New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-24
THE COLORADO DESERT LAKE.
OFFICIAL REPORTS OF TWO SOUTHERN
PACIFIC ENGINEERS
REASONS FOR BELIEVING THAT TIE ovrprrov
FROM THE RIVER is TEMPORARY AND
TIE LAKE WILL DISAPPEAR
TBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE Ttpr~.,

- TBr TELEGRAPH TO TIE TknuSeI
San Francisco, Aug. 23.-The first official re-
ports on the food in the Colombo Desert and
the formation Of Salton Lake have lust been
received by the Southern Pacific CoInpanv from
its engineer corps at Los Angeles One is a
report by H. Hawgood, on the sink of San Felipe
whose low level let in the flood, and the other
is from E. l.. Swdine, who explored the entire
flooded district and secured much material Of
creat scientific value Both demonstrate that
Salton Lake is mot permanent, and that the curious
phenomena witnessed this season was due solely
10 the unprecedented floods These reports
were made under President HuntingtUn's
orders for the Bureau of Irrigation
Of the Agricultural Department at Washington
Secretary Rusk was led to ask for the investiga-
tion because of the protest made by certain set
tiers in the flooded region against the stoppage
Of the overflow Of the Colorado River in the
futnrp Engineer Hawgood, who devoted himself
TO tNe evidences Of previous foods found that
for forty years the Colorado River had regularly
ovcrAowed into the desert below the Mexican
line Ten miles north Of the line was formed n
high sand ridge, which acted as q dam, thus
impounding the overflow the New River acting
ps the outlet of the overflow. This river
could not carry the surplus water Of the great
HOOD OF laSt feDfu1TN. anu tHc udul Was
cut through in several places The great rush of
water in June caused exaggerated reports Of the
inundation of the whole SaltOn basin. The fact
is. careful measurements show that since July 3
The lake has not risen, the flow being neutralized
bv evaporation. Observation Of the past five
days shows that the water Is now rcceding. The
greatest depth Of water in the lake is now forty
five inches. and it will probably all disappear be-
fore next years food in the Colorado River. 1t
Is expected the food will occnr annually until the
eastern channel Is once more closed by sand drifts.
Engineer Swaine has made two trips into the
desert from Flowing Wells, and has made the
first accurate estimate of the amount of water
flowing into the SaltOn basin. The first stream
encountered was 1916 feet wide by four feet deep,
with velocity of five and half feet per second.
The river was full of carp from the Colorado,
and the water was fresh, and apparently like
that Of the Colorado. Twtity-three miles from
Flowing Wells he struck lake about four miles
wide, and on the side stream 200 feet wide
and from to feet deep. These streams were
followed down to the mud volcano region. In
second expedition accurate measurements were
made Of the total amount Of water flowing into
Salt6n Basin Tie total discharge through two
old branches Of New River is 3,01j cubic feet
per second Al the water is fresh. Mr.. Swaine
that the whole New River region in
Lower California as far north as Indian Wells
l;e- surveyed to determine whether there is any
chance of water from the Gulf Of California ever
entering the desert. The question Of the Colorado
River forming O bar and changing its c0uIse TO
westward should also be examined