into the field. Mr. Walker went out, under in- 

 structions of June 6, to map the iron ores of Kusk, Panola, Shelby, and 

 Nacogdoches counties, and in addition to make such observations of 

 the geology as his time would allow. 



To Mr. Herndon was given the study of Smith County, including 

 its iron ores, clays, lignites, and building stones, on the completion of 

 which he returned to Austin and resumed his regular work in the 

 chemical laboratory. 



These counties were gone over as thoroughly as the time permitted, 

 and their studies have added much to our knowledge both of the gen- 

 eral and economic geology of the region. 



The reports of these gentlemen will be found in Part II of this Ee- 

 port — "The Iron Ore District of Eastern Texas." 



During the field season I visited Mr. Kennedy while he was at work in 

 Cass County, spent several days in working with Mr. Herndon in Smith 

 County, and visited Anderson and Houston counties for the purpose of 

 collecting specimens of ore from certain localities previously mapped 

 by Mr. G. E. Ladd, or reported on by Dr. Penrose, which were needed 

 for analysis. My investigations were greatly facilitated by the kind as- 

 sistance of the citizens of Palestine and Crockett. 



The artesian water belt of the Gulf coast being a very important 

 factor in the economic geology of the region, I tried to take up the 

 study of it in such intervals as occurred in my administrative work. I 

 visited Ledbetter, from which point I was enabled through the kind- 

 ness of Captain A. W. Littig, superintendent of the First Division of 

 the Houston and Texas Central Eailway, to visit several of the most 

 favorable localities for the study of the outcrops of the Fayette Sands> 

 which constitute the catchment basin of the artesian belt. The results 

 were of importance in this connection. Later I visited Galveston and 

 Houston to investigate the results of the artesian borings at those places. 

 It is to be regretted that more time could not have been given to this 



