Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-17
THE WATERY DESERT.
ENGINEER swAINE RETURNS FROM
FLOWING WELLS.
How He Discovered the Source of the
Salton Laxe-No Immediate Danger to
the Railway Tracks.

Edgar l.. Swaine, assistant resident
engineer of the Southern Pacific, re-
turned to the city last evening from the
Salton lake region and gave HERALD
reporter an interesting account of his
trip when interviewed at his residence.
Mr.. Swaine left Flowing Wells last Fri
day with mule team and. couple OF
Mexicans and proceeded directly south
ward. An attempt was made, after pro-
ceeding some distance, to reach the
eastern end of the Salton lake, but
when the volcanoes" which border the
basin were approached, the mules
sunk knee deep into the soil, and re-
treat was made with difficulty.
About twenty miles south and east
OF Flowing Wells the party came to
the stream which supplies the Salton
lake and which flows, at this point north
and south. The river was found to be
all the way from 200 feet in width to
several miles at points, and averaged
about two feet in depth. The current
was rather slow, although considerable
water was flowing through the channel.
Mr.. Swaine established camp on the
banks OF the stream, and then followed
along its course about fifty-five miles
southwark to the edge of a large lake.
On Monday morning at 10 O'Clock, Har-
ry Patton and his companion came float
ing down the river in his batteau, with
sand-hill crane perched in the bow, tied
by the leg. The party was in good
health and spirits, and said that they
had rowed, padded and poled about $50
miles, being compelled, however, to
make numerous portages about falls in
the river, which sometimes were as high
as five feet. Patton had met with a
number of perilous adventures, and on
one occasion had got caught in quick
sand, from which he extricated himself
with considerable difficulty.
Mr.. Swaine was not able to cross the
river, and did not proceed further south
than the lake above mentioned. He
could not ascertain the extent of the
lower or Indian Wells basin, but believes
it to be larger than that at Salton. The
lower lake is connected by Hardy's Col
orado with the gulf, and the water flows
alternately to and fro with the
tide, the basin being lower than the
gulf. Neither Swaine nor Patton dis
covered whether the New river was
connected with the Indian Wells basin,
but it is probable that it is. If not, the
pond in the region south of Salton lake
is entirely independent OF the present
overflow from the Colorado.
Mr.. Swane does not think it possible
to repair the break in the Colorado.
The water flows out over the low banks
OF the river for long distance,
and it would be herculean task
to attempt to stop it by building levees.
The engineer does not take serious
view of the flood and does not think
there is any immediate, danger of the
tracks of the Southern Pacific being
washed out. He thinks that if the
stream flowing out OF the Colorado is a
permanent one, there is good deal OF
country near the Mexican line which
will be rendered valuable by
the availability of the water for
irrigation. The soil along the banks of
the stream as far as he proceeded was
mostly 'dobe, but further south there is
much arabic land.
@ Mr.. Swaine took number OF photo
graphs, and got snap shot at one of
the desert flies. an inch and half long,
trip the party discovered a deserted
Indian village, and found there
many old ollas, which they brought.
The engineer will make another
trip in few days for the purpose OF
making further explorations of this in
teresting country. He learned at Flow
ing Wells that the lake had not risen
much during his absence, and in fact |
was about at standstill.