Mariposa Democrat., 1857-12-31
Arrival of the Overland Mall

BY the arrival of the southern coast packet surnri
at San Francisco, learn that the overland mail o.
rived at San Diego the sth nst after twentyniDo
days travel being detained three days on the G rvor
in consequence of high water. The following extract.
are from the San Diego paper:
The tone Of the newspapers in Texas regarding tho
state of the agricultural interests is very encouraging
Indian depredations were becoming frequent along
the Colorado, but Gen. Twiggs had taken promnt
measures to quiet them.
Capt. Popes operations in sinking artesian welsop
the Lano Estacado seem to be progressing fayorabv
although in no case has water been brought to the
surface.
late number of the San Antonio Herald gives us
some information regarding the artesian wellborinq
on the Desert, which gladly lay before readers
who will at perceive that it affords every earnest
of the most complete success whenever similar opera
tons shall be commenced on the Colorado Desert
the time for which, we hope, is now not far distant
The artesian well bored during the summer Of 1855.
was about fifteen miles east of the Pecos river and
near the thrtysecond parallel of latitude. Abun.
dance Of water was first reached at depth of $50
feet, which 20 within 200 feet of the surface
At depth of GAO feet second stream was pierced,
which 400 feet, to within $50 of the surface
The geological formations bored through were 50
much softer than had been anticipated of
marls, clay and soft sand stone-and so much thicker
that the well had TO be lined with tubing and the
supply being exhausted it was found necessary to
suspend operations until additional supplies were OBJ
tained, which done in April 1856, when the work
was again resumed on the Llano Estacado. new
point was selected having advantages over the
first, and after passing through the same seams Of
water another stream was pierced, which rose $50
feet within ITO feet of the surface. The boring
continued to the depth Of s67 feet at which depth
all the boring apparatus was exhausted.
The appropriation having been exhausted as well as
the apparatus, the work suspended until the pres
ent season, when Capt Pope, under a new appropria
tion, recommended his labors. correspondent Of
the same paper, writing from his camp gives the fol-
lowing account of the present working of the party
"The expedition is progressing as rapidly as posi-
bic with the we'll and will probably march for the
Rio Grande by the middle of November. Before re.
suming the boring Of the well left unfinished last year
a well five inches in diameter was sunk to the upper
stream, Gao feet) into which was placed copper
pump. From this the steam engine now supplies
itself with water Within two weeks after the arrival
of the expedition, enough wood had been dug and
hauled (musqut roots) to run the engine for two
months This fuel is admirable, and in the greatest
abundance. The grass all the table lands is mag
ncent, and the weather has been altogether delight
full
The staked Plain" is probably the worst desert
the continent and the demonstration of the fact
that water can be obtained on it by boring is one of
great importance; but what interests the most is
the comparison which each of readers must draw
for HIMSELF the perusa of these extracts, regard
Colorado Desert.