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29 limestone, containing magnesia & traces of sulphur. The 'soft rock' of Austin is easily quarried, it indurates quickly, but afterwards in wet weather cracks, thus care should be had in building with it. Fossels of the Ammonite & fossil bones are found when quarrying likewise sulphuret of iron, common salt it is said has been discovered not far off. There are no traces of Coal.

 Here I had an opportunity of examining some small specimens of minerals from the San Saba Mines; the gangue was of quartz with traces of copper & iron, but I could not without analyzing them properly determine as to their containing any of the precious metals. According to report gold was the metal extracted there.
 At night there were a few Mosquitos, but they are seldom seen. Some ? catch came from the mountains, they got amongst the Stock in the prairie outside the town and