The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-04-23
rHE eREAT COLORADO DESSERT.

Different surveys of the tract of bar
rem 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 q sand-bar. The
bar was undoubtedly formed by drift
ing sand which cut the region off from
communication with the sea. and
evaporation, in the course of years,
left it dry. ~
1t is now stated, from Washington,
that Senator j ones, ofNeVada. has re-
eeived full reports of the result of a
scientific exploration made at the ex-
pense of himself and private citizen
of California, last summer, for the
purpose of .ascertaihing the practical
btlity of recIaiming or submerging
the great Colorado desert by turning
into it the waters of the Colorado
River or the Gulf of California. The
report of Mr.. j. E. James, the engin-
eer who conducted the expedition, and
an elaborate commentary upon it by
M. r. E. Stretch, an eminent eiYilen
gineer of. San francisco, furnish the
following very interesting informa-
ton.
The greatest portion of the Colora-
do desert aud the Mojave Valley and
Death Valley, which, lie north of it,
are from 40 to 100 feet below the level
of the sea. This great desert, stretch
ing from Lower California to Inyo
county, in the State of California, and
from tthe base of the Coast Range
Mountains to the Colorado River,
comprising an area of about 800 miles
long by $50 wide, 1t is believed may
be converted into chain of lakes or
irrigated by the methods above men,
toned and, also, that a large portion
of this s'desert" really consists of very
fertile soil, being deep alluvium, sus-
ceptible of the highest cultivation. 1t
is further shown that the prevalence
l.of what are known as ''sand storms"
aud hot, dessicating winds, and the
deficient rain-fall-the evils suffered
by the surrounding country, and as
far north as the Tulare Valley of Cali
| ifornia-are directly traceable to the
existence of this desert from which,
as from a great furnace, there con-
stantly rises in the summer time, q
vast column of heated air without ap-
preciable humidity. Thus the mois-
ture of the rain-bearing clouds which
are blown northwesterly during the
summer months from the Gulf Of
California, is dissipated as soon as
they reach the borders of this super
heated region, and are prevented from
reaching the dry but fertile plains of
California beyond.
The shells found on the surface of
this desert prove that il has been at
one time the bed of the sea, and at a
subsequent perion the bed of fresh
water lake. The shore lines of both
sea and lake can still be seen and rec
ognized in many places; and Mr..
Stretch expresses the opinion that the
Aztec civilization of the adjacent re-
gion in Arizona (of which there are
so many traces) came to an end in
consequence of the climate changes
caused by the evaporation of these
vast lakes in Southern California, after
the Colorado River had cut down its
bed in the Great Canon so deep that
its course was diverted at Colville to
a southerly direction.
The question is suggested whether
these desert lands CHuuOt be reclaimed
by irrigation, and thus saved, instead
of being totally submerged, as it is
considered certain that covering them
with vegetation would tend TO pre-
vent the evaporation of moisture, and
at the same time act as precipitant
for whatever moisture the atmosphere
| may carry, or whether both plans
might not be combined.