The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-07-09
NEW WESTERN WONDER
SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF A
SEA IN THE DESERT.

It Covers Seven Hundred Square Miles.
Has Saltwater Fish. Its Waters Are
Salt, and Its Origin shrouded In Mys-
tery-An Indian Legend.
Settlers in portions Of Colorado and
California are in no small degree alarmed
at the sudden appearance of large
body of water in what has been known
as the desert pc. tion of that country. 1t
now seems as If nature had decided to
solve the question of irrigation for her
self. The water appeared Immediately
after the recent seismic disturbances in
Italy and the slightcr shocks felt in san
Francisco. Exploring parties are out,
and. from the re; ort Of one, the inland
sea is estimated to be twelve miles wide
and from fifty to seventy miles long.
The boat was launched, and the crew set
forth on one of the strangest trips ever
known, There was stiff and rafting
br, g, and the boat danced merrily
upon the blue waves. There was
plenty of salt, sodine, and ozone
in the air, and early in the morn
ing the trip was extremely pleasant A
mile ont sma smelt was picked up-a
salt water ashland to the most Of the
sailors in the party this seemed to prove
ronclu>ively that the water was the re-
suit of cloudburst. others thought it
was from the gulf by a subterranean
passage, while Roadmaster Mnlvihill
chung t. the idea that the water was
coming from the Colorado River. Water
was tested and its gravity found. 1t
went about Is per cent. salt. The water
in the pool generally went 20 per cent i,
while the ocean is about 80, so it could
not be told whether the newly arrived
water was salt or fresh
There was fair wind and the party
sailed to Joint fifteen miles southeast
of Salton. Here a current about a mile
wide and running like mill race was
struck. The water was fourteen inches
deep and very clear. The SwiftnesS of
| tho current caused the shallowness of
| the water. This current settled the
| question in the mind of Mr.. Mulvihill
| that the water came from the Colo
Ialo River. the naval contingent re-
| turned to Salton without further in
cident A dispatch was found there
| from Colonel BlaisdelI, superinten-
dent of the Cargo Muchacko mines,
| which confirmed the tolOnel's theory.
| He sad during tho food last February
the Colorado River overlooked its banks
and filed New River and many basins.
! The water has since continued to pour
| out OF the I OloFduO hlVfT lntO tncSC
basins and New River. and to pour out oil
these in turn. He had always wondered
where the water went to. and the Saltor
| floods settled the question. The waite,
| started to Salton five months ago, but
| owing to delay caused by the sandy sol
and evaporation has just arrived. i
| was behind time, but it came as fast a:
it could over the desert
| 1t is thought the flood W II last as Ions
| as the Colorado River is high, and 1t j:
| now twcnty-seven feet above high water
| mark At places on New River, where
the wat r is overlooking. the banks arr
about twenty five feet high and of sand
| They are getting weak, and if they Civ,
way bank of water twenty feet higl
and many miles long will rusl
down like tidal wave, II thi
occurs, which is very probable, j
will make things very lively with thu
railroad company and will change
the course of the Colorado or New Rive
entirely. In fact. il the water holds on
in these rivers, it will simply form a :es
100 m les long by fifty vide. and Ban
| ng will become port of entry. Moi
have been sent to a pc mt on the deSer
ten mics south of Volcano Springs. ant
if the current is found there it is Ger
tain that the water is from the Colorado
The place where the break occurred i
thirteen miles below Elryo and sevent,
| miles from Saiton.