The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-02
A DESERT LABORATORY
AN ARIZONA INSTITUTION Ole OF
MR., CARNEGIE'S GIFTS.
Actual Work of Construction Begun
ON Mountain Site Near Tucson
What 1t Is For.

Carnegie Desert Laboratory, on its noun
tain site near Tucson, Arizona, was begun
TWO weeks ago, and the terms of the con-
tract call for its completion or Sept. l.
The board In charge of the work was no
titled by the Board of Commerce of Tue
son on Monday last that the site and con-
cessions were ready. Plans and contracts
had long been prepared awaiting this event,
and architect and contractor were tele-
graphed to begin work at once.
Ground was broken the same day, and
with the main building materials right at
hand, the work will progress rapidly. The
plans of construction, like everything else
connected with the enterprise, are the re-
suits of investigation on the part of all
concerned, from the architect to the sciep-
lists most intimately connected with the
initial work.
Careful study had to be made of climatic
conditions as well as of the demands of
science in this comparatively new field of
botanical research and some features which
are somewhat novel have been decided
upon, in the hope of affording comfortable
as well as scientifically complete quarters
Tor visiting and resident investigators and
students
The various elevations show a plain but
substantial L-shaped building covered with
broad-peaked roof which affords abundant
attic space to aid in ventilating the inte-
rior. The high foundation walls will be
built or the volcanic powders which now
cucumber the site and the main walls will
be or adobe bricks made right there, of
clay found on the site and baked by the
sun These walls will be especially thick
and substantial, as an additional safeguard
he hidden
smooth. heavy coatings of cement.
The roof, which perhaps affords the most
mover feature OF construction, will rest on
all SIDES on open lattice work some two
feet high and completely shaded by the
roof which projects four feet beyond the
side walls. Large square shafts, projecting
above the roof, complete the system OF
ventilation, