Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-22
sALroN LAKE AND cLoUD-BURsrs.

lation INDUCED in as to the responsible
ity of the extensive sheet of water at
Salton for the phenomenal cloud-bursts
and rain-storms in San Bernardino
county this summer and also for the un
precedentedly long continuance of very
warm weather in this valley during the
present season. That these phenomena
could be due TO the appearance OF
sheet of water in the lowest part of the
Colorado desert, was assumed by all who
were ready to believe that the CO.
incidence of the lake and the
cloud bursts happening close to-
gether accounted satisfactorily for
the abnormal condition of the atmos-
phere and for the unusal visitations of
rain-storms.
But men of science who were looked
up to as authority in these matters,
secuted the idea that small lake like
Salton could cause these phenomena.
The head OF the weather bureau at San
Francisco at first ridiculed the idea, but
be has been considerably shaken in his
early impressions since he has looked
carefully into all the facts and data that
have been obtained upon the subject.
Sometimes, and we believe very often,
the conclusions of man who is not a
professional scientist, but who makes a
close study of any given phenomenon
and brings strong sense to bear on its So
luton, together with genius for care
full investigation, are more reliable than
the theories of the most learned. Let
us apply these thoughts to the case in
point. Mr.. Durbrow. the manager and
principal owner of the Salton salt works,
is a gentleman such as we have de-
scribed. He is a close observer, has an
analytical mind, and is persistent in fol-
lowing up facts to their logical conclu-
sions.
Mr.. Durbrow, when he found that his
business was. seriously jeopardized by
the rise OF water in Salton lake, became
deeply interested in every phase of the
abnormal development. A very inter
esting proposition to him was whether
the evaporation would be sufficient to
overcome the ordinary inflow of water
after the food stage of the Colorado
river had subsided. The first thing
was to determine with some degree
of accuracy the average absorption of
water by evaporation. To do this he
set out two hundred oil cans filled with
water at points that he considered the
best to get a fair general average of the
resistant temperatures Iof the water at
different depths. He carefully noted
the extent of the evaporation each day,
together with the varying degrees OF
temperature at the different points.
Having pursued this course for length
of time which he considered sufficient
for fair test, he made his calculations,
and found that the evaporation of the
lake was equal to 100000, 900 gallons
per day. That this test was relatively
true one was corroborated by the meas
urements made by the Southern Pacific
engineers of the water overfowing in
the breaks near Algodon, which CORE
sponded with those of Mr.. Durbrow o.;
the evaporation of the lake.
Now let us see whether this immense
evaporation had anything to do with
the San Bernardino cloudbursts. Mr..
Durbrow says that clouds would hang
over the lake for days at time. These
clouds were doubtless formed by the
moisture arising from the lake, and oc-
casionally the wind would come
up sharply from the south tits
usual course at that season.,
carrying these very clouds visibly
against high peak OF the San Bernar-
dino range just north and west of San
Gorgonio Pass. He did not see the
clouds burst, but he saw them hurtled
against the mountain, and he knew
afterwards that great volumes of water
rushed down from the range to the
mesas below. If the absorption of
moisture continued for ten days at a
time before the south wind came up,
there would be body OF imprisoned
moisture equal to $4,000, 100000 gallons
ready to be precipitated upon the
country when released by concussion
against the high peaks.
Perhaps this is not exact science, but
it is pretty good common sense. Now,
when we remember that heavy wall of
moisture has risen from the lake ever
since June, and that it, has to a great
extent prevented the formation of the
usual Withdrawing vacuum on the
desert; and then, when we reflect that
the coast atmosphere has also been
largely charged with moisture during all
this time, what is the conclusion? That
we have been as it were, a valley
upon which the sun has had full play,
inclosed within two walls OF moist at
mosphere. One would think that our
situation would naturally be subject to
an abnormal visitation of heat, and
that the unusual caloric of the season
had been due, at least in part, to the
lake which by right of discovery is
entitled to the name of HERALD.
Mr.. Durbrow has made a trip to
San Francisco to procure instruments,
and is now exploring the lower Colo
RADIO to determine whether the breaks
will fill up naturally, or whether nature
ought to be assisted in preventiuo an