The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1894-03-06
AoRRoRs OF rAg sALroN pessRr.
Where the Mercury Ranges From 100
Above to so DEGREES nelesr Zorro.

Whore the Mercury Ranges From 100
Above to 80 Degrees Below Zorro.
Fred L.. Monscn in lecture in San
Francisco gave some interesting particu-
lars regarding Death valley aud che sal
ton basin, both OF which he has trayersed
There are 90 he found the largest, hottest
most unredeemable deserts in the world.
hottest and yet coldest, wrttest and vet so
arid that life is sometinos impossible Tho
bottom of Deathvnlley lies deeper beneath
tho level OF the sea than any other valley.
The desert district OF California covers
$4,000 square miles, embraced by 1nyo,
Lern, Los Angeles and San Bcrnnrdino
counties. Death valley is Ia the south OF
lnyo county, not very far from Mount
Whitney, which is $1,000 feet high Tho
valley ~ as miles long and from 0 TO Is
miles wide. Il is 4so feet below sea level.
Mr. Monsen described his trip from Ding
gett, which Is t86 miles from the valley.
ny means OF team and buckboard No
single hnbitation can be found en- route,
aud provisions water, even hay for tho
horses, had TO DO taken In the equipment.
some idea OF the Temperature was CON
voyed by the fact that meat can be cured
in one hour, cggs can DO roasted ia the
sand, flour breads worms IN week, and
no man can be more than an hour without
water without becoming insane. There is
something less than / per cent OF mois-
ture IN the atmosphere While at tho Red
sea l97 degrees Of heat are recorded, Mt
Death valley l31 degrees in the shade IL
not uncommon. Yet, on the other hand.
the mercury sinks TO 80 degrees below zero.
a feature of tho valley Is the curious
"salt road. y which was graded with sledge
hammers right through the center for tho
transport OF borax by this road are many
unknown graves, filled by wanderers who
have persisted through the heat, They are
4S0 feet below sen level and are probably
the lowest graves in the world. Only shall
low graves covered with blocks of salt ara
necessary for the drsiccatcd remains, for
there are no animals there except snakes,
tarantulns, scorpions and lizards
OF the latter one, the chugwallah,
dresses three pounds In weight and IS cat
On by both Indians and whites The meat
Is said 90 resemble that Of chicken. OF the
snakes the yellow RATHER Is the most
formidable, The name OF the valley was
derived from party Of emigrants from
Salt Lake City. The party endcavored to
cross the canyon in 1850 and lost their
lives, Stercoptoon views OF fragments Of
their skeletons wagons, etc, caused
shudder among the spectators,
Much interest attached 70 the portion
of the lecture describing 'Greighting by
teams Two immense wagons, each
weighing 800 pounds, are coupled so as
to carry $4,000 pounds, and with tank
tender OF 500 gallons capacity for water
are hauled by 20 mules, Thomu or tug
IF the desert, the teamster and swamp
er, - or teamstor's assistant, were given
chapter,
The absolute necessity of profanity Ia Il
teamster's equipment was illustrated by
the failure OF teamster after he had been
converted by an evangelist. When invited
to move without the usual decorative em-
phasis, the 20 mules with ono accord turn
cd their heads over their shoulders aud
simply gazcd in petri1ed nstonishment.
Sulton Is over $50 feet below sen level
and comprises 10 square miles Of salt.
Here immense snlt works are In operation,
and 200 tons of salt are plowed up in ono
day. The salt covers the marsh TO n depth
of from 10 to 30 inches. The work ia chieny
done by Indians, who alone can stand the
terrific hent and binding glare which pre-
vail.--San Francisco Call