Record of Geology of Texas, ISSV-ISQG. 
203 
Owen-, J. 
iRio Griande there exists in the Cretaceous rocks extensive beds of coal. 
The Geological horizon of these beds is equivalent to the Fox Hills group 
of this system, and in the lower Rio Grande valley perhaps the equivalent 
of the Raramie group. These coal beds extend from Laredo to near El 
Raso, and into New Mexico. They are somewhat disconnected, owing, 
perhaps, to seismic disturbances and subsequent erosion. They were evi- 
dently continuously deposited, and rest comfortably upon the Lower 
'Cretaceous rocks. These coal beds are to be found in Webb, Dimmit, 
Zavala and Maverick counties, atid west and southwest of Maverick county, 
in Mexico, extending westward into Pecos and Presidio counties. The 
croppings of these beds can be seen in numerous localities, and in Maverick 
county coal is being mined at the rate of one hundred tons per day. This 
is a good commercial coal, and should not be confounded with the Tertiary 
lignite beds ef the Gulf Coast region. The stratum now being worked in 
Maverick county, near Eagle Pass, is hve feet thick. It is a semi-coking 
coal, is easily ignited, and burns freely; the residue is a gray ash; it does 
not make clinkers; is very well adapted for use in engines, and is used 
upon the engines of the iSouthern Pacific railroad. Maverick county con- 
tains 120 square miles of land in this coal field. * * * ” 
******* 
Attention is called to a ‘Mrift deposit” which ‘‘covers a large portion of 
southwest Texas, in many places to a depth of twenty feet. It is com- 
posed of rounded fragments from various geological periods. Boulders of 
igneous rocks, some 'of them eighteen inches in diameter, are promiscuously 
scattered over the tops of the highest hills. Upon the Mexican side of 
the river, where the high limestone mountains presented a barrier to the 
drift agencies, no igneous boulders are seen. The drift here is wholly com- 
posed of fragments from these mountains. The igneous boulders from this 
deposit can nowhere be found in place nearer than two hundred and fifty 
miles to the northwest.” 
The origin of this drift is ascribed to glacial action. 
311. 
[Report of.] 
Reports of Geologists for Sontlierii Texas. 
Texas Geol. and Min. Snrv. First Rept. of Progress, 1888, 
pp. 69-74. Austin, 1889. 
Scope of the Report. “On the 8th of November (1888), I commenced 
active operations in the field, beginning my work at the mouths of Pecos 
and of DeviTs rivers, and following the line of the Galveston, Harrisburg 
and iSan Antonio Railroad as far as Uvalde; then I returned to Eagle Pass 
and resumed work by going down the right bank of the Nueces river 
as far as Encinal county; thence across the country to Laredo; thence 
up the Rio Grande to San Lorenzo creek to a point northeast from Eagle 
Pass, and from there to this place ( Eagle Pass ) .” 
Coal southwest of Uvalde. iCoal at Eagle Pass. The Hartz Mine. Aver- 
age thickness of coal seam over five feet. Agricultural resources not devel- 
oped. Aridity. 'Source of water supply. The outcrop of a sand hed 200 
