Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-04
THE sALTON DESERT.
Reported to be Covered Again win
the Waters OF the Gulf.

ter name coming from the Colorado river
and not from the State, Is one OF Tue
most remarkable spots on the surface Oh
the globe. 1t is also one OF the hottest
They have a record at Salton OF lS' de-
grees in the shade and even In Decemoer
and January temperature OF 30 degrees
is not considered worthy of comment ~
the few people who drag out red-hot
existence about the railroad stations 4
the salt-works. Go.
The desert lies on the line of the South
ern Pacific railroad. and stretches over
1870 miles in length by thirty In aVerdse
width. The lowest point OF the basin -
EGO feet below the level OF the sea, 9ue
the lowest point touched by the raliroad
is 26S feet below the ocean. There are
but two lower spots on the surface OF the
earth-one on the shores or the caspian
Sea and the other about the Dead sea, II
Palestine. 49,.
The Salton desert was originally cover
Cd nv the sea. being a northern continue
ton of the Gulf of California. Through
volcanic or other physical action. great
ridges of sand were thrown up across the
Main between the mountains near .hs
southern line Of California and the yaliey
of the Colorado river, cutting OH the
water of the Gulf of California from tlat
further north, and the salt lake mus
formed gradually evaporated or was dp-
sorbed by the earth, leaving the presSH'
depression and desert.
The depression is entirely surrouhueu
by mountains, save at the south, anu
along these mountains, always at the
same plane, can be seen the shore OF the
ancient sea at the level OF the ocean, tiie
action of the waves and tides upon the
rocks being distinctly visible Inc sanus
Of the surface OF the valley are also
dotted thickly with sea shells, winnie
about Salton, covering an area Oh ten
square miles, the surface OF the desert
IS covered with a deposit OF pure sal
from inches to foot in depth. Many
more miles of surface are also white with
salt. but it is not in commercial quanI-
ties At Salton there are extensive works
for the gathering and shipment of this
salt.
I passed through this desert about the
middle of the past month of September
when the temperature was about 10 III
the sun. and lO6 i'm the shade. From the
car one could see quite across the Valiey
from east to west, the mountains en-
either hand being apparently ten 10 nj
teen miles distant. The Intervening space
was a barren waste OF sane, vibrating
with heat, and miles away across the
level stretch the everpresent mirage gave
an impression of a placid lake OF water
which il was difficult to disbelieVe. Az
certain times in the early morning, when
the mists are rising from the sand ana
the sun is at the proper angle, l am told
that this mirage is much more vivid, and
that one will be satisfied he can see the
vhite-capped waves rolling upon the
shore. when there is not a drop of water
within fifty miles. | personally could see
the reflection of the distant mountains IN
the misty Illusion, and could well realize
the truth of what others told me.
For at least fifty miles across this de-
nression in the earth no. blade OF grass
or other green thing was to be seen. IT
was simply hot sand white as Snow, and
gllstening under the intense rays OF the
sun until the eyes were almost blinded.
For fc-ty miles the track runs beside
ridge of white sand. almost as fine as
-four. which stretches across the country
at It's point OF greatest depression, ana
Il evidently markes the shores or the Tor
mer lake for ages before It's evaporation
This ridge of sand, probably forty miles
long. varies from twenty 10 sixty Feet
high. and is at least 1000 feet wide. as
nearly as could be judged from the cars
II is constantly being blown By the wind
into the most fancful forms presenting
all the aspects OF a choppy sea instanta-
neously transformed into solid waste
of sand
7 entered this desert at the little rail-
road station OF Indio. which is fifty feet
below the sea level. For nearly htty
miles before 1t is reached the railroad
runs over barren waste without water
and with but the scantiest vegetation.
But at the railroad station / found date
palrns. giant cacti. and all manner OF trop-
ical and semi-tropical trees, plants, ana
flowers The spot is a great resort Tor
conservatives, rheumatics, and asthma
tics. and there are many small cottages
and hotels clustered about the railroad
station.
Artesian wells have been bored here,
and a never-faillng supply OF fresh and
pure water can be obtained one OF
these wells is flowing Loco gallons an hour.
Melons tomatoes berries. and all sorts
Of fruits ripen in this spot much earlier
than al other points i'm the State owing
to the intense heat. The asave. or CEN
fury plant. which is Indigenous in this
desert. Is much used for food. The roots,
roasted. taste like stewed turnips while
the stem, roasted. resembles sweet POI
| tatoes. From this plant is also made
| the Mexican drink. pulque. which Is the
native equivalent for beer.
Four miles from fndio on some rising
ground. is a magnificent grove OF about
500 date palms, and about these trees live
| several hundred COahuiia Indians. But a
! few miles away are famous mud volca-
| noes From Indio can be seen Mounts
| San Jacinto, San Bernardino, and Gray
| back. upon which there is snow all the
year round. The entire section. except
near Indlo, and for a brief space about
| Salton. Is a barren and desolate one. and
! yet possesses a greater interest than
many more favored sections of the West,
| It's future as health resort Is undoubt-
| eddy great.
| About FIVE years ago the Colorado river
| during O great freshet broke over It's
| banks and flooded many square miles OF
| this desert, and a great lake was formed
! which did not disappear for a year Now
| as the press dispatch indicates, the Gull
| of California has broken into the valley
over the sand dunes. and another lake
has resulted This has doubtless occurred
many times In the past, since the disap
pearance Of the original sea and the sal
lake which was It's successor and II |,
not impossible that sofoe moderate con
yuision OF nature may again food the
entire region with the waters OF the sea
and that the Gulf OF California will there
by gain a northern extension more thar
100 miles in excess OF what now appear,
upon the map.