172 THE IRON ORE DISTRICT OF EAST TEXAS. 



CLAYS. 



The clays of the county were not examined with sufficient care to deter- 

 mine their relative value. No clays suitable for any of the finer uses were 

 noticed, although some small deposits may occur interstratified with the lig- 

 nitic sand and sandy clays. 



Brick clays or earths occur in considerable quantities in the neighborhood 

 of Longview. A kiln of brick was burned at Earpville several years ago, 

 and in 1890 a small kiln was burned by a Mr. George Echolls on the Isaac 

 Skillern headright. The bricks burn to a pale gray and are disfigured by 

 dark blue iron stains when burned hard. Soft burned bricks made from 

 this earth are a light shade of red or rust colored, according to their position 

 in the kiln. When hard burned the brick is very hard and not easily broken 

 or breaks with an irregular fracture. Great quantities of a yellow colored 

 clayey sand or earth which might be utilized in the manufacture of bricks 

 occur around the village of Gladewater. No use, however, is being made of 

 these deposits. 



SOILS. 



The upland region of the county is covered by a light sandy loam, fre- 

 quently changing to a sand. The color is alternating, with proportions of 

 ore found in the vicinity, and is generally a brown, orange-red, or brownish 

 yellow. The subsoils are mostly of a sandy or clayey nature. The land is 

 generally poor. In the lower lying regions the soils are of a brownish yellow 

 colored sandy clay, having spots of yellow colored sandy brick earth or clay. 

 Extensive deposits of this class of material are found in the vicinity of Long- 

 view, where it covers the whole of the M. Greer, southern part of the Hamil- 

 ton McNutt, and the whole of the Alexander Jordan headrights, as well as a 

 part of the Avery Johnson headright. It is also found extensively developed 

 in the district around Gladewater. The subsoil is a mottled clay in most 

 places. 



Throughout the bottom lands fringing either side of the Sabine River and 

 along Grace and Hawkins' creeks, the soil is a light yellowish gray colored 

 fine sand or silt, having a depth of from ten to twenty feet. 



TIMBER. 



The timber is mostly oak, hickory, and pine, with the different kinds of 

 oak greatly preponderating. 



