Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-09-21
rrHE PROPOSED INLAND SEA.


T. SrAhh-.-..-.-. -.-.--.....-......-.. .hsmiitoh
THE PROPOSED INLAND SEA.
From the San Diego Union. August 2G.l
lowing to frequent inquiries for cop
les of the RECORD containing an account
Of the proposed inland sea. to be made
by flooding the lands near the mouth of
the Colorado river. we have concluded to
republish the same.
There has been much private and pub
lie speculation upon the rumored project
of overhowing the lands near the mouth
Of the Colorado river. 1t has been sup
posed that W. s. Chapman. Of San Fran
cisco, had some gigantic scheme on hand
by which the climate of the lower coun-
try, and especially near the month of the
Colorado river, was to lie changed, and o
great inland sea, to be made out of the
desert, was to be accomplished. Mr..
Chapman has undoubtedly some scheme
on foot. but what it is has not yet come
to the surface. That it is in regard to
overhowed lands, we have no boubt.
THE EXPEDITION.
/. E. james, engineer in charge, was
sent from San Francisco, by Mr.. Chap
man, to make certain surveys and obser-
vations on lands bordering on the Colo
. RADIO and New rivers. He organized his
party in San Diego. taking Samuel Purdy,
Jr., assistant Their outfit, when they
started to penetrate these localities, about
which so little is known by the outside
world, consisted OF eight men, wagon
and pack-horse. From where they
branch OF the Fort Yuma road, they pro-
ceeded over desert country for about 25
miles, when they struck the New river
country, which is said to contain n large
freshets that overflow that section. 1t is
30 miles from there to the mouth of
Hardy's Colorado river, and 231a miles
from there to the mouth of the Colorado
river, at Montague Island
The party struck of to the right Of
Signal Mountain, which is near the
boundary line between the United States
and Lower California, and at the head of
Cocopah range. ~
LAKE MAoUATA.
This fine sheet OF water il about 50
miles in length, and averages ten miles in
breadth. Its water is described as being
intensely impregnated with salt. Its
name signifies hair, so called by the CO.
copah Indians, on account of the peculiar
sea-weed that grows in it. The shores
arc covered with this weed, which has
been washed ashore. aud which very
much resembles hair. The northern end
of the lake is at the base Of the Signal
Maintain aud aytanI, rl e.
within l6 miles of the lower end of Co.
copah range of maintains. In fact, the
lake lies, as it were, in broad valley
between the Cocopah and Coast ranges.
1t is only IA miles from Indian Wells, Oh
the Yuma road, to the north end Of the
lake. This large body Of water seems tc
be fed mainly by the tides which flow
from the Colorado river, through Hardy +
Colorado and Pasqual slough. It is pos
sible that the very heavy tide one Of ths
"bores," spoken OF hereafter may fiov
over the land into the lake. The grount
on the lake, ut the entrance of Pasqua
slough, is but ten feet above the mail
tide, while further up it is but two fee
higher. The whole country from New
River Station. on the Yuma road, to III,
Gulf of California, is subject to overflow
from the river, or high tides from tn
Gulf
Mount Purdy, an extinct volcano, is a
the summit OF the divide between th'
desert country to the north and the fer
tile country to the south.
tssS HOT wEArBER
While the party was in this desert th
heat was almost intolerable. The ther
atar nd. -, 81. -
every afternoon ia degrees in the shade
1t would usually drop to 10 or 80 de
grees at night, but once more before tn
party reached Mount Purdy the mercur
reached ITO degrees in the night Afte
passing this mountain the climate wa
found to be very fine, on account of tn
breeze from the Gulf.
THE CoCopAH INDIANS.
This tribe of Indians inhabit the mes
or table land back near the Cocopa
range, and are opposed to mvasions {
all characters. When to exploring part
first entered their dominion they met d
Point of Rocks, on Hardy's Colorado,
delegation Of Indians, who wanted
know their business. 1t was explaine
to them that the party wanted to make
Indians explained all their conversatio
the map business was readily unde
stood. They did not like to have IL
party go through their country, and d
clared positively that 30 large party
strangers should not. In San Francist
several old Mexicans and others who hi
some knowledge Of the Cocopahs, tol
Mr.. James that no one had as yet bee
able to penetrate that country, and tn
those who had made tho attempt ht
lost their lives. A compromise of dout
full meaning was finally made by whit
Messrs. James and Purdy were to be a
lowed to proceed with one man and
pack-horse. Nothing daunted they con
piled with the demand and set out O
their journey. They were followed /
tho Indians constantly, and occasional
the latter would come into camp.
INDIAN ATTIRE.
The Indians are tall and fine lookil
in their Garden-of-E Eden attire. A go,
looking squaw is rather the except,
than the rule. They wear a sort of
shirt, made of bark, that comes down
little above the knees. The members
families are very affectionate toward ca
other. The men wear their. hair Ion
parted in the middle and cut short
front. over the eyes.
SHORT RATIoNs.
During the time tho engineers were
the Indian country. their rations consi
ed Of flour. sugar and coffee. They w
obliged to subsist for ten days on fllc
and water, and when their supply ga
out, they lived for three days on what
called ''pig weed" which they cook
and ate ~ greens, and found it to
very nourishing (no joke).
NEAR MOUTH OF COLORADO.
Tho vartv CANNED with their Ind