Arizona weekly citizen., 1891-07-18
SALTON LAKE.
No Official News received at Rail
road Headquarters.

The Southern Pacific people received
no official information from Saltor
yesterday as to the desert lake." and il
is hardly probable that anything more
will be heard until the return of the
engineer sent out from Yuma. The
telegraph operator at Salton last even
ing merely stated that there had been
no change.
PATToN's TRIP,
| II. w. Patton, the editor If the Blnn-
ing Herald, left Yuma on Thurslay
afternoon on his way to AlgodoEes Via
| Colorado river. Mr.. Patton is ccmmis
stoned to enter New River AMI thence 70
proceed TO SaltOn by boat. Ills enter
prise caused considerable excitement at
Yuma whore IL is generally believed
that not only will he not reach Salton,
but 1T IS even anticipated that he will
get lost IN the numerous sloughs which
exist near New River, ard that he
viii more than likely return to Yuma
IN few days without having discovered
the true channel which fought to take
him On the road to SaltOn and fame.
Patton was very confident, nOtwIth-
standing few days drawback. In the
inst place his bateau was leaking, and
soon after he had engaged a Yuma
Indian to proceed on the trip with him
the aborigine became panic stricken and
deserted IN a hurry. A Mexican named
Antonio Rosa was substituted for the
Indian and will probably prove a much
more trustworthy man, as he has long
been connected with the Polhemus'
steamers and understands the river.
Knit hn hoc ~ 81
the New River, and as guide he will
prove no better than II. ID. Converse,
an Old Colorado river trapper, who
Is the third party of the expedition. |
After procuring large quantity OF pro-
Visions, compass, Thermometer, awning |
and divers sundries Mr.. Patton was |
ready to proceed down the river, which |
be did under melting sun shortly af- |
ter noon. A few snapshots OF the ex-
pedltion, as it tioated down the Colora-
do, were taken by Mr.. SEane, the civil |
engineer of the Southern Pacific Co.,
who left here himself yesterday morning |
by team to investigate the source Of the |
lakes. Soundings OF the depth of the
river were taken by Mr.. Swain at the |
1rawbridge on Thursday afternoon.
They show the river to be falling very
slowly, two inches per day being about |
he average. A report was sent out |
rom Yuma that the Colorado had fallan |
zen feet in ten days. This is the veriest |
Oesh, as If such had been the case no
water could be flowing into the new
axes. Ii would leave the Colorado al
most dry, except just in mid stream.
The difficulties of Patton's trip, as ex-
planned by the people of Yuma, consist
# numerous false sloughs, strong cur
ents and snags and a general disability
or one not acquainted with the coun- /
ry to discover the true channel. II
oatton's boat we're to capsize and he lost
us provisions he would be in very un-
'nviable position, which might then
urn out perilOus in the extreme. He
;annot possibly reach Salton in three or
our days by water, and it is more like
y that If he strikes the proper inlet it
will be seven days before he reports
lis safe arrival at that place. Mr..
swain was to leave yesterday morning at
o'clock with four mule team, a COM
'anion and ample provisions to investi-
'ate the old overland stage road to San
Diego. He and Patton will endeavor TO
meet somewhere on the New river, the
after having promised 10 build a big
ire at his camps at night to guide the
ormer.
An Associated Press dispatch sent ont
rom Yuma on Tuesday, stating that
Dir. Swaine agreed with the theories
Explained by Carter, who madS trip
sw days ago, did not meet with Swans
He said that hshad made no
tatement and that it would be foolish
hing for him to express an opinion
bout the matter he had not inYesti-
rted. 1t would appear from this that
be Yuma agent was too previous.