Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 11

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1128

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The Black Prairie is subdivided longitudi- nally into four parallel strips of country, dif- fering slightly, and distinguishable only by slight differences in topography and in the underlying rocks. In the easternmost of these divisions north of the Brazos and Colorado rivers, however, the sand is hardly percepti- ble. Immediately interior of this is located the largest and most characteristic area, is upon this chalk that the most prosperous

which is marked by the stiffest of the black waxy calcareous clay soils. Upon digging through this stratum, the subtructure is found to consist of a light blue or yellow cal- careous clay, called by the residents "soap . stone" and "joint clay," from its jointed and laminated structure. The surface, especially of the high undrained divides, is also accom - panied in many places by minute depressions known as "hog-wallows." which are producd by the drying, cracking and disintegrating character of these excessively calcareous clays in poorly drained places. This, the main portion of the Black Prairie, constitutes fully two-thirds of its total area. The cities of Greenville, Terrell, Corsicana and Kaufman are situated near the border of the sandy and black waxy strips. Manor, Clarksville, Cooper, Taylor and Temple are all situated in the main black waxy belt.

An outcrop of the "white rock" or chalky country, forming a narrow strip averaging two miles in width, from Red river to the Rio Grande, succeeds on the west the main black waxy Strip. This chalk region is marked by a topography more rounded and deeper incised, but still void of the sharper lines of stratification that characterize the Grand Prairie region. It is usually treeless, but occasionally marked by elumps of hand- some evergreens and oaks. The westeru edge of this chalky region, as seen at Oak Cliff, near Dallas. at Sherman, Hillsboro and other places, usually ends in an escarpment over- looking a valley containing the minor Black Prairie and Lower Cross Timber strips. It

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

of the interior cities of Texas are located, in- eluding Paris, Sherman, Mckinney, Dallas, Waxahachie, Waco, Austin, New Braunfels and San Antonio, all of which are dependent upon the agricultural products of the ndja- cent prairies.

West of the "white rock" or chalky divis- ion, and generally at a slightly lower alti- tude, ocenpying a valley across the State, is a second narrow strip of black clayey land of a nature similar to that of the main black waxy area, and likewise accompanied by hog-wal- lows. This is the country east of Denton and Whitesboro, in the Mountain creek distriet of Dallas county, and along the line of the Mis- souri Pacific railway from Alvarado to Waco.

The Lower Cross Timbers-a narrow belt of forest country eutending from the Red to the Brazos rivers-represent the westernmost strip of the Black Prairie region, and belong to it geographically, as will presently be shown.

Let us now consider the substructure of the Black Prairie region in five divisions, commencing with the lowest, namely. the Upper Arenaceous, or Glanconitic; the main Black Prairie, the surface of the marine elays, called the Ponderosa marls, the white-rock division, which is the outerop of the Austin- Dallas chalk, aggregating about 600 feet in thickness; the minor Black Prairie, also com- posed of clays like those of the main division, and consequently having a similar topo- graphy : and the Lower Cross Timbers. All the foregoing rock sheets, between which there is no stratigraphic break, represent the

sediment deposited in the oceanic waters dur- ing a long continued subsidence, geologically known as the Upper Cretaceous period, for which collectively we have chosen the name of Black Prairie series. This Upper Cre- taceons series has five conspienons strati- graphie and lithologie divisions, which ap- proximately correspond with tho topographie divisions of the Black Prarie above men- tioned.

1 .- THE LOWER CROSS TIMBER SANDS.

From the Brazos river northward to Red river the base of the upper series is composed of a brown, more or less ferruginous, pre- dommantly sandy littoral deposit, resting un- conformably npon various horizons of the semi-chalky beds of the Washita division, or top of the Comanche series. These sandy deposits present an infinite variety of condi- tions of cross-bedding, clay intercalations, lignitic patches, and variation in fineness of size and angularity of the uncemented parti- cles, characteristic of typical littoral depos- its, while occasionally there are found fossi- liferous horizons.

In the vieininity of Denison these sands are covered by a post-Tertiary sand, which confuses their identity there.

