The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-24

being apparently ten to fifteen miles dis
tant. The intervening space was a barren
waste of sand, vibrating with heat and
miles away. across the level stretch the
ever-present mirage gave an impression of
placid lake of water which it was diff
cult to disbelieve. At certain times In the
early morning, when the mists are rising
from the sand and the sun is al the proper
angle, am told that this mirage Is much
more vivid, and that one win be satisfied,
he can see the white-capped waves rolling
upon the shore, when there is not a drop
of water within fifty miles. l personally
could see the reelection 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-
preston in the earth not a blade of grass
or other green thing was to be seen. 1t
was simply hot sand, white as snow, and
glistening under the intense rays of the
sun until the eyes We're almost blinded.
For forty miles the track runs beside
ridge of white sand, almost as white as
Hour which stretches across the country
at its point of greatest depression, and 1t
evidently marks the shores of the former
lake for ages before Its evaporation. This
ridge of sand, probably forty miles long,
varies from twenty to sixty feet high,
and is at least Zoo feet wide, as nearly
as could be judged from the cars IL is
constantly being blown by the wind into
the most fanciful forms presenting all the
aspects of a choppy sea- instantaneousiy
transformed into solid waste of sand.
1 entered this desert at the little railroad
station of Indio which is nifty feet below
the sea level For nearly fifty miles before
1t is reached the railroad runs over bar
rem waste, without water and with but
the scantiest vegetation. But at the rail-
road station l found date palms, giant
cacti, and all manner of tropical and semi
tropical trees, plants, and flowers. The
spot is a great resort for consumptives,
rheumatlcs. and estimates, and there are
many small cottages and hotels clustered
about the railroad station.
Arteslan wells have been bored here, and
a never-failing supply of fresh and pure
water can be obtained. One of these wells
is flowing GOO gallons an hour. Melons, to-
matoes berries, and all sorts of fruits
ripen in this spot much earlier than at
other points in the state, owing TO the in
tense heat. The agave, or century plant,
which is indigenous in this desert is much
used for food The roots, roasted, taste
like stewed turnps, while the stem, roast
ed, resembles sweet potatoes. From this
plant is also made the Mexican drink, pull
que, which is the native equivalent for
beer
Four miles from Indio, on some rising
ground, is a magnificent grove Of about 800
date palms, and about these trees live sew
eral hundred Coahuila Indians. But few
miles away are famous mud Volcanoes.
From Indio can be seen Mounts San ia
clnto San Bernardino, and Grayback upon
which there is snow all the year round.
The entire section, except near Indio, and
for a brief space about Salton is barren
and desoate one, and yet possesses
greater interest than many more favored
sections of the west. It's future as a health
resort is undoubtedly great.
About five years ago the Colorado river,
during a great freshet, broke over its
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 Gulf
of California has broken into the valley
over the sand dunes, and another lake has
resulted. This has doub less occurred many
times in the past, since the disappearance
of the original sea and the salt lake which
was its successor, and IL is not Impossible
that some moderate CONFUSION Of nature
may again flood the entire region with the
waters of the sea, and that the Gulf Of
California win thereby gain northern eX-
tension more than 100 miles in excess OF
what now appears upon the map