The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-05-27
Flooding the Colorado Desert.

General Fremont, now Governor Of
Arizona, ia at present in Washington,
whittier he has gone for the purpose OF
urging upon the attention OF Congress
and the General Government, certain
enterprises calculated to promote the
welfare of that Territory and the
regions adjacent and also to enlist cap
ital in the mining interests OF the
country. Among other projects OF this
kind, is one designed to food the Col
orado desert, and, in fact, convert it
into q great inslaud sea, by opening q
passage to the Gulf OF California, and
allowing the water to enter and over
how a large area in the southeastern
corner OF the State, and We presume
also some portions Of the norther part
OF Lower California, inasmuch as the
head OF the Gulf lies long way south
Of the line, and wholly in Mexican ter
ritory. The area OF country to be in
undated is represented as being two
hundred miles long and 6fty miles
wide, this new body of water to have
an extreme depth of three hundred
feet.
That this project is not only feasible
but easy of accomplishment, admits OF
no doubt, the district which il is in
tended to submerge lying below the
level Of the Gulf, from which it is sep
arsted by only some slightly elevated
ridges, and said to be depressed in
places most To sea level. The question
IL not 80 mnch one OF financial and en-.
gineering difficulty. as Of economical
aud sanitary considerations, fears hay-
ing been expressed that the flooding Of
such a shallow basin, with it, marshy
borders, would breed enough malaria
10 endRnger the health OF the regions
adjacent; the query also being suggest
ed, whether 10 would be good policy %
convert this district. desert as il il, in-
to a vast expanse oil salt water merely
for the beneficial effects II would be
likely to exert OIL the climate Of tue
surrounding country aud the facilities
IL would afford Tor inland navigation.
That the presence of 80 large a body
OF water would tend TO moderate the
temperature of this, the hottest and
driest section OF California, admits of
no dOubt. This lake would also open
navigation 10 vessels OF deeper draft
than can now ascend the Colorado. 49,
But what business would there be for
a vessel on Lake like this, surrounded
by sterile regions, destitute alike Of ag-
ricultural aud mineral resources3 There
are mineral-beariIg lodes far 30 the
north, on both the California and Ari.
zonia sides OF the Colorado; but none,
so far as We know. within hundred
miles or more OF the site Of this pro-
posed inland sea. Unlike the Mohaye
desert, adjoining on the north, this SO.
called Colorado desert produces much
grass--so much in fact, that with water
for stock, IL would really be q valuable
grazing district. As il lies 80 low, a
great deal Of il being depressed from
ffty to three hundred feet below the
sea level, il is probable that good water
could be obtained by artesian boring
very likely. merely by digging. What
little water there is near the surface is
generally bal, being impregnated with
alkaline, saline, or other substances OF
an injurious kind. At greater depths,
10 would no doubt be plentiful, and OF
n better quality. The railroad company
have, we believe, got good water at
several points on this desert by boring,
and that without going 10 very great
depths.
With railroads traversing these des.
erts, such inland navigation as lake
Of this kind would Afford becomes Of
less importance; provided, always,
there we're any local carrying OF conse.
queDces here TO be done; which. as be-
fore remarked, there is not. The
Southern Pacific road crosses this great
arid basin diagenally and on its long
est axis, sfforling every needed facility
for supplying il with all goods and
shipping its scanty exports. Not much
need for steamers circumnavigating
the peninsula TO perform this service.
IL will be observed that this plan for
introducing the salt water OF the Gulf
upon these dry lands and covering
them mp altogether. forms no part Of
the scheme Of DIR. Wozencraft, who, On
the contrary, proposes 10 irrigate them
with water brought in from the Colora-
do river. and thereby convert them in
10 a great tobacco. nee and cotton-pro-
duciDg region; an enterprise quite as
feasible and seemingly more desirable
in an economical point OF view than
this more recent and novel enterprise
OF the Great Pathfinder. ~ Pacific
Rural. San Francisco.