Cll REPORTS OF GEOLOGISTS. 



REPORT OF MR J. B. WALKER 



Austin, Texas, December 31, 1890. 

 Mr. E. T. Dumble, State Geologist: 



Dear Sir — In accordance with your letter of instructions of June 6 assign- 

 ing to me for the field season the counties of Panola, Shelby, Nacogdoches, 

 and Rusk, I herewith transmit notes of the observations made. 



The object of the field work in the counties named was to examine the 

 quality of the iron ore deposits and define the boundaries of such ores as 

 would probably be of immediate economic value, with "such observations on 

 the character of the surrounding geologic formations as the time (summer, 

 1890) will permit." The quotation from your letter of instructions. 



The want of reliable geographic maps, and the fact that no contour maps 

 of this section exist, together with a paucity of local names for many of the 

 "mountains," as they are locally called, and the difficulty of finding persons 

 acquainted with the boundaries of headright surveys, has rendered exact out- 

 lining of the ore beds within the allotted time an impossibility, but sufficient 

 data has been obtained to show the location and approximate extent of the 

 beds of iron ore most suitable for manufacturing purposes, while other ob- 

 served facts will tend to assist in determining the character and relations of 

 the strata to each other, and the period of the formations as a whole. 



The plan of operations consisted in selecting the county seats respectively 

 as central localities, and from these centres radial loops or excursions were 

 made into the different parts of each county, mainly in search of iron bearing 

 beds, and casually noting any facts bearing on the stratigraphy of the country 

 that came within my observation. It was in this way only, as it appeared to 

 me, that the three thousand four hundred and ninety square miles of territory 

 in my district could be approximately covered in the stated time. 



In conclusion, allow me to express my indebtedness to you for many use- 

 ful suggestions and courtesies received, and to the many hospitable and public 

 spirited citizens of the counties in my district for the interest manifested in 

 the Survey, donations to the Museum, and the time they cheerfully gave to 

 accompany me on many local journeys in the heat of summer. 



Very truly yours, 

 * • JOSEP1I B. WALKER, 



Assistant Geologist. 