The Lower Cross Timber region abonnds in rich sandy soils, which support a vigorous timber growth, this structure being especial- ly for deep-rooted plants, and are specially adapted to fruit-growing, as seen near Deni- son and Paris. There is also considerable lignite and iron in the beds of this region. The lignite is frequently discovered and mis-

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

taken for bituminous coal. It is doubtful whether either exists in sufficient quantities for commercial use. The Cross Timbers arc also in the line of the Central Texas artesian belt, and it is probable that in any portion of its area an artesian well sunk through the roek of the underlying Comanche series would find an abundant flow of water. These sands are also valuable for water-bearing purposes, and the wells along the margin of the minor Black Prairie arca are supplied from them.

2 .- THIE EAGLE FORD CLAY SHALES.

These lie to the eastward and immediately above the Lower Cross Timber sands, and are the foundation of the minor Black Prairie streak.

Beneath the searp of the white rock (Aus- tin-Dallas chalk) at Dallas, and extending westward through the Mountain creek coun- try to the Lower Cross Timbers, can be seen typical localities of this division, the thick- ness of which is estimated at 400 feet. These clays in their medial portion are dark blue and shaly, highly laminated, and occa- sioually accompanied by gigantic nodular septariae, locally called "turtles." The upper- mnost beds gradnally become more calcareous, graduating rather sharply into the chalk. There are also occasional bands of thin, im- pure limestones, which are readily distin- guieliable from all other Upper Cretaceous limestone by their firmness and lamination. Fossil remains of marine animals are also found in these clays, including many beanti- fully preserved species, the delicate color and naere of shells being as fresh as when the an-

imals inhabited them. Among these, oys- ters, fish teeth, chambered shells and Inocer- ami are the most abundant.

The chief economic value of the minor Black Prairie will ever be its magnificent black caleareons soil, while some of the chief geological considerations are the ascertain- ment of means to make this soil more easily handled and less tenacious by devising suit- able mixtures, the discovery of road-inaking material, and the increase of water for do- mestic and agricultural purposes. Owing to its elay foundation the soil now retains for plant use treble the quantity of moisture of seine of its adjacent sandy districts, but sur- face and flowing water is scarce. Fortunate- ly, however, this district is also within the Central Texas artesian well area, and an abundant supply of wator ean always be had at a depth of less than 1,500 feet, as has been proved in the course of our investigations. When this fact is fully appreciated the region will be one of the most prosperous in Texas. In the valleys of most of the streams running eastward across the east half of tho minor Black Prairie, artesian water can be obtained at from 100 to 300 feet. The source of this water is in the Lower Cross Timber sand. Many of the coneretions and calcareous lay- ers are probably suitable for making cement ; but tests must be made. The clays may also prove of commercial value.

3. THE WHITE ROCK, OR AUSTIN-DALLAS CHALK.

linmediately above and to the east of the Eagle Ford clays comes the white rock, er Austin-Dallas chalk, which is the most con-

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

spicuous representative division of the whole Upper Cretaceous system. This occupies the narrow strip, as noted in the preceding topo- graphic description, marking the western border of the main Black Prairie region, sep- arating it from the minor Black Prairie. The outerop of this chalk begins in the southwest corner of the State of Arkansas and in the In- dian Territory. It crosses Red river, the exposure continuing westward up to the south side of the valley of that stream to the north of Sherman, from which place it de- flects sonthward, passing near Mckinney, Dallas, Waxahachie, Hillsboro, Waco, Bel- ton, Austin, New Braunfels, San Antonio and Spofford Junction, beyond which it bends northward, appearing in the disturbed mountains in the vicinity of El Paso and New Mexico. It is distinguished above all by its peculiar chalky substructure.

The words "limestone" and "chalk" are used on these pages as follows: Limestone is employed generically for species of widely different origin and structure, namely, of five kinds: 1. Breccias composed of more or less comminnted and cemented shells of ancient bottoms or shores. 2. Concretions or seg- regations formed by the segregation of lime in clays and sands after original deposition, rare in our rocks. 3. Chalks are composed of amorphous calcium carbonate, usually more or less foraminiferous, void of lam- inations, and of comparative deep-sea origin. These may be hardened by metamorphismn into firm limestones. Hence the term "chalky limestones" will imply chalky origin. 4. Laminated, impure limestones, occurring

as alternating beds in sands and clays, indica- tive of shallower origin then chalk. 5. Met- amorphosed limestones, or any of the above which have undergone induration or second- ary change. All laminated limestones thus far found in the Texas Cretaceous are in the basal beds, and are more or less arenaceons or argillaccons, further proving their origin to have been in shallower water than those in which chalk is laid down.

