Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-10
THE DEATH VALLEY.
A Strange Region in Which Many
Man Has Been Lured to
he 18th.
In This Frigh.ful Place Strange
Aspects Of Natural DeSOlati0n
are Found.
Here is a Vast chain 40 Miles
Long and Only Is Miles
Wide.

/ Dr. =. Hart Merriam, scientist and chef
OF the government biological survey which
has been working for months in Death
valley has studied closely this strange
region of which so much has been said
and he Is the first one qualified to soeak
of the valley. He has camped within the
gale OF It's salt beds, has felt its intoierable
heat, and viewed its splendid desolation.
and has faced the screening blasts of wind
and the red-hot sand that rage betw cen the
| black mountains which wall the silent
| charm. He has been in the midst Of its
death dealing elements. has tasted of its
poisoned WELL and has forced his way
over It's treacherous sands, and over
ground that crumbIed beneath the weight
| Of man Or horse. He tells the story of his
adventures as follows:
The valley and its towering black walls
of barren rock are weird and strangely
sublime in their desolation. For miles
and miles the curious mountains may be
seen outlined against the clear sky. From
the top of Telescope peak, the highest of
the Panamlnt CT western range which
shuts the valley in, one may look down a
dizzy black precipice $4,000 feet to the
level OF the valley as dazzling white as
snow. Street ching from the mountain s
foot are the glistenine fields of salt. Here
and there are running streams of salt and
mineral waters. To drink of them is to
die. The view closes in the gloomy cliffs
| OF the Funeral mountains, which form an
lmpenetrdble barrier at the east of the
canon. The scene is one of violent con-
trasts, OF glarlng whites and dead blacks
The valley is the most barren and the
lowest OF series in eastern California and
southwestern Nevada. At rough est
mate it is about $50 feet below the level of
the sea. 1t runs generally north and
south, although its worst region turns to
the northwest. This portion has been
named Mesquite valley. 1t is region far
worse than Death valley proper. The val
ley may be compared to the Grand canon
OF the Colorado. 1t is rather an immense
chasm than valley. 1t is about 140
miles long, and its broadcast part is only
Is miles wide. In some parts it is no
more than Is miles in width. In this
frightful place, baked and blistered by the
lntolerable heat, holding within itself in
Vulnerable elements of death, revealing
strange aspects of natural desolation, our
party has been at work for months. On
either side of the valley, stretching almost
It's entire length, is a range of NOUN
talns absolutely barren OF animal and
vegetable life. The western range is the
Pdnimlnt, averaging in height about g.
OO0 feet. The eastern range is the Funer-
al, Suggestive and not unfit name. The
Funeral mountains rise fully 1000
feet above the level of the sea. These
mountains are black, with the exception
of curious patches of red rock Away to
the north is Mt. Magruder. Beyond in
the distance rise the heights of the Sierras.
Almost at the southern limit of the valley
is Mt. lvanwatch. Behind is the Devils
playground, a region of absolute barron
ness.
Down the valley a hot, suffocating
wind blows with terrific velocity. In its
course throughout the stricken region it
gathers black cloud of hot, shifting sand
that has blinded many an unwary horse
and rider. Under the glistening beds of
crystalized salt in places are running
streams of salt water. Beneath there is
still another bed of salt. In other parts of
the valley are wastes Of hot sand drawn in
some places into high mounds by the
whlrllng blasts that sweep down the canon.
There. too, is the most curious earth | have
seen-self rising earth it has been called
As tar as the eye can see 1t appears in
carving outline up and down, as If pulled
by natural yeast. The unfortunate ami
mal that steps upon the little hills will
crash through, Tor they are not much more
than fragile cruSts. Still stranger is that
section Of the valley which f"r want of a
better name, Is called salt earth innumer-
able pinnacies taperlng to points as FIRE as
needles and over foot long rise in close
array from the ground. Tney are as hard
DIS stone and as dangerous as sharpened
steel. Beneath and hidden by them are
pitfalls, d tumble into which means
broken leg or arm. There too, are the rich
fields of horax which have Iured many
main to death. Dreadful as is D .ath val.
ley, It's northwestern arm, Mesquite valley
is worse. All Of the water upon its sur
face is poison, The wind has thrown the
sand into Immense mounds. one of which
is three miles long and 80 feet high. 1t
was IN this valley that the Immigrants lost
their lives. Water may be obtained only
by digging deep wells, and then it is none
too pure.
Our party, the biological survey of the
United States government, has been in
the valley Tor months. 1t left there only
few days ago, having finished its invest
tlgatlon. The general purpose of the
department of agriculture, under which
we work, Is to collect facts relating to the
distribution Of species with variations of
temperature and humidity throughout
the United States, and particularly in the
western part. The results obtained will
be of the utmost value to agricultural.
for they will save millions of dollars spent
In experiment Oy farmers who wish to test
the capacity and character of their land.
We have found that in certain zones GER
tam flora and tunna flourish. Each zone
has its peculiar species which will not
flourish in others These zones are both
horizontal and vertical. The party chose
tie dissolate region of Death valley for its
laborS for from it, and not far distant,
can be traced the seven zines we have
established. The valley, Notwithstanding
its barren elements has many phases of
life. 1t has so or 40 species of
animals and fully as many of vegetable
growth. Nothing of course, will live
on the salt or borax bottoms. but on the
edges of these districts various hardy
plants thrive. In the sand wastes are
guphers mice, rats, bats and many
other animals. aud not a few
reptiles. Many theories have Teen adj
vanced to account for the formation of
Death valley. | think ii quite probable
that if was orce the sink of the Majove
river. Our trip has been an interesting
one One Of my 'ides in tracing the
coarse vf the snb Soncran zone, IL region
similar to the Mex can state of Son IA was
700 miles in length. Those who were in
he party and members of it were Vernon
Bailey, naturalist, botanist, and in M
opinion. the best trapoer in the world;
The dore Palmer, chitf assistant: DR.. A.
K Fisher, +. Y. Colvitfe. and E. w. Mel