Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-02-04
rae Recsamasisn OF sne Colorado
Desess.


OF all the fanciful projects Of
later years the reclamation OF the
Colorado Desert would seem to cap
the climax. However Utopian the
project may seem to 'looker on
In Vienna" DR.. Wozencraft has
pursued 1t with never intermitting
persistence. He had two theories.
One was that If this vast plain,
much of which Is on Mexican
ground, were flooded from the Gulf
of California, q material modifca-
tion Of climate favorable to agri-
culture In Southern California
would result. The other was that
II the waters of the Colorado river
were utilized in irrigating the des-
ert substantially the same result
would be achieved. The ordinary
theory of the scant rainfalls VIII hich
prevail over Southern California Is
that the vast expanse of the Mo-
jave and Colorado Deserts, super
heated during the summer, results
In light and expanded atmos-
phere, which invites, by the simple
philosophical principle of the
heavier-because colder-air from
the ocean pushing out the lighter
because hotter air-of the desert
the rapid passage of the rain
clouds eastward, giving them an
impetus which deprlves this sec.
tIon Of its proper degree Of moist
ure. When we'll started these
clouds are not apt to stop short Of
the region bordering the Gulf of
Mexico, almost equally super
heated, where they encounter other
atmospheric influences from an OPP
pssite direction, which precipitate
them In the shape of drenching
and superabundant rains. The
theory Is a highly plausible one.
Inundating the whole Colorado
basin from the Gulf of California is
rendered feasible because the mean
altitude of the desert Is considera-
bly, less than that Of the Gulf and
ocean. DR.. Wozsncraft argued
that an extensive scheme Of irri-
eating the Colorado Desert from
the river of the same name would
be tremendous benefit to thif
State. We first heard of the pro-
ject nearly seven years ago from
the lips Of the Doctor himself, who
was the surgeon Of the Panams
ship from which we landed in Cali
fornia. There Is daring aud en-
tsrprise in the scheme, although W,
do Aot give our entire credence t.
its practicability. We find In the
Alta of the first instant the follow
ing resume of the progress of DR.
Wozencraft's scheme:
It IL now twenty years since th,
Legislature of this State passed .
bill granting to o. M. Wozencraf
his present and prospective interes
In those lands known as the Col
orado Desert, and joint resolution
instructing our Congressional dele
CATION to procure cession of thos,
lands from the general Govern
mont, for the purpose of utilizing
them by irrigation. From the re-
port of the House Committee OF
Public Lands, during the presen
fessIon of the present Congress, II
appears that bill was agreed t.
by the Committee, conveying those
lands to the applicant, on condi.
ton of paying the amount of ap.
praisement OF their present valu,
and by irrigating them. From /
we learn that the Committee oil
Public Lands of the Thirty.seventi
and the Forty-fourth Congress!
passed bill making a free dona
ton of those lands, conditioned
alone on their being irrigated. BuI
the Commissioner of Public Land:
having suggested that the Secreta
ry of War be authorized to cause 9
survey to be made, and if it proved
practicable, to introduce water OF
said desert, and IL the lands wer,
unmistakably without it, then t.
make the cession absolute for tha
purpose. The survey has beer
made, after delay of fifteen years
and confirming a survey previous.
- made by the applicant, at his
0NzlS...Anse, in 1860, from all
which It wodid appear that it has
received the approval of all the
committees before whom it ha.
passed, as well as the requirement.
Of the government. Consequently
we see no valid objection to tile
passage OF the bill now pending be
fore Congress, but, on the contrary
much to urge it's final passage.
1t has met the objection nov
which might formerly have beef
urged against 1t of being free ces
sion or subsidy; as it is now to be
purchase at the appraisement OF
Government Com mission, and tn
title acquired by paying th
amount, and irrigation.
1t is to be hoped that this i'm
portsnt measure may be passe,
without further delay. 1t Is a mat
ter OF more Importance than an,
other to this State, and it is OF sui
ficient general Importance to secur
the favorable action of all VIII
would aid in promoting our genera
welfare. We subjoin an extrac
from the report of the Committe
on Public Lands, and endorse IL
"Ycur Committee deem 1t unnecev
"sary to elaborate further a meas
lure which has been 60 long an,
Thoroughly Investigated, and uni
"formly approved. The utte
"worthIessness of the lands as the,
''now are; the detrimental effect