Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-10-02
THE LAKES SOURCES.
THE SEA AT SALToN MAY BE PER-
MANENT.
The Break in the Colorado as Deep as the
River Misrepresentation Durbrow's
Views.

There have been several attempts to
definitely ascertain the sources of the
lake at Salton, with the idea of arriving
at some conclusion concerning its per-
manency. Nearly all of the explorers
have arrived at different results. Those
of Mr.. Durbrow, whose intimate &C.
quaintance with the lake and the coun-
try surrounding give his utterances the
weight of authority, were furnished a
reporter on the Yuma Sentinel, from
which the following is taken
Mr.. Durbrow stated that he and Cap
tain J. A. Mellon started down the Col
orado river in small boat to examine
the reputed source of Salton lake. The
main break was found about fifteen
miles below Yuma, into which large
volume of water flowed. Continuing
down stream about twenty miles, other
openings in the river bank were found,
but on examination proved to be of no
consequence. Upon returning up
stream, careful measurements were
made of the various breaks in the bank
and Photographic views taken of the
different localities. Upon arriving at
the big crevasse or main outlet, sound
ings were made and the fact was estab-
liehed that the water would continue to
flow from the Colorado even at the low
est stage of the river, as the cut or break
extended down level with the bottom of
the stream. This can be stopped by
building a substantial dyke or levee. A
large volume OF water still flows into
this main break, although the Colorado
river is low and falling daily. By actual
measurement Mr.. Durbrow found that
1900 cubic feet OF water flowed through
the big creyasse per second. He made
close examination of the locality, and
is satisfied that the water can be per-
manently prevented from running into
the Salton basin from this and interven-
ing points. He says that no serious en-
cheering difficulties are in the way of
closing the break, and it is mere ques-
ton of dollars and cents.
Mr.. Durbrow was silent when asked
whether his company would endeavor
to close out the river which had dam
aged the salt property so seriously.
Captain Mellon of the steamboat COM
pany, who accompanied MIR. Durbrow,
pointed out to that gentleman very
important matter in regard to the Col
orado river, and it was that the main
channel of the river had been greatly
changed by the floods of last spring.
Formerly the main channel of the Col
orado had been very crooked in its
course and in places quite wide, now it
is almost straight, narrow and of con-
siderable depth for the present stage of
m &c ho
showed plainly that the unusual high
water had deepened and secured out
the river toward the center, and new
and probably permanent channel had
been formed, which appeared to be OF
sufficient capacity to carry off the most
of the food water, thereby relieving the
pressure on the banks, and consequently
preventing any serious overhows or
crevasses in the future.
Mr.. Durbrow states that the water at
Salton has fallen fourteen inches in the
paso twenty-five days, and the amount
OF water now supplying the lake does
not equal the evaporation. The greatest
depth of the lake now is thirty four
inches, and its area is thirty miles 10 e
by ten wide. Mr.. Durbrow does not
think that the lake has changed the
climate OF the surrounding country any,
and says the humidity in that neighbor-
hood has been increased to modrate
extent, only registering 60 degrees,
whilst the ordinary humidity Of San
Francisco is 10. He expressed himself
pleased with the results of his trip.
When asked Wharf.-The cost would be OF
leveling the main crevasse, he replied
that he was not prepared to answer, as
he had not had time enough to make
the required calculations.