REPORT OF THE STATE GEOLOGIST. lxix 



tion works, which may be remedied by private enterprise, but also by 

 the uncertainty of land lines and other things which can and should be 

 changed by legislation. Until the locations of land lines are definitely 

 settled, and the prospector has some assurance that after his work in 

 developing a mine he will be secured in its possession at a reasonable 

 cost, and not be called upon for a heavy royalty, or even have to give 

 up his work entirely, little will be done. The State has millions of acres 

 of University and other lands in Trans-Pecos Texas. By a generous 

 policy toward prospectors and settlers (for much of it will ultimately be 

 made agricultural land if proper assistance is granted), this land can be 

 made to bring its proper revenue from taxation instead of lying un- 

 taxed as at present. 



TIN. 



The occurrence of tin was reported, doubtfully, in the Central Min- 

 eral District last year, and it was also found in connection with lead ores 

 in Trans-Pecos Texas. In November, during the examination of speci- 

 mens collected by members of his party, Dr. Comstock found some ex- 

 cellent pieces of Cassiterite, or Oxide of Tin, and made a special trip to 

 decide the reality and manner of its occurrence. This resulted in the 

 discovery that it occurred not only as Cassiterite, but in small quanti- 

 ties in connection with other minerals in the rocks of a certain portion 

 of the Burnetan System extending from the western part of Burnet to 

 the eastern part of Mason County, a distance of fifty miles, and having 

 a width of eight to ten miles. In this belt the tin ore has been found 

 at four or five localities. It occurs in a quartz of somewhat banded ap- 

 pearance, and when pure may often be recognized by its weight, being 

 of greater specific gravity than the iron ores. 



Near the divide between Herman Creek and tributaries of the San 

 Saba Eiver, in Mason County, are the remains of two old furnaces, and 

 considerable slag which carries tin in little globules scattered through it. 



"While it is impossible to speak positively of the probable quantity of 

 ore, the indications are favorable for its existence in amounts sufficient 

 to be of economic value. 



In Trans-Pecos Texas tin was found by Prof. Streeruwitz in connec- 

 tion with some of the ores of the Quitman Eange. 



MERCURY. 



Like tin, this metal has been reported from several localities, but up 

 to the present we have not succeeded in verifying any of the reports or 

 of finding any traces of it. 



