The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1892-10-28
DEATH VALLEY BoRAX.
LARGEST ROAD WAGONS USED
IN THE WORLD.
A Region of Fatal Barrcnncss and Heat
Tho Rugged Beauties Of tho Des-
crt and the White Mamma
1t Produces.

I
but 1t is nevertheless true. that one
must go outside to find the largest
aud most economical road wagons
evor built In this country. writos Mr.
c. nj. Plumb OF California in Good
Roads. The term outside means out
upon the DESERT beyond tho bounds
Of civilization and tho influence OF
newspapers mall, churches or mar
kots upon the open. treeless plain,
under tho blue unclouded sky. Among
the few denizens OF the desert trip
to the railroad is invariably spoken OF
as going inside"
II there is II term OF droarier signlh-
cameo, us applied to any portion Of
this vast country than tho ''Mohave.
Desert" 1t is tho name of that par
ticular portion OF it which, by reason
Of It's tragical history, has boon termed
death Valley"
The larger area hns no very woll
defined bounds and there is scarcely
n limit to its present barrenncss
That portion within tho state OF Cali
fOrnia evtends some 200 miles west
ward from tho Colorado river and has
a length nearly twice as great IL IL
not region OF simple alkali plains
but OF diversified mountain ranges,
immense sloping valleys, dry lakes
and sunken river beds desert OF
sandy and rocky desolation.
Tho deep sink in the northerly
portion OF tho desert lay in tho path
way OF the overland emigration OF 10
and 80. which at Salt Lake divided.
ono division moving southerly and on
tering California by way OF Ca
Pass.
The fatality attending one OF these
early emigrant parties, with tho OK
aggerations OF tradition us TO the
deadly character OF tho valley atmos-
phore have fastened the name upon n
section which. though hot beyond en-
DURANGO NJ some seasons has its
springs and we'll watcred tracts whore
verdure is not unknown.
A fact OF peculiar and somewhat
romantic interest is that tho only pro.
duct OF value from this region OF
fatal barrcnness and heat Is that rare
preventative, borax. The usual form
in which this useful staple is found is
that OF white deposit or emulation
rather from the marshes whore IL
lies spread out like snowy lake OF
desert mama MS indeed II proves to
he. Passing strange that this valley
OF death should pour out harvest OF
natures most potent proservcr and
purifier
Tho necessities OF the transpor,a-
ton OF this borax to tho railroad for
market led to tho construction OF tho
wagons whose remarkable size and
economy render them worthy Of pro-
sentation 10 your readers A study
OF the dimensions and carrying capac.
ity OF these hugo vehicles will Justify
their reproduction. and. with the
story OF their use. may interest those
who are considering the subject Of
transportation upon earth roads
Tho exact dimensions OF these
wagons nro rs follows; Tho hind
wheels aro feet in diameter the
front wheels 3. ana the tire inches
wide and inch thick. Tho hubs arc
IL inches In diameter and 20 inches
long. Tho spolsos were made OF split
oak 81 inches wide ut tho butt and 4
Mt tho point Tho fclloes wcrc made
double OF Xxi pieces boltod together.
Tho aslcs wero OF solid stool / aud
A. inches square. Tho wagon bods
nrn 10 feot long. 1 feet wido and 6
feet deep. Tho tread OF tho wagons
Is @ feet their weight Z. 500 pounds
each. and tho cost about 500.
II Is noticeable that while n rail.
road freight ear weighs over ono. half
Its greatest load. two OF these Death
Valley wagons weighing less than
eight tons ofton carry % or 20 tons
OF boras besides the casks OF wator
and feed for the 20 animals'
Two OF these wagons aro Joined 10.
gether and between the spr ngs and
dry camps n tank wagon is also nj.
tached for water the whole train
drawn by two horses and Is mules,
Tho horses arc placed at tho wheel
and the NEST intelligent span OF mulos
In tho lead. The doublotreos arc at
tachcd TO heavy chain leading from
tho front nSles of tho wagons Tho
driver seated either upon tho load
governs his team by means OF small
rope l20 foot long. called jerk limo
attached TO tho BIT OF tho near leader