The rock of the Austin-Dallas chalk for- mation is a massive, nearly pure, white chalk, usualy free from grit and easily carved with a pocket-knife. Under the microscope it exhibits a few calcite crystals, particles of amorphous calcite, and innumerable shells of foraminiferae. The air-dried indurated sur- faces are white, but the saturated subterranean mass has a bluish white color. The rock weathers in large conchoidal flakes, with an earthy fracture.

In composition it varies from 85 to 94 per cent. of calcium carbonate, the residue consist- ing of magnesia, silica and a small percent- age of ferric oxide.

The thickness of this chalk is about 500 feet. So far as observed in Texas it averages the same thickness at Austin, Sherman and Dallas. It is of great uniformity through- out its extent; but there are a few local dif- ferences in hardness, which are sometimes due to surface induration and to igneous ac- tion, having been converted into marble in some places.

A great portion of the former extent of this chalk has been destroyed by erosion, and its western border in Central Texas is now

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

receding castward under the influence of ex- cessive atmospheric decomposition and denn- dation. The group may have extended at one time all the way to the Rio Grande. This formation abounds in fossils, most of which, however, are but poorly preserved casts.

The economic advantages of the white rock are varions. It affords good locations for the building of cities and communities, not only on account of the firm foundation for build- ing and road-beds and good drainage which it always affords, but also on account of its sanitary conditions, produced by the imbib- ing capacity of the chalk. When accurate statistics are kept, it will be proved that dwellers upon the chalky lands have a great hygienic advantage over those upon sands and clays. The chalks are also water-bearing, and while yielding their moisture slowly they afford an abundance for domestic por- poses, and play an important part in the transmission of the rainfall to depths from which it can be abstracted, perhaps, in cast Texas, by artesian wells. This chalk is also valuable for the manufacture of whiting, rouge, etc. Chalk is most used in England, however, where scientific agriculture has at- tained its highest development for dressing lands. Thousands of tons are used annually on the non-calcareous lands of England, where it is usually applied at the rate of twenty tons per acre, just as it will ultimately be used upon the non-calcareous lands of east Texas as soon as our agriculture advances to a stage where its necessity will be appreciated.

Chalk makes a cheap, convenient land

dressing for non-chalky lands, performing in a more satisfactory manner the functions of quick-lime in making available other con- stitnents of the soil, besides contributing to it minute but valnable proportions of phos- phates, potash and other plant foods.

The chalk will also prove of great use in the manufacture of Portland cements. It is the material used in the manufacture of most of the imported cements; and when the peo- ple of this State properly appreciate what an immense industry lics at their doors-a natural Texas monopoly-this region will become a great cement center for the United States.

4. THE EXOGYRA PONDEROSA MARLS.

The name given to thesc marls is that of a large fossil oyster, which occurs in immense quantities in certain beds.

The eastward continuation of the Austin- Dallas chalk is covered by what is the most extensive and valuable, but least appreciated, gcological formation in the United States, namely, a remarkable deposit of chalky clays, aggregating some 1,200 feet in thickness, according to reported well-borings and esti- mates of the normal dip In fact these clays are so little known that no popular name has yet been accorded them; and hence they are called after the immense fossil oyster found in them.

These clays occupy the whole of the main Black prairie region east of the Austin-Dallas chalk, and form the basis of the rich, black, waxy soil. Notwithstanding their horizontal extent, good outerops of the nnaltered structure

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

are seldom seen, owing to their rapid disinte- gration. Usually they are seen only in ravines, creeks or fresh diggings. They are of a fine consistency, unconsolidated and apparently unlaminated until exposed to the weather, when their laminated character is developed. They are light blue before atmospheric ex- posure, but rapidly change into a dull yellow, owing to the oxidation of the pyrites of iron in them. Their chief accessory constituent is lime in a chalky condition, and they are more calcareous at the bottom than at the top. Near the top of these and other exposures there is to be seen a rapid transition into the black, calcareous, elay soil, characteristic of chalk and chalky clays whenever their excess of lime comes in contact with vegetation. They are more calcareous and fossiliferous at their base.

The economie value of these chalky clay marls is in the fact that they are the founda- tion and source of the rich soil of the main black, waxy prairie, the largest continuous area of residual agricultural soil in the United States, apparently inexhaustible in fertility; for as the farmer plows deeper and deeper he constantly turns to light the fertile inarls which renew the vitality of the surface. These soils can be much improved by further geologic study.

5. THE UPPER ARENACEOUS OR GLAUCONITIO DIVISION.

This is the continuation of the Ponderosa marls, exhibiting itself chiefly in northeastern Texas and southwest Arkansas.

Dallas county also borders upon the Grand

prairie or Fort Worth section, the features of which are reported at length by the State Geologist, so far as studied; but as it comes outside of our district, we omit it here.

INDIANS.

The beautiful and fertile section of Texas now comprising the populous and wealthy county of Dallas, was occupied by the In- dians when first approached by the white settlers. While they were not as numerous as in other sections, they were found scat- tered through the timbers, especially on the Trinity river, to such an extent as to cause the earlier settlers much trouble and annoy- ance as well as damage.

There have been many conjectures as to the time this race of people had lived here, but whether for a long or short period one fact is said to be very evident, namely, that the Indians were originally the first people that ever trod the soil of Dallas county.

There are not here any traces of that mem- orable, conjectured race of people, the mound- builders, as can be seen in other States. If this mysterious and unknown, but evidently intelligent prehistorie race had ever populated this county, or even country, they would have left some of their remarkable impres- sions,-some traces,-yes, some " foot-prints on the sands of time," as they left in other sections of North America.

Whence the origin of this peculiar race called the Indian, found here as well as in all new conntries of America, is certainly a very natural question to any reader, and more es-

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUTNY.

pecially to the investigating and philosophi- cal mind. Concerning this question con- jectures after conjectures and theories after theories have been advanced by the most gifted and learned historians; and even some of the most distingnished philologists have endeavored to ascertain, by tracing and analyzing their means of communication to each other, some intelligent origin, bnt all have left us still in the sea of conjecture.

A popular and somewhat common theory accepted by many is that the Indians existed in the " conjectural history of the world." Others have very sanguinely considered them the "lineal descendants of the lost tribes of Israel."

Some affirm that they have their origin from this, that or the other ancient nation; but whatever theory is right, it is neverthe- less a striking fact worthy of special mention that almost all historians agree that this race must have by some means crossed over from Asia into this country. .It is claimed that there was a period in the world's history when America and Asia constituted one and the same great country, and that it was at this remote period of time that the Indian's lot was cast upon this soil. But from what- ever source, country or climate they came from, one fact is apparent and strikingly so, namely, that they all bear similar character- istics, in manner of living, personal appear- ance and means of communication, which is said to be altogether different from any other race known to have existed. Their langnage has been a stumbling block, so to speak, to the most eminent philologist, as there has

never been found any similarity whatever in any of their langnages to that of other nations.

To show what widely different theories have been assumed and advocated by some of the most eminent scholars of the land concern- ing this peculiar people found here in Dallas connty, and as is said to have been found in all newly discovered countries of this contin- ent, the following is given from Bancroft's history :

" The American Indians, their origin and consanguinity have from the day of Colum- bus to the present time proved a knotty question. School-men and scientists count their theories by the hundreds, each sustain- ing some pet conjecture with a logical clear- ness eqnaled only by the facility with which he demolishes all the rest. One proves their origin by holy writ; another by the writings of ancient philosophers; another by the sage sayings of the fathers; one discovers them in Phoenician merchants; another, in the lost tribes of Israel. They are tracked with equal certainty from Scandinavia, from Ireland, from Iceland, from Greenland, across Bering Strait, from Asia across the Northern Pacific, from the Southern Pacific, from the Poly- nesian Islands, from Australia, and even from Africa; venturesome Carthaginians were thrown upon the Eastern shore; Japanese junks on the Western.

