The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-26

In passing over a delta, a river builds up
the ground over which it flows, SO that the
the immediate banks of the stream are
higher than the country further back.
Then when a great flood comes this barrier
IS burst and a new channel is formed.
Sometimes a new channel is temporary,
at oSher times the breach in the bank
10 on SO great a scale that it be-
comes the principal one. This may
be the case in the Colorado delta
at the present time. but it is not yet known
whether the breach is small or great. 1t is,
however. likely to be trivial and to involve
but a slight inundation of the interior
basin.
In the southwest portion of the United
States there is a large area of country a part
OF which is known as the Great Basin, where
the rainfall is 80 small that no streams are
found which deliver their water into tho
sea. They all flow into more or less saline
lakes or sink into sands. This region of
country embraces a part of southern Cali
fornla, the greater part of Nevada, much of
Utah and the western half Of Arizona. In
1T there are other districts, like the one at
the head of the gulf of California, that sink
below the level of the sea. The most notn-
bic one ls Death valley. This region is be-
set by long northumberland rangesof noun
tains, usually not very high. In late geo
logic times it has been the scene of great
volcanic activity, the mountains being in
large part of volcanic origin. Between the
mountains there are deep basins. The
Great Salt Lake lies in one, Pyramid lake
in another, but there are a great many
more. The basins themselves are being
slowly filled as the rain, falling on the low
mountains. carries the product of disinte-
grafton down into the valleys. These de-
pressed valleys that have no outlet, but
which gather the wash from the mountains.
are locally known as playas. and except
when they are filled with salt lakes they are
fearful deserts, much like the one described
at the head of the gulf of California. All
of these playas are valueless; none of them
can be redeemed even by irrigation. For
even if there was water they are 80 saline
that crops cannot grow thereon. In the re-
gion described as being without rivers that
run to the sen, the little ilrigable land is
chiefly found at the foot of or in
elevated valleys among mountains. Hence
it Is that settlement of the region must
always be exceedingly sparse.
Gold, silver and other minerals are found
in the mountains, and thus mining indus
tries are established, but there is scarcely
agricultural land enough to supply with the
necessary food the people engaged in min
ing. Where the water can be put upon the
lnnd by carrying out the few streams or
by sinking wells, agriculture is highly pro.
ductlye. 1t is n seml-tropical region and
oil the vegetables and fruits of such a re-
gion can be here raised successfully.
Oranges, lemons and all citric fruits grow
there with luxurjance. No more bountiful
vineyards can be found in the world. In
some parts of the country cotton and sugar
cane are raised successfully and now the
date pnlm of Egypt is cultivated, and it
appears to lie far more productive than
even in the valleys of the Nile. Such is the
story of the flood in the desert
j. w. POWELL.
Copyright.