MARION COUNTY. 97 



averaged between forty-five and fifty per cent, thus giving a net production 

 of metal of 1620 tons. The value of the tools employed is given as fifty dol- 

 lars and the total cost of labor used in the production of the ore as $7200, or 

 about $4.47 per ton. In 1888 Messrs. John A. Kruse & Co., of Chicago, ob- 

 tained a franchise from the citizens of Jefferson, the county seat, for the pur- 

 pose of erecting a charcoal blast furnace of not less than fifty tons capacity, 

 and also for the operating in conjunction therewith a car wheel foundry. 

 These works have been erected, and it is expected that operations will be 

 commenced early in 1891. 



GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY. 



_ Geographically, Marion County lies along the north side of the Caddo 

 system of lakes or bayous which form the head of the navigable waters of 

 the Texas division of the Red River system of drainage, with Cass and 

 Harrison counties lying to the north and south, the State of Louisiana on 

 the east, and Upshur County on the west. This area embraces an extent of 

 four hundred and eighteen square miles. 



The general elevation of Marion County does not exceed four hundred 

 and fifty feet above sea level at the highest point. Lines of levels along the 

 Texas and Pacific Railway and East Line Division of the Missouri, Kansas, 

 and Texas Railway show the general altitudes to be: 



TEXAS AND PACIFIC RAILWAY. 



Little Cypress 205 feet. 



Height of land between the two bayous 247 feet. 



Big Cypress • 204 feet. 



Jefferson Station 232 feet. 



Black Cypress Bottom 199 feet. 



Six miles north of Jefferson 311 feet. 



StaUs 278 feet. 



Seven and one-half miles north of Jefferson 349 feet. 



Lodi . . 256 feet. 



STATIONS ON THE EAST LINE. 



Jefferson 239 feet. 



Kelleyville 298 feet. 



Loo Ellen 343 feet. 



Lasater 342 feet. 



Frenches 390 feet. 



Some of the hills are from seventy-five to one hundred feet higher than 

 these elevations, but the extreme height of four hundred and fifty feet is not 

 reached in more than one or two instances. 



The surface of the county is rolling and presents the appearance of an un- 

 dulating plain having no serious or deep breaks, except in the great water 



