The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-01-31
New River in California.

1he following interesting letter from
Maj. Emory to the head of the Topograph-
lcal Bureau, Is Of great interest. The ap-
pearance of this new river in the heart of
the Desert, where all that passed have suf-
fered greatly for want of water, is one of
those interpostions of Providence in be-
half of our people that is almost equal TO
the age of mirlcles.
CAMP RILEY, SoUTH OF SAN DIEGO. }
California, .4ug. 30, 1910.
SIR: Avery remarkable circumstance
has occurred in that portion of the country
between the mouth of Gila River and the
mountains, usually called the Desert"
sometimes the ''Jornado.''
A river, forty feet wide and more than
waist deep, has appeared in the middle of
this desert, affording delicious water to
drink, making an oasis at the most conve-
! nient spot for the traveller.
The first parties that came in by the
Glla route arrived in San Diego about the
goth June. Among them were many III
telilgent persons, who passed over thc..route
of the advanced guard of the Army OF the
West i'll 1916, and who saw no river in
the desert, and suffered dreadfully with
thirst. The parties that came in about
the fourth of July first stated this remark
able circumstance Of encountering river
where none before had existed But they
were not duly credited. Others have since
arrived in great numbers, all bearing tesii-
mony to the truth of the statement.
From the best information can gather
it appears
]. The event must have taken place be-
tween the 2Oth June and lst July.
2. It's source is to the south OF the route
traced on my map. 1t crosses that rorte
about midway Of the desert, or more cor
rectly, about half way between the camp
of the 26th and 9th November, noted on
the map, ana its course Is little east Of
north.
In connexon with this subject it may
be stated that fine fresh water lake has
also been formed few miles to the south
OF the camp of November Goth. This is
evidently from the back water of the Col
orado, the indication Of the barometer in
1916 showing it to be near the level of the
Colorado.
My first impressions were that the new
river was furnished from the same source,
and the barOmetric measurements of '46
are not adverse TO this suppostion; but its
direction nearly north, and other circum
stances seem to forbid this conjecture. 1t
cannot be supplied from the mountains,
which, in that parallel and 10 the south do
not reach the regions Of snow. Whence
it comes, and where it goes, is matter
vet to be determined. | will take an
opportunity to detach a party to examine
It,.
Seeing vast number of emigrants now
coming over this route, most of whom, as
they inform me, have no other guide than
my report, will be glad if you will have
inserted a notice of this new river, In any
new addition of the journal and map that
may be published.
The existence of water must be follow
ed by the growth of grass; and, if the river
continues, the route by the Gila, now
much travelled will stand fair to rival all
overland routes to California. 1t is proba-
bly, the only route within the limits of the
United States that can be passed in winter,
and the one upon which will concentrate
the winter travel to the Pacific.
Very respectfully,
your obediedt servant.
w. IL. EMORY.
Col. J. ]. ALERT,
(rb3of |'o,.oo J.