1897 Map of Eagle Mountain

About this map

The Rio Grande snakes along the international United States Mexico boundary, defining the southern edge of this West Texas survey. Conducted in the 1890s by W.J. Lloyd under the direction of Henry Gannett, the map documents a sparse and arid landscape dominated by the Quitman Mountains and the prominent heights of Eagle Mt. Settled life is limited to isolated outposts like Phinney's Ranch, reflecting the difficult terrain of El Paso County before modern development. Water sources are the primary landmarks for travel and survival, including the remote Hot Spring near the river and the essential Eagle Spring further inland. The vast Quitman Arroyo cuts through the center of the sheet, illustrating the drainage patterns that shaped regional transit routes during the late nineteenth century.