The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-07-21
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DEATH VALLEY.

Death Valley is probably the most
unique natural feature in California.
lis located in the southest corners of
lnyo county and is inclosed by the
Fanamint Mountains on the west
and the Funeral Range on the east.
Il IS seventy-fve miles long, and at
ITS narrowest point but eight miles
wide.
AT one time, most probably, it was
the bed of an ancient river. The
lowest depression is 200 feet below
sea level, but above this rises Tele-
scope Peak, II 900 feet. During the
winter these peaks are covered with
snow.
This remarkable valley was discov-
ed IN 1850 by party of immigrants,
many of whom lost their lives i4a tho
attempt to cross it. The name has
clung to it, also, as being the scene
of numOerless tragedies. Early in its
history traditions of gold and silver
deposits of wonderful richness within
its boundaries persuaded many adven-
turous persons to undertake the haz-
ardous 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 ad-
venturous 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 Hemis-
phere. In winter the temperature is
way below zero, while in July and
August the thermometer ranges for
weeks at 1877 above, frequently ris-
ing several degrees higher. For
weeks at time the lowest tempera-
ture observed exceeded 1902. The
deadly heat burns every vestige of
vegetation. The Spanish bayonet, a
plant that fourishes under the most
arid conditions, here barely survives,
while the mesquite, with its long
roots penetrating deep into the earth
in search of scanty moisture, just
manages to exist.
A party of enterprising agricultur-
lists once experimental with growing
fruit and vegetables in this region,
anticipating large profits in the early
marketing of their crops. The at
tempt was complete failure, the in
tense heat whitening the plants, not
withstauding copious supplies of water
and the most skillful cultivation. In
the higher attitudes of the Pananints
there are numerous valleys with flow
ing streams. In these fruits are culti-
vated, and reach the market two
months before the California products
mature.
The prevailing winds in Death Val
fS taied with WITH the Ray MsSf ThoHsR Il EHFaRRsg G1
the intermediate distance they are in
tercepted by the lofty peaks of four
ranges of mountains, which absorb all
their moisture, so that by the time
they reach the valley all humidity has
disappeared. The blasts are as if
heated in a fiery furnace, and no liv-
ing thing can survive the intense
heat. Even birds indigenous to the
region die.
1t is in the months of greatest heat
that the sand storms of Death Valley
are most deadly. They rage with in
tense fury, obliterating the landscape
and dimming the light Of the sun,
whitening the scanty vegetation and
covering the trails deep in powdered
dust. At all times the aspect of the
valley is superlatively desolate No
spot on earth surpasses it in aridity
or tophetlike heat.
During the heated term an hour
without water means death. Meat be-
comes 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 reduced in temperature by means
of the rapid evaporation of the mois-
ture from the outside.
The belief that the borax marshes
are the remains of the vast lake which
once filled the valley is supported by
traces of water-line found 600 feet
above, on the mountain side.
In general appearance all borax
marshes are alike. They are located
at the point of greatest depression,
and from a distance look like deposits
of salt or snow Under the surface
is common wet clay or water of vary
ing depths. These deposits are gen
orally circular in form and appear as
though once they were craters. Bor-
ak was created by contact of boracic
acid in gaseous form with the lime
and soda of the surface. At Teels
Marsh, Nevada, borate of lime ap-
pears in the form of balls imbedded
in clay along with soda, salt, &c. !,
but at Columbus these are found in
sandy soil. Sometimes these balls
are decomposed, underlying the soil,
which is removed and the borate shov-
eled out. Deposits of crude borate
of sodo are found in Nevada and in
Death Valley, at the Monte Blanco
mines.