The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1850-03-15
River Spring In the Wilderness.

Col. Emory, in letter recently published in
the National Intelligencer, gives the following
interesting account Of river which has recently
made its appearance in that portion of our
vast Continent where, perhaps Of all others, il
was most needed:
CAMP RILEY, SoUrH OF SAN. DIEeo2
California, August Goth, 1s49.
Sir:-A very remarkable circumstance
has occurred in that portion of the country
between the mouth of the Gila River and
the mountains, usually called the Desert
sometimes The sJornada.'
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 convent
ent spot for the traveller.
The first parties that came in by the
Gila rout arrived in San Diego about the
20th of June. Amongst them were many
intelligent persons, who passed over the
route of the advanced guard of the Army
Of the West in 1916, and who saw no riVer
in the desert. and suffered dreadfully with
thirst. The parties that came in about the
fourth of Jaiy first stated this remarkable
circumstance of enconntering a river where
none before had existed. But they were
not duly credited, Others have since ar
rived IN great numbers, all bearing testirno
nv to the truth of the statement.
From the best information can gather
it appears
l. The event must have taken place be-
tween the 20th June and lst July.
2. It's source is TO the south ofthe route
traced on my map. 1t crosses that route
about midway OF the desert or, more cor
rectIy, about half way between the camp
of the 26th and 9th Nov. noted on the
map, and its course is little east Of north.
In connection with this subject it may
be stated that a fine fresE-water lake has
also been formed few miles to the south
of the camp of November 26th. This is
evidently from tie back water of the Col
orado, tie 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 baromeric measurements of forty
six are not adverse to his suppostion; but
its direction nearly north. and other crcum-
stances, seemed to forbid this conjecture.
1t cannot be Supplied from the mountains.
which in that parallel and TO the south, do
not reach the regions Of snow Whence
it comes, and where it goes, is a matter
vet to be determined. will take an OPP
portunity to detach party to examine IT,.
Seeing vast numbers 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 newiriver in any
new edition Of the journal and map that
may be published.
The existence of water must soon be fol-
lowad by the growth Of grass and if the
river continues, the route by the Gila, now
much travelled, will stahd fair to rival all
overland routes to California. Ii is prob
ably the only route within the limits Of the
United States that can be passed in the
I winter, and the one npbn which viii con-
centrated the winter travel to the Pacific.
Respectfully ygurs.
w. Fl. EMORY.
, To Co. J. / ARERT. Chief Corps Topo-