Transactions Volume 51 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916 Excerpt: ...things are left to private or corporate enterprise. Failing this, there is no source of information available to the public. Dr. Udden has suggested a search for potash in wells bored to the southeast of Spur, along lines bearing northeast and southwest between the Brazos and Colorado Rivers. In addition to this there should be as detailed an examination as possible in the counties already mentioned, especially in those where extensive deposits of alkali salts are known to exist in old lakes, basins, etc. The more favorable localities for deep boring should be ascertained and mapped, so as to reduce to a minimum the risks attending such operations. If such soluble compounds as common salt, carbonate of soda, sulphate of soda, sulphate of magnesia, etc., are known to exist there, both on the surface and at shallow depths, there is no reason why potash salts, no more soluble than these, should not be found also; i.e., no reason in so far as concerns solubility in water. The average annual rainfall is about 15 in., but so unevenly distributed that for months together there is no precipitation at all. It is during such lengthy droughts that many of the old lakes, basins, etc., appear to be covered with snow, so rapid is the accumulation of salt, etc., due, in part, to capillarity. Under the winds that blow almost constantly and under a sun that becomes oppressive, at times, evaporation proceeds with extraordinary rapidity. A shallow lake to-day becomes a bed of glistening salt to-morrow. I have thus far dealt with facts and suggestions which have been ascertained and ventured upon with reference to that part of Texas which lies southeast of and adjacent to New Mexico. There is still another area, bordering upon old Mexico, in the counties of Brewster and Presid...