New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-03
SALTOY LAKE STILL RISING.
IT NOW COVERS ABOUT 2ssOOo AcRES-ENLARG-
ING BEAR VALLEY LAKE RESERVOIR

IT NOW COVERS ABOUT 2ss,0Oo ACRES-ENLARG-
ING BEAR VALLEY LAKE RESERVOIR.
Redlands. Cal, Aug. 24-Nothing in the wonderful
revelation Of nature has occurred in this country which
has attracted the attention of scientists as has the
flooding Of the Colorado Desert the formation Of
Salton Lake. The water IS still rising in the lake and
the streams flowing in from the Colorado River have
only slightly diminished in quantity. few days ago
an explorer went out into the desert and cisSsng
the Patten stream went four miles south and 0me TO
second stream, fully large as the Paten stream,
which flowed toward SaltOn Lake. 1t Is believed that
this stream comes from the Indian Wells basin. The
Paten stream is 500 feet wide and from two to three
and a half feet Deep with current of five miles an
hour. The lake IS about thlrty-ive miles long and
from twelve TO fifteen miles wide. If the lake has
surface of 28s 900 acres the two streams, together
with the water Of Carisse Creek which rises in the
mountains west of san Diego would the lake
tenth of foot per day and allowing onequarter OF an
inch per day for evaporation would make net gain Of
nearly an inch per day II is generally believed that
the influx Of the Colorado River into the Colorado
Desert IS permanent change on the part Of the river
and that in the Of time, the desert will fill up
On August IL cloud burst occurred In the San
Bernardno Valley with Its storm centre TO the south
east of this town. The water came down in torrents
for about half hour and sent flood down through
Mill Creek 2anja, which through Grafton and Red
lands to Old san BenarnO. The food was severe
and did damage, but the reports of 1t have been
greatly exaggerated. No lives were lost and COM
parativcly little property was destroyed. The water
ran through the streets in torrents, In some places
being from two to three feet deep few small barns
and swept away disodged from their
Foundations and a few horses droNned, but the
damage all told did not exceed $4,000 or $4,000.
This IS the second time that the county has had
visitation Of such storm since 1t was settled by the
whites This storm has demonstrated the fact that
with the heaviest flood that is to be expected the
damage Is not only slight, as rule but in q very
short time all traces are wiped out and the storm
practically forgotten.
This part Of Southern California Is so well provided
with water that there seems to be no for appre
henson as TO the future. The extension OF the Bear
Valley Lake. reservoir, I'm the last few months is
one of the greatest pieces Of engineering work that
was ever accomplished In this State Four years ago
reservoir containing storage supply Of 2l,OOOOOOOOO
gallons was thought TO be sufficient, but another and
larger stone dam has been built ana several hunuied
more acres have been purchased to give storage capacity
suhccnt 10 irGite 10000 acres Of land, IN addition
10 the guarantee of adequate supply for dOmesuc
purposes Redlands, Alesandro Grafton ana High
lands The State Engineer has approved Of the plans
for the work on the dam and also water Tunnel
through the santa Anna Canon which Is 10 be about
COJ feet in length, and he pronounces the whole system
the most perfect nd Stupend0us leaJ VI enSlnee5ini
ever ATTEMPTED in this state.