The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-07-15
DESERT MADE A LAKE.
Strange Natural Phenomenon
in San Diego County, Cal.
The Great Colorado Basin Filling
Up With Salt Water.

A despatch from San Francisco, Ca
says: The Colorado desert basin in Sar
Diego County is the scene of strang
natural phenomenon. 1t Is an inland depres
sion 21O feet below the level Of the sea in it.
deepest part and covering an area of 300
square miles. On Saturday evening thc
workmen at the great salt works at Saltou
were amazed to see streams of water trick
ling down the valley. These increased in
size until for several miles around the earth
was covered by shining lake Of salt water
thirteen inches in depth.
The water had risen only two inches sine.
Sunday, making fifteen inches. but is spread.
Ing over wide area and is causing the
Southern Pacific Railroad people much
be sent on with boat from Los Angeles
They will get off the train at Indio,
and as sooa as they strike the lake
will launch the boat and follow the stream
up to its source. The current shows tn.
water is coming from the direction of New
River, which receives its water from
| the Colorado The theory Of those
| familiar with the desert is that On earth.
| quake or some other convulsion has forced
an underground artesian stream Of
water up through the sandy SOIL The
theory that the drying up OF an artesian
well at Indio, caused the food, was spoiled
| by the well resumiug its natural flow after q
cessation Of twenty-four hours.
This track bears evidences of having bean
flooded many years ago, and Indian tradition
declares that great inland lake stretched
at one time from this region to the San
Jacinto Mountains, that separate the desert
from the orange groves of San Bernardino
County.
The Southern Pacific Railroad passes
through the basin mora than fifty miles, its
lowest point being 263 feet below the sea
level. The Colorado river is leo feet above
terranean passage connects with the
Colorado above Yuma the lake will be
over four hundred feet in depth and
over fifty miles long. If the waters con-
tinue to rise the Southern Pacific track will
be submerged nearly one hundred miles. and
the great desert Of Colorado will be con-
verted into vast lake.
When the story OF the rising water near
Salton, Arizona, first reached the Southern
Pacific officials at San Francisco they paid
no particular attention to the rumorsr but
they finally decided to make an investiga-
ton. An Indian runner was sent out
with instructions to find where the
water leaves the river, if such be-
the case, and to make thorough examina-
ton as to how it passes through the sand
hills and reaches the desert. 1t is believed
that the water leaves the river just above
Pilot Knob, near Yuma, nearly sixty miles
from Salton, and works its way through the
dry sand to the low ground this side Of the
river.
A fourteen-foot boat with two sailors was
sent from San Peiro to Salton. From that
point boat provisioned for weeks cruise
will sail south and attempt to reach the
source of the aow, while the Indian runner
follows the bank Of the river from Yuma.
As the water does not come within mile Of
the railroad track there is no obstruction to
traffic and no immediate trouble Is appre-
heuded.
Advices from Yuma said the water at Sal
ton is rising and is from fourteen to sixteen
inches deep around the salt works. One
hundred square miles are reported under
water. The railroad company have men out
to ascertain the depth of the water and prob
able causes.