The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-03-30
Nature at Work.
THE GREAT AMERICAN DESERT PREPAR-
ING TO BLOOM.

| The Inland Empire has the following
remarkable statement concerning the
process of change going on all over the
great desert between California and
Missouri. 1t says:
For some time past there has been n
question before the people of this basin
and of the plains east of the Rocky
Mountains, that has as yet failed to be
satisfactorily answered. 1t is-Why
are the streams carrying more water
than in former yearss The great
plains are fast losing their arid nature,
and through them are running streams
in places where twenty years ago there
was not drop of water; and where at
that time there were small streams
they are now very much enlarged. In
many cases this change has been OF
great value, as it has given to the trav-
eler a supply of water that had previ-
Ous!y been denied.
When the first emigrants crossed the
plains to California, the great objection
urged to the trip was the scarcity of
water on the great part of the route.
Within Il few years this has been all
changed, and in the beds of the old
streams that were dry when first found
there is now water for all the purposes
required.
The Laramie plains are not now des-
titute of water, whereas some years ago
there was none, and the traveller had
to carry water on passing over them.
There can be no doubt that for the last
ten years there has been continual in
crease OF water throughout the whole
desert country between the Missouri
and the Sierra Nevada. The Arkansas
was dry in 1862 from the Pawnee Fox
to the Cimaron crossing, and previous
to that time the Pccos was dried up so
that at many places the inhabitants
were obliged to dig for water. And
the Moro Valley and Plains were At
that time almost destitute of vegeta-
ton is luxuriants, and it is one of the
very best wheat growing sections.
Denver was built on the banks of an
extinct creek, which it was supposed
would remain dry but after the settle
ment, to the establishment of the peo-
pie, it became quite q stream, and is
now crossed by bridges. The Huerfa-
no, the Roya Pecos, and others that
were dry during the summer months,
ten years ago, are now constantly run
ming in fair streams. We are satisfied
Pacific Railroad there is mnch more
moisture in the earth than there was
only IL few years since. Again, Salt
Lake is seveal feet higher than it was
ten years ago and it is constantly ris-
ing, and it has been urged by those
who have paid attention to the subject,
that the rise of water there would pro-
duce a solution of the Mormon question
before Congress would act upon it.
When the Salt Lake shall rise a few
feet higher we shall look for it's over
flow to reach the Shell Creek range as
evidently at one time as water did
cover what is now only an arid valley,
not directi i'll its course, but cut up with
ranges, still the continued valley can
be traced. This great increase of wa
ter will work great revolution in the
opinion of the people as to the capaci-
ty of the great plains for agricultural
purposes.
The only reason why the great Plaius
cannot be made into good fruit farms i;
the lack of water and timber, as the
land in richness has no superior. The
i increase of water of which we have
spoken will do away with one" objec.
ton, and the discovery of coal over ;
distance East of Salt Lake for ever Coz
miles will obviate the other. The mar
who travels over the Union Pacific
railroad twenty-five years from this
time will find that the sage brush has
given way to crops of all kinds grow.
ing in the greatest luxuriance, and thai
the sturdy farmers with happy homes
have taken the places of the wander
ing red men. In our own State the in
crease of moisture has been noticed
and the old settlers do not hesitate tt
say that in many places the stream.
have increased more than one fourth
in size during the past five years, and
in some places where there was no wa.
ter then there are now small but con
stantly running streams.