New-York tribune., 1874-03-09
TIE GREAT COLORADO DESERT.

REPORT OF PRIVATE EXPLORATION-THR PEAIsIBII-
TYOF IRRIGATING OR sUBMERGING THE GREAT DE
sRRT-THR SUBJECT TO BIZ BROUGHT TO THE AT
TRNTION OF CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, March 8-Senator Jones Of Ne
vada has received full reports OF the result
OF q scientIh, explo ration made t the
expense OF himself and private citi
zen OF California Summer for the purpose Of
tanning the praoticsbty of reclaiming submergng
the Great Colorado Desert by turning into IL the waters
OF the Colorado River or the Gulf of California The
port Of Mr. j. f. James, the engineer who conducted the
expeditioD, and elaborate commentary upon IL by
Mr. T. Stretch. eminent civil engineer OF San Fran
CISCO furnish the following interesting informa
tion much Of which is entirely new:
Tho exploration that tho greater portion OF the
Colorado Desert and the Mojsve Valley and Death VAL
ley which lie north Of It, from 40 TO 100 feet below
the level Of tho sea- and that this great desert stretch
ing from Lower California to Inyo County, in the State
Of California, and from the base OF tho Coast RAM
Mountains to the Colorado River, comprising area
about 400 miles long by 80 wide. may be con-
verted into Chain OF lakes or friRat cd
by the methods above mentioned and also
that large portion Of this desert really consists Of
extremely fertile SOIL being deep alluvium susceptl-
BILE OF CHEST cultivation II is further shown that
the prevalence Of what known "sand-storms,"
and hot. dssecting winds, and the deficient rainfall
the evils suffered by the surrounding country. and
far north the Tuare Valley OF Caornia-are directly
traceabe tho existence Of this desert from which,
from great furnace there constantly rises in the Sum-
time q column OF heated air without apprecia-
BILE humidity Thus the moisture OF the ran.bearing
clouds which blown north westerly during the Sum
months from tho Gulf Of California is disspated
they reach the borders OF this superheated
region. aud are prevented from reaching tho dry but
fertile plains OF California beyond.
The shells found the surface or this desert prove
that IL has been at time the bed of ana
subsequent period the bed Of fresh water lake. The
shore lines OF both and lake can still be seen and
recognized In many places aud Mr. Stretch Expresses
the opinion that the Aztec civilization OF the adjacent
region In Arizona tof which there many trsces)
came to end n consequence or the climatic changes
caused by the evaporation OF thes vast lakes IN South
California after the Colorado River had cut dow
it's bed In the Great Canon deep that It's course
| diverted at Colyillo 10 a southerly direction.
The question suggested whether these desert lands
cannot be reclaimed by irrigation and thus saved, in
stead OF being totally submerged as IL Il considered
tain that covering them with vegetation would tend
prevent the evaporation OF moisture, and at the
time ptant for whatever moisture the
m0sphere may carry. whether both plans might not
| be combined.
Senator Jones Expresses tho opinien that, although
either would large expenditures OF money
investig by the Government which alone las the
necessary resources and appliances at command for
thorough examination OF the subject. IL, by such
examination, hs feasibility Of the work should be dem
DnsrAted private capital might be found to undertake
IT, He therefore 20 bring tho matter TO the at
tenton OF Congress- with the view 70 having survey
l made hy the G0vsxaua"at .. .l .|