Survey of the Concho Country. — Cummins- Lerch. 333 
ation in Texas. A few tests have been made, only to affirm 
the experience gained in other localities. Still these waters 
are often saturated with common salt, (chloride of sodium), 
and accompanied with gas, so that perhaps salt works may be 
established with profit, the gas being used for the concentra- 
tion of the brine. 
Salt wells mid other mineral ivells. — The clay deposits of 
the Permian formation in this country are frequently highly 
impregnated with chloride of sodium, (common salt), and 
generally contain chlorides of potash and magnesia, with car- 
bonates and sulphates of lime. The water has dissolved these 
minerals and contains them in solution whenever it has passed 
through these deposits. A decomposition of sulphates causes 
them sometimes to contain sulphuretted hydrogen, These 
wells are not infrequent, and their value in treating diseases 
of the skin and digestive organs is highly recommended. The 
artesian water of the Carbonic formation formerly mentioned 
is, as far as experience goes, always highly saturated with 
salt and generally accompanied by a flow of gas. The long 
summer and high temperature during this season, by using the 
gas, will permit a cheap manufacture of salt. 
The soils of this section — Are either derived through disin- 
tegration of the Cretacic or Permian strata, and of course 
their character depends on their source. If derived from the 
Cretacic along the upper valleys of the rivers and creeks and 
upon the plateaus, they are highly calcareous, generally of a 
dark grayish black color ; if sufficiently mixed with vegetable 
matter they are highly fertile, containing all the minerals nec- 
essary to support vegetation. The soils derived from the 
Permian deposits are always of a deep chocolate-red color ; 
they are marly and well mixed with vegetable matter and 
contain a high percentage of iron-oxide and other minerals al- 
ways supporting a vigorous vegetation. These soils, easily 
recognized by their deep red color, cover the loAver valleys and 
uplands for a hundred thousand acres. They are very reten- 
tive on account of their argillaceous character and in fertility 
can not be surpassed. 
Building material. — The Cretacic and Permian formations 
consist, as mentioned before, chiefly of sandstone, limestone 
and clay l)eds. The sandstone and limestone vary in character; 
the former, especially, if taken from the Upper Permian, is 
