The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-09-05
AN UNCANNY REGION.
DEATH VALLEY, WHERE NO LIVING
THING CAN LONG SURVIVE.

THING CAN LONG SURVIVE.
This Scene OF Number7ens Tragedies
Is one of the Most Remarkable
Places Of the Western werla--The
Most Arid Spot ON Earth.
Death valley is probably the most
unioue natural feature in California.
II is located I'M the southeast corner Of
Incyo county and Is inclosed by the
panamint mountains on the west and
the Funeral range on the east. 1t is
* miles long and at its narrowest point
but eight miles wide.
At one time, most probably, 1t was
the bed of an ancient river. The low
est depression is 200 feet below sea
level. but above this rises Telescope
ncak, 1900. feet high, of the Pana-
mint rdnge, and directly opposite the
Funeral peak, which reaches an alti-
tudc of 5000 feet. During the winter
these peaks are covered with snow.
This remarkable valley was discoy-
cred In 1850 by party Of immigrants,
many OF whom lost their lives in the
attempt to cross 1t. The name has
clung to It also as being the scene Of
numberless tragedies. Early In it's
history traditions OF gold and silver de-
posits of wonderful richness within it's
boundaries persuaded many adventur-
Gus persons to undertake the hazard
Gus experiment. OF Its exploration. The
number who have lost their lives In
this desolate field Is undoubtedly great.
Pursuing the mirage Of rich deposits Of
precious metals, these adventurous
prospectors succumbed at last to the
intolerable heat and the agonies Of
thirst.
The range Of the thermometer is
probably greater In Death valley than
elsewhere in, the western hemisphere.
In winter the temperature is way be-
low zero. while In July and August the
thermometer ranges for weeks at 1877
degrees above, frequently rising sever
nj degrees higher. Eo= weeks at "a
time the lowest temperature observed
exceeded 100 degrees. The daily heat
burns every Eestige Of vegetation. The
Spanish bayonet, plant that flourish
es under the most arid conditions, here
barely survives, while the. mesquite,
with it's long roots penetrating deep In
to the earth In search Of scanty mois.
ture, just manages to exist.
A party OF enferprising agriculturfsts
once experimental with growing fruit
and vegetables In this region. antici-
pating large profits IL the early mar.
keting OF their crops. The attempt
was a complete failure, the intense
heat withering the plants. notwith-
standing copious supplies Of water and
hn cir nj -,
higher attitudes Of the Panamints there
are numerous valleys with flowing
streams. In these fruits are cultivated
and reach the market two months be-
fore the California products mature.
The prevailing winds In Death valley
are from the west. Though origlnat-
ing in the Pacific ocean and saturated
with humidity In travelling the inter-
mediate distance, they are intercepted
by the lofty peaks Of four ranges Of
mountains, which gbsorb all Of their
moisture, so that ~ the time they
reach the valley aH humidity has dis
appeared. The Llagte are as If heated
In fiery furnace, 9 e no living thing
can survive the intense heat. Even
birds indigenous 10 the region die.
1t Is ia the months OF greatest heat
that the sandetormg OF Death valley
are most deadly. They rage with In
tense fury, obiiternting the landscape
and dimming the light OF the sun, with.
ering the scanty vegetation and cover
Ing the trails deep In powdered dust.
AT oil times the aspect of tiha valley ia
superlatively desolate. No spot On.
earth surpasses It in aridity or tophet-
like heat.
During the heated term an hour with.
out water means death. Meet becomes
putrid in an hour. Eggs are cooked in
the blistering sand. Water is only
palatable by means Of large, porous,
earthenware Jars, common to all hot
countries, suspended In drafts and re.
duced In temperature by means OF the
rapid evaporation OF the moisture from
the outside.
The belief that the borax marshes
are the remains Of the vast lake which
once filed The valley is supported by
traces OF water line found 900 feet
above on the mountain sides.
In general appearance all borax
marshes are alike. They are located
at the point Of greatest depression and
from distance look like deposits OF
salt or snow. Under the surface is
common wet clay or water Of varying
depths. These deposits are generally
circular In form and appear as though
once they We're craters. Borax was
created by cortact Of boracic acid In.
gaseous form, with the lime and soda
OF the surface. At Teels marsh, Ne.
vada. borate OF lime appearA IN the
form Of balls Embedded Ia clay along
with soda, salt, ETC., but at Columbus
these are found in sandy soil Some
times these balls are decompoged, un-
DERIVING the soil, which is removed and
the bcrate shoveled ont. Deposits OF
crude borate OF soda are found In Ne
vada and In Death valley at the Monte
6lanco mines. Scientific American.
Rot a MEMBER.
Employment in q library does not ell.
ways imply the possession of extensive
knowledge. This IL evidenced hv mn