Arizona citizen., 1874-07-11
OverfOwing the Colorado Desert of
 CalifOrni3s

Yuma, have been found by surveys to De
 lower than the level of the sea, and tlrat
 a proposition is seriously entertained by
 men of large wealth and capable of great
 deeds, to open up channel to the waters
 of the ocean in the Gulf of California and
 thereby overflow much of the burning
 waste. Small minds including an editori- al writer on the New York Herald, laugh at and ridicule the project; but William s. Chapman of San Francisco is a man of great foresight and wonderful success in
 business, and he has procured, chiefly at his own expense, survey of the Desert with reference to the Gulf of California, and he is of opinion that the overflow is practicable, and that Congress should by law order such survey as would dem- onstrate to the public generally the prac- ticabllity or mpracticability of the prop osition.
 There is ample evidence in the country adjacent to the Desert that it was once in- habited in places, and the belief is that, at the time, the waters of the ocean cov- cred what is now the Desert. and that by some volcanic or other action, the water departed and left the almost frey furnace which changed the climate of the sur rounding country and compelled the set tiers to abandon their homes. We are in- formed that throughout the country to Death Valley Gin Nevada), which is several hundred feet below the level of the sea, evidences of former settlement are abund- ant. It is believed that vixen the Col orado Desert, Death Valley and other places in the now parched interior were covered with water, that rains were abun- dant and also human and vegetable life, and that if the burning Colorado Desert could be covered with water, the climate would again be moist, rains fall, and the surrounding country become inhabited with happy and thriving people. It is well known that much of Southern California is comparatively destitute of water and without any available supply from t e ordinary or usually known subject most thought and scientific eX animation, are of the firm opinion that the conversion of the vast Desert into a lake or inland sea, would insure abundant rains in California from the San Joaquin Valley to our southern national boundary, and in like manner affect much of Ari- zona.
 Build q furnace; and keep it glowing with heat in the center of garden or park, and all in and around, despite human efforts, would soon die and repro duction be made impossible; whereas if a lake be substituted for the furnace, vegetable life and beauty wonld only be limited by the amount of cultivation done. This is the best illustration we can give of what ould occur in much of Arizona and Southern California, with the now burning Colorado Desert living sea.
 The change, if possible of accomplish ment, is delightful to contemplate, and if within the range of possibilities, ought to be effected; ard, as we have stated, men of wealth and scientific intelligence bearing directly upon the subject, regard the project feasible.
 Senator Jones of Nevada has called the attention of Congress and the nation to it and will undoubtedly press it further at the ensuing S ssion of Congress Every man, woman, child, and beast in Southern California and much of Arizona and some of Utah, has direct interest in this matter, as well as those who are spending their time and means to develope it. Senator Jones, Mir. Chapman and others, only ask Congress to order and pay for such survey as will clearly demonstrate the possibility or impossibility of con- verting that vast Desert into sea by the process indicated, and thereby retaining millions upon millions of acres of almost country. They are anxious to have the subject agitated-esp pecially by the people in the sections named. It must be borne in mind that private survey made in 1873, by 1. James, a civil engineer of good repute, leads to the belief that the project is feasible, and hence entities it to candid consideration by the public.