672 TRANS-PECOS TEXAS. 



Mountains. These are continued towards Alpine, in the Cathedral Moun- 

 tains and Mount Ord group. 



We find the Comanche Mountains east of the Davis Mountains, separated 

 by a depression. They gradually slope down toward Fort Stockton, and 

 though mostly stratified in their northern part, terminate south in a granitic 

 upheaval about four miles north of Marathon Station, on the Southern Pa- 

 cific Railway. The hills east of the Comanche Mountains extend about 

 thirty miles. They form the flinty Pena Colorado and the more basaltic 

 Pena Negra range east of the Sierra St. Jago. 



If and how far the more northern and eastern stratified elevations are in- 

 tersected by eruptions, intrusions, and protrusions, and if they contain any 

 useful minerals, is yet to be ascertained. 



LITERATURE. 



Of the various publications about Texas only a limited number refer to the 

 Trans-Pecos portion of the State, particularly that part which I have had the 

 opportunity to work, up till now. 



The explorations for a route for the Pacific Railroad were carried on in a 

 more northern latitude (not lower than 32°) and although giving valuable in- 

 formation about the Staked Plains, the report on the geology of the route by 

 Mr. Win. P. Blake makes only short mention of the mountain ranges extend- 

 ing from New Mexico into Texas, saying: "This region (Trans-Pecos Texas) 

 is intersected by three ranges of mountains, nearly parallel to each other, and 

 having a general direction of north-south." 



The report mentions briefly the Franklin Mountains, and passes on, men- 

 tioning that the next easterly mountain range is that of the Huecos, which 

 extends much farther to the south and unites itself a short distance above the 

 thirty-second degree of latitude with the Sacramento and White Mountains. 

 It also calls attention to the Guadaloupe Mountains as the most easterly range, 

 located one hundred and eight miles from the Rio Grande and fifty-four 

 miles from the Pecos River, which, although higher and more rugged than 

 either of the others, seem isolated from any connection with the (other) moun- 

 tains, a very natural error, since Mr. Blake, following the line of the proposed 

 railroad, had not the opportunity to make observations about the more remote 

 portions of the Guadaloupe Mountains. 



About a prolongation or connection of the Guadaloupe chain toward the 

 Wichitas, which Mr. Blake supposes to exist, he seems himself more or less 

 skeptical. Although he favors the supposition of an existing connection on 

 the strength of a supposed "general trend of the granitic axes or elevations 

 of this region," he admits "we should thus expect to find either more out- 



