Geographic Features of Texas. — Hill. 9 
tution a plan for the investigation of American ethnology, and con- 
tributed to the Danish Society of Northern Antiquaries archeological 
investigations on western Virginia, Ohio and Canada. 
' ' He wrote also : The rise of the west ! or a prospect of the Mississippi 
valley, a poem; Gehale, an Indian lament; Indian melodies; The 
man of bronze : Iosco, orthe vale of Norma: Talladega, a tale of the 
Creek war ; Helderbergia, an apotheosis of the anti-rent war (anony- 
mous) ;" [Annals of Iowa]. ■ An allegorical poem of his also appears in 
his "Journal of a tour into the Interior of Missouri and Arkansas," 
published in Phillips' "New voyages and travels," vol. iv, entitled 
"Transallegania, or the groans of Missouri." 
CLASSIFICATION AND ORIGIN OF THE CHIEF GEOGRAPHIC 
FEATURES OF THE TEXAS REGION. ^ 
By RoBEitT T. Hill, Austiu, Texas. 
I. 
In this paper it is proposed to give a brief classification of 
the topographic and geologic features of the extensive area of 
Texas. Evidently so brief a mention of this vast region will 
be neither exhaustive nor detailed ; it is a preliminary state- 
ment of some of the great features which will be more accu- 
rately delineated by those who with better facilities will here- 
after conduct accurate surveys of this region, which has as yet 
been only partially reconnoitered.- 
The size of Texas can best be appreciated by remembering 
that it constitues in area one-twelfth of the Union, and pos- 
sesses nearly every topographic and geologic condition found 
in the states south of the glacial region. It reaches one-half 
the distance from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico to those 
of the Pacific, and its longitude is proportionally great. A 
general idea of the diversity of its natural features can be 
obtained by brief comparison with the more familiar condi- 
tions of the adjacent states. The northeastern corner of the 
state is a continuation of the forest covered sands and clays of 
the low southern cotton belt with its characteristic natural 
and cultural aspects ; the southwestern corner, west of the 
Pecos river is a prolongation of the Rocky mountain and basin 
^ For a statement of the previous classification of the topography of 
Texas, see bulletin 45, U. S. Geological Survey, entitled "The present 
condition of geologic knowledge of Texas," pp. 52-53. 
■^ The Texas state survey, under the vigorous administration of Mr. 
E. T. Dumble, is now prosecuting a survey of this interesting portion 
of the United States, which has so long been neglected, and to which 
I have endeavored to attract scientific investigation. This paper is 
not intended to forestall any results of the survey, but to place at its 
disposal the matter herein contained. 
