Arizona citizen., 1874-04-04
of the Colorado Desert
 of California,

Ol CdlIIOTulao
 Many of our readers are more or less familiar with the superficial appearances of the noted Colorado desert. Arizona can not be reached directly from the west, without crossing some portion of it. During 1873, survey of some degree of accuracy was made of it under the super vision of I. E. James, civil engineer of considerable fame in California and Ne vada. Upon Mir. James, report, R. E. Stretch, an eminent civil engineer of San Francisco and for one term State geolo- gist of Nevada, has made an elaborate commentary which sets forth a theory if not entirely new is still of much interest. A Washington dispatch, of March s, to the New York Herald, gives this abridge- ment of MT. Stretch's remarks
 The exploration shows that the greater portion of the Colorado Desert and the MOjaVe Valley and Death Valley, which lie north of 1t are from forty to 100 feet below the level of the sea, and that this great desert, stretching from Lower Cali fOrnia to lnyO county, in the State of Cali fOrnia, and from the basin of the Coast Range Mountains to the Colorado River, comprising an area of about 300 miles long by l50 wide, may be converted into a chain of lakes or irrigated by the method above mentioned; and also that large portion of this "desert" really consists of extremely fertile SOil being a deep allu- vium susceptible of the highest cultiva- ton. It IS further shown that the preva. fence of what are known as Sand-StOrmS,' ,'' and hot, desicating winds and the deficient rain-fall-the evils suffered by the sur rounding country and as far north as the Tulare Valley of California are directly traceable to the existence of this desert, from which, as from great furnace, there constantly rises in the summer time vast column of heated air, without ap- preciable humidity. Thus the moisture 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 superheated region and prevented from reaching the cry but fertile plains of Cali fOrnia beyond. The shells found on the surface of this desert prove that it has been at on time the bed of @ sea and at a subsequent period the bed of fresh water lake. The shore lines of both sea and lake can still be seen and recognized in many places; and MT. Stretch expresses the opinion that the Aztec civilization of the adjacent region Tn Arizona (Of which there are so many traceS) came to an end in consequence Ofthe climatic changes caused by the evaporation of these vast lakes in Southern California, after the Colorado river had cut down it's bed in the Great Canyon so deep that it's course was divert ed at COllviile to a sOutherly direction The question is suggested whether these desert lands cannot be reclaimed by irri- gatiOn, and thus saved, instead of being totally submerged, as it is considered cer- tain that covering them with vegetation would tend to prevent the evaporation of moisture and at the same time act as a pTecipitant for whatever moisture the at mOSphere may carry, or whether both plains might not be combined. Senator Jones, of Nevada, expresses the opinion that, although either course would involve large expenditures of money, the matter is Of such public interest as to be worthy of investigation by the government, which alone has the necessary resources and ap- plianceS at command for thorough eX- animation of the subject. If, by such an examination the feasibility of the work should be demonstrated, private capital might be found to undertake it.
 Referring to this editorially and es- pecially relating to the matter of govern ment aid, The Herald shows it's hostility to'the scheme in this language:
 We are afraid of this last suggestion. The government has enough to do with it's money; and, as to the desert lands, it will take a thousand years for us to settle our fertile lands. In 1874 A. D., let Senator Jones bring in his irrigation bill, and The Herald will support it; but, we are afraid, not till then.
 THE CITIZEN here observes that many truly great enterprises have been projected and completed with the constant opposi- tion of the great Herald.