Morning journal and courier., 1891-07-29

and vegetable life. The western range is
the Panamint averaging in height about
8, 900 feet. The eastern range is the Fun
eral, suggestive and not unfit name. The
Funeral mountains rise fully 1000 feet
above the level of the sea. These mount
aims are black, with the exception of cur
ious patches of red rock Away to the
north is Mount Magruder. Beyond in the
distance rise the the heights of the Sierras.
Almost at the southern limit of the valley
is Mount Ivanwatch. Behind 1t is the
Devils Playground region of absolute
barrenness.
Down the valley a hot, suffocating
wind blows with terrific velocity. In its
course through the stricken region it gath
ers black cloud of hot, shifting sand that
has blinded many an unwary horse and
rider. Under the glistening beds of crys-
talized salt in places are running streams
of salt water. Beneath there is still anoth-
er bed of salt.
elm other parts of the valley are wastes
of hot sand drawn in some places into high
mounds by the whirling blasts that sweep
down the canon. There, too, is the most
curious earth / have seen-self- rising earth
it has been called. AS far as the eye can
see it appears in curving outline, up and
down, as if puffed by natural yeast The
unfortunate animal that steps upon the
little hills will crasi, through, for they are
not much more than fragile crusts.
''Still stranger is that section of the val
ley which, fer want of better name, is
called salt earth. Innumerable pinnacles
tapering to points as fine as needles and
over foot long rise in close array from
the ground. They are as hard as stone
and as dangerous as sharpened steel. Be-
meath and hidden by them are pitfalls, a
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 it is Death valley, its north
western arm, Mesquite valley, is worse.
All of the water upon its surface is poison.
The wind has thrown the sand into i'm
mense mounds, one of which is three miles
long and 300 feet high. 1t was in this val
ley that the immigrants lost their lives.
Water may be obtained only by digging
deep wells, and then is is none too pure.
''Our party, the Biological Survey of the
United States government, has been in the
valley for months. 1t left there only a
few days ago, having finished its investi-
cation. The general purpose of the de-
partment of agriculture, under which we
work, is to collect facts relating to the dis
tribution of species with variations of
temperature and humidity throughout the
United States, and particularly in the
western part. The results obtained will
be of the utmost value to agriculture, for
they will save millions of dollars spent in
experiment by farmers who wish to test
the capacity and character of their land.
"We have found that in certain zones
certain flora and fauna flourish. Each zone
has its peculiar species which will not
flourish in others. These zones are both
horizontal and vertipal
''The party chose the desolate region of
Death valley for its labors, for from it,
and not far distant, can be traced the
seven zones we have established. The val
ley, Notwithstanding its barren elements,
has many phases of life. 1t has thirty or
forty species of animals and fully as many
of vegetable growth. Nothing, of course,
will live on the salt or borax bottom, but
ON the edges of these districts various
hardy plants thrive. In the sand wastes
are gophers, mice, rats, bats and many
other animals, and not a few reptiles.
"Many theories have been advanced to
account for the formation of Death valley.
think it quite probable that is was once
the sink of the Mojave river.
'tOur trip has been an interesting one.
One of my rides in sracing the course of
the sub-Sonoran zone, region similar to
the Mexican state of Sonora, was l. 200
miles in length. Those who were in the
party and members of it were Vernon
Bailey, a naturalist, botanist, and, in my
| opinion, the best trapper in the world;
| Theodore Palmer, ohief assistant; Doctor
| A. K. Fisher, F. V. Colville, and E. w.
| Nelson. The only part of the region yet
1 to be investigated is the high Sierras."