290 THE IRON ORE DISTRICT OF EAST TEXAS. 



MINERAL OIL. 



In the grassy valleys between Rusk and New Birmingham traces of oil 

 were seen oozing through the soil, causing dark spots. Films of oil can be 

 seen in shallow water holes or post holes after a rainy season. This oil is 

 derived from the lignite bed, which, as appears from the lignitic clay shales, 

 is in close proximity. 



It is possible that the oil may be found absorbed in quantity along some of 

 the tributaries of the Angelina River in the southeastern portion of the county. 



GREENSAND. 



Underlying the buff crumbly or aluminous bog iron ore is usually an ex- 

 tensive deposit of altered siliceous greensand. In some localities the altera- 

 tion to yellow ochre or orange loam has not been entire, and the interior of 

 the deposit still exhibits its characteristic green color. A sample of the 

 green clay stratum of this county (First Annual Report, page 94) on analysis 

 gave the following composition: Silica, 25.8; alumina, 42.20; oxide of iron, 

 19.75; lime, 0.90; magnesia, 0.80; phosphoric acid, 0.49; sodium oxide, 2.5; 

 potash, 0.26. 



In certain localities, as at Dial's Station, the siliceous glauconite has become 

 sufficiently indurated to be useful as building stone. The capstones of the 

 brick wall enclosing the State Penitentiary were obtained from this quarry. 

 A specimen of this stone submitted to chemical analysis by Mr. L. E. Magne- 

 nat gave the following composition : Silica, 14.40; sesquioxide of iron, 30.27; 

 protoxide of iron, 25.96; alumina, 2.07; lime, 3.05; magnesia, 5.00; potash, 

 4.61; soda, trace; phosphoric acid, 0.54; sulphur, trace; water, 14.00. 



The more recent deposit of calcareous greensand shell marl will probably 

 be found in the southeastern portion of the county, near the Angelina River. 



TIMBER. 



The total area of this county is 645,120 acres. If from this be deducted 

 97,532, the number of acres in cultivation for field crops, fruit, and garden, 

 and from the remainder, 547,588 acres, be subtracted one-eighth for barrens, 

 town sites, and streams, one-tenth for timber cut and in process of cutting by 

 the fifteen saw mills, the number of acres cleared for charcoal by the " Old 

 Alcalde Furnace," 2500, and 250 acres by the "Tassie Belle Furnace "to 

 January, 1891, then the final remainder, 428,476 acres, would approximately 

 represent the area of standing timber. 



One-fourth of this amount of timber, or 107, 1 19 acres, would be suitable for 

 saw logs. If cut into boards, at an average of 2500 feet per acre, this would 

 make 267,797,500 feet. The remaining 321,357 acres of timber, if cut into 

 cord wood and burned for charcoal, would probably produce an average of 

 1000 bushels per acre. 