" The breezes that wafted hither the Amer- ican primogenitors are still blowing, and the ocean enrrents by which they came cease not yet to flow. The finely spun web of logic by which these fancies are maintained would

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

prove amusing did not the profound earnest- ness of their respective advocates render them ridiculous. Acosta, who studied the subject for nine years in Peru, concludes that Amer- ica was the Ophir of Solomon. Aristotle relates that the Carthaginians in a voyage were carried to an unknown island; wher- upon Florian, Gomora, Oriedo, and others are satisfied the island was Española.

" ' Who are these that fly as a cloud?' ex- claims Esaias, or 'as the doves to their win- dows?' Scholastic sages answer, 'Columbus is the Columba, or dove, here propliesied.'

"Alexo Vanegas shows that America was peopled by Carthiginians: Anahuac is but another name for Anak. Besides, bothı nations practiced picture-writing, both ven- erated fire and water, wore skins of animals, pierced the ears, ate dogs, drank to excess, telegraphed by means of fires on hills, wore all their finery on going to war, poisoned their arrows, beat drums and shouted in battle. Garcia found a man in Peru who had seen a rock with something very like Greek char. acters engraved upon it. Six hundred years after the apotheosis of Hercules, Coleo made a long voyage; Homer knew of the ocean; the Athenians made war with the inhabitants of Atlantis; hence the Americans were Greeks! Lord Kingsborough proves conclusively that these same American Indians were Jews, be- cause their symbol of innocence was, in the one case, a fawn and in the other a lamb; be- cause of the law of Moses, considered in reference to the custom of sacrificing children, which existed in Mexico and Peru; because

the fear of tumults of the people, famine, pes- tilence and warlike invasions were exactly the same as those entertained by the Jews, if they failed in the performance of any of their ritual observances; because the education of children commenced amongst the Mexicans; as with the Jews, at an exceedingly early age; because beating with a stick was a very common punishment among the Jews as well as among the Mexicans; because the priest- hood of both nations was hereditary in a cer- tain family; because both were inclined to pay great respect to unlucky omens, such as the screeching of the owl, the sneezing of a person in company, and so forth; and because of a hundred other equally sound and rele- vant auguments. *

" There are many advocates for an Asiatic origin, both among ancient and modern specu- lators. Favorable winds and currents, the short distance between islands, traditions both Chinese and Indian, refer the peopling of America to that quarter. Similarity in color, features, religion, reckoning of time, absence of a heavy beard, and innumerable other comparisons are drawn on by enthusias- tic advocates to support a Mongolian origin. The same arguments, in whole or in part, are used to prove that America was peopled by Ethiopians, by French, English, Trojans, Frisians, Scythians; and also that different parts were settled by different peoples. The test of language has been applied with equal weight and facility and enthusiasm to Egyp- tian, Jew, Phoenician, Carthaginian, Spaniard, Chinese, Japanese, and, in fact to nearly all the nations of the earth."

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

MOUND-BUILDERS.

It was once almost the general belief among all writers that a race called " Mound-build- ers" originally populated this country; that they preceded the red men in right of posses- sion; but of late it is being conceded that the Indian, the creature such as was found here in Dallas county by the original settlers, was "one of the Almighty's earliest pieces of handiwork."

THE INDIAN CHARACTER.

The Indian originally was utterly ignorant of the arts and stratagem of warfare, and even until this day and time they are less learned and skilled in the art of military tactics or modern warfare. When he first entered into battle with the white inan fortifications of any kind were unknown to him. Rocks, trees, bluffs or anything by chance he might come across to ward off danger, was sought ont by him in time of battle.

It is supposed that when he came in battle with the " Mound-builders" his only weapon was a club; but suffice it to say that he soon, by that keen perception characteristic of his race, learned from his more intelligent adver- sary how to make and use the bow and arrow.

Some writers have contended that the In- dian by nature is not disposed to be warlike and cruel; that he originally lived in absolute peace with all about him; that he occupied himself chiefly in hunting wild game, roam- ing over mountains and hills, through the valley and the forests, or seated by the fire in winter or lying beneath the shades of some

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Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 11

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 1128

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1128