The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-03-26
TIE Colorado Desert.


Senator Jones, of Nevada, has received
full reports Of The results Of scientific
exploration made ct the expense of himself
and private citizen of California, last
summer, for the purpose of ascertainiDg
the practicability Of retaining or submerg
ing 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 engineer who con-
ducated the expedition, ana an elaborate
commentary upon it by Mr.. r. E. Stretch,
an eminent civil engineer Of San Francisco,
furnish the following very interesting in
formation, much Of which is entirely new:
The exploration shows that the greater
portion Of Colorado Desert and the Mo-
jaTe Valley and Death Valley, which lie
north Of it, are from 10 10 100 feet below
the level OF the sea, and that this great
desert, sire etching from LoSer California
to lnyo county, in the state Of California,
and from the base Of the Coast Range
Mountains TO the Colorado River. compris
iug an area Of about 800 miles long by $50
wide, may De converted ITO a chain Of
lakes or irrigated BY the method above
mentioned; and also that large portion
OF this dessert" realey consists of e1 .renIe-
ly fertile sell, being deep aluration
Susceptible Of the highest cultivation. 1t
is further shown that the prevalence OF
what are known as ".and storms and hot
dessicating winds, and the deficient rain
fali-she eviis-suffered by the surrounding
country, anG as far north as the Iulare
Valley Of California-are directly traceable
to the existence of this desert, from which,
az from great furnace, there constantly
rises in the summer time, vast column Of
heated air without appreciable humidity
Thus the moisture OF the rain bearing
clouds which are blown noIthwesterly dur
ing the summer months from the Gulf of
California is GIssipated as soon as they
reach the borders Of this superheated re.
g!on, and prevented from reaching the dry
but fertile plains Of California beyond
The shells found On the surface Of this
desert prove that it has been at one time
the bed of a sea, and, at a subsequent
shore lines Of both sea and lake can still
be seen and recognized in many places;
nr hr 81 t,.T -.
the Aztec civilization Of the adjacent re-
glon 10 Arizona OF which there are 60
many traces came to an end in conse-
quence Of the climatic. changes caused BY the
evaporation Of these vast lakes in South
ern California after the Colorado river had
cut down its bed in tie great cannon so deep
tia; its course was diverted at Colville to a
southerly direction.
The question is suggested whether these
desert lands cannot De reclaimed By irriga-
ton, AMI thus sayed, instead Of being to-
tally submerged, Is it IS cnnsi Tered GER ain
that covering them with vegctat on would
tend t. prevent evaporation Of moisture,
and at tie same time act a. precivitant
for whatever moisture the atmosphere may
carry, Or whether both plans might not be
Senator Jone. expresses the opinion that,
although either course would involve Large
expenditures Of money, the matter is Of
such public interest as 10 be worthy Of in
vestigation by the Government, which alone
has the necessary resources and appliances
At command for thorough examination Of !
the subject. If by sueh an examination,
the feasibility of the work should be de-
private capital might b, found
to undertake it. He, therefore, proposes
to bring the matter to the attention of
Congress, with the view to having n urvey
made by the Government.