Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-11-14
DEVILS PLAYGROUND.
A FRESH CHAPTER THAT CAPS
THE CLIMAX OF WONDERS.

The Death Valley E1plored-Giarina
whites and Dead Blacks-A Chasm
l4O Miles LonE-A Land Hot as
Tophet.
Like cap for the Sea of Salt climax
comes the following worlds wonder
chapter from the San Francisco Chron-
icle:
"Dr. C. Hart Merriam, chief of the
United States Biological Survey, has just
arrived from Death Valley. Last night
he told the story of his adventures Said
he:
Death Valley and its towering black
walls of barren rock are weird and
strangely sublime in their desolation.
For miles and miles the curious mount
aims may be seen outlined against the
clear sky. From the top of Telescope
Peak one may look down a dizzy black
precipice $4,000 feet to the level of the
valley as dazzling white as snow.
stretching from the mountains foot
are the glistening fields Of salt. Here
and there are running streams OF salt and
mineral waters. To drink Of them is to
die. The scene is one of violent con-
trasts, Of glaring whites and dead
blacks.
"The valley is the most barren and the
lowest Of a series III eastern California
and southwestern Nevada. At rough
estimate it is about $50 feet below the
level of the sea. 1t runs generally north
and SOUTH althou h its worst region
turns to the northwest This portion
has been named Mesquite Valley. 1t is
a region far worse than Death Valley
proper. The valley may be compared to
the Grand Canyon of the Colorado. 1t is
rather an immense chasm than valley.
1t is about 14O miles long, and at its
broadest part is only 18 miles wide. In
some parts it is no more than Is miles in
width.
"On either side of the valley, stretch
ing almost its entire length is range OF
mountains absolutely barren of animal
and vegetable life. The western range is
the Panamint, averaging in height about
5000 feet. The eastern range is the Fu
neral, suggestive and not unfit name.
The Funeral Mountains rise fully 1000
feet above the level Of the sea. These
mountains are black, with the exception
vi ClIlOllS pdlCIleS VI lou lOCh. AWAY W
the north is Mount Magruder. Beyond
i the distance rise the heights of the
Sierras. Almost at the southern limit
of the valley is Mount Ivanwatch. Be
hind it is the Devils Playground
region of absolute barrenness.
Down the valley hot, suffocating
wind blows with terrific velocity. In
its course through the stricken region it
gathers black cloud of hot, shifting
sand that has blinded many an unwary
horse and rider. Under the glistening
beds of crystalized salt in places are run
uing streams Of salt water. Beneath
there is still another bed of salt.
"In other parts of the valley are wastes
OF not sand drawn in some places into
high mounds by the whrling blasts that
sweep down the canyon. There, too, is
the most curious earth have ever seen
self rising earth it has been called. As
far as the eye can see it appears in curv
ing outline, up and down, as if puffed
by a natural yeast. The unfortunate
animal that steps upon the little hills will
crash through, for they are not much
more than fragile crusts.
"Still stranger is that section of the
valley which. for want of better name,
is called salt earth. Innumerable pin
nacles tapering to points as fine az
needles, and over foot long, rise in close
array from the ground. They are as hard
as stone and as dangerous as sharpened
steel. Beneath and hidden by them are
pitfalls, tumble into which means a
broken leg or arm. There, too, are the
rich fields Of borax, which have lured
many a man to death.
dreadful as is Death Valley, its
northwestern arm, Mesquite Valley, is
worse All Of the water on its surface 10
poison. The wind has thrown the sane
into immense mounds, one of which is
three miles long and 300 feet high. II
was in this valley that the immigrants
lost their lives
professor Merriam's party is working
for the Department Of Agriculture, which
proposes to mark off into zones all the
great Western country. The idea is to
inform settlers as to what will grow in
each zone, and as to what will not grow.
"'We have found said Professor NJ,
that in certain zones certain fora and
fauna flourish. Each zone has its pecul-
lar species which will not flourish in
others. These zones are both horizontal
and vertical. The party chose the DESC
late region of Death Valley for its labors,
for from it and not far istant can be
traced the sevcs mes Je have estab.
lished.
"'Death Valley ne continued, not
withstanding its barren elements, has
many phases Of life. 1t has 30 or 40
species Of animals aud fully as many Of
vegetable growth.
"'Many theories taVe been .dvanced
to account for the formation Of Death
Valley. think it quite probable that I
was once the sink Of the Mojave River. y"