The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-09-04
The Great Colorado Desert.

Different surveys of the tract of barren
soil known as the Colorado desert show that
it is below the surface of the ocean. But
this is explained by its position, separated
from the Gulf of California only by sand
bar. The bar was undoubtedly formed by
drifting sand which cut the re- Ion Uif rom
communication with the sea, and eyapoIil-
ton, in the course OF years, left it dry
1t is now stated from Washington, that
Senator Jones, Of Nevada, has received full
reports of the Tesult of Il scientific explora-
ton made at the expense Of himself and
private citizen Of California, last summer,
for the purpose Of ascertaining the pract-
cabiity Of reclaimins or sub.norging the
great Colorado desert by turning into it the
waters Of the Colorado River or the Gulf Of
California. The report of Mr.. j. T. james,
the engineer who conducted the expedition,
and an elaborate commentary upon 1t by VI.
K. L. Stretch an eminent civil engineer of
San Francisco, furnish the following very
interesting information
The greatest portion of the Colorado desert
and the Mojave Valley and Death Yui.ty,
which lie north of it, are from 40 10 100
feet below the level of the sea. This great
desert stretching from Lower California, 10
lnyO county, i'll the State Of California, and
from the base Of the Coast Range Mountains
to the Colorado River, comprising an area
about 3O0 miles long by I5o wide, it is be-
lieycd may be converted into Il chain of lakes
or irrigated by the methods above mentioned:
and also, that large portion of this desert
really consists Of extremely fertile soil. be-
ing deep alluyi I'm susceptible to the high
est cultivation. IL is further shown that
the prevalence of what are known a. sand
storms, and hot, deSsicatng winds, and the
deficient rainfall-the evils suffered by the
surrounding country, and as far north rs
the Tulare Vulley Of Ca iforni;l-arc direct
ly traceable to the existence Of this desert,
from which, as from great furnace, there
constantly rises in the summer time Il vast
column of heated air without appreciable
humidity. Thus the moisture of the rain
bearing clouds which are blown northwest
erly during the summer months from the
Gulf of California, Is dis~ipnted aS soon as
they reach the borders Of this superheated
region, and are prevented from reaching the
dry but fertile plains OF California beyond.
The shells found ON the surface of this
desert prove it has been at one time the bed
OF a sea, and mt n subsequent period the bed
of Il fresh water lake. The shore lines of
both sea and lake can still be seen and
recognized in many places and Mr.. Stretch
expresses the opinion that the Aztec civil
ization Of the adjacent region in Arizona
(of whirh there are 50 many troce~) came to
an end in consequence OF the climatic changes
caused by the eyapnration OF these vast lakes
in southern California, after the Colorado
River had cut down its bed in the Great
Canon so deep that it, course was diverted
at Col7illc to a southerly direction
The question Is suggested whether these
desert lands cannot be reclaimed by irriga-
ton, and thus saved, instead of being totally
submerged, as it is considered certain that
covering them with vegetation would tend
to prevent the evaporation of moisture. aud
at the same time act as a precipitant for
whatever moisture the atmosphere may
carry. OF whether both plans might not be
combined