
9 

15 

2 

2 

7 

13 

1 

10 
vaughan.] EAGLE PASS COAL FIELD. 59 
Prospect shaft Smiles north of Eagle Pass, on the Southern Pacific Railroad. 
Ft. in. 
Soil, gravel, sandstone, etc 45 
Coal 39 
Slate 
Coal 
Slate 
Coal 
Slate 
Coal 
Slate 
Coal 
Total coal and slate 98 
Here there are 79 inches of coal, with four divisions of slate. The 
aggregate thickness of the slate, including the valueless 2 inches of 
coal, is 21 inches. 
The writer possesses no data on the chemical properties of the coal 
obtained in these prospects, and can give no information regarding 
its quality. It is very evident that the Eagle Pass coal extends farther 
to the north than any exploitations yet made. "At Thompson's ranch 
(Olmos siding) the same bed was struck at 150 feet, the level at the 
surface being a little lower at Breckenridge shaft upon the salne prop- 
erty, and the dip balancing the gain. At McKenzie's, farther east, at a 
lower level topographically, the combined effect of dip and erosion has 
brought the surface within 20 feet of the coal." 1 
Besides making such observations as were possible, inquiries were 
made of ranchmen, county surveyors, and other persons who would 
likely know of the existence of coal beds. Mr. O. P. Hector, county 
surveyor of Maverick County, states that in a well on his place, 2£ 
miles below Eagle Pass, coal was struck at a depth of 65 feet, and that 
the seam is 6 or 7 feet thick. 
Mr. Hector was asked whether he knew of any outcrops of coal 
along Salado, Chacon, Palo Blanco, or Mula creeks. He replied: 
"No outcroppings of coal along any of the above streams." The 
Eagle Pass coal extends some distance north of Eagle Pass, at least 
beyond the Thomson ranch, but because of dearth of exposures and a 
lack of any records, the actual distance could not be determined. It 
would seem worth while to prospect farther north. Mr. S. D. Frazier, 
of Carrizo Springs, in boring a well on the ranch of Simpson and 
Mangum, in Zavalla County, on Mula Creek 2 or 3 miles above where 
it empties into Palo Blanco Creek, struck coal at a depth of 120 feet; 
but the coal is worthless. This coal is probably in the Cretaceous area. 
It is certain, however, that the Eagle Pass coal field does not extend 
to the Nueces River. All of the coal around Eagle Pass occurs below 
the Ostrea cortex horizons, while along the Nueces there is no coal 
1 T. B. Comstock : Second Rept. of Progress of Texas Geol. Survey, Austin, Tex., 1892, p. 53. 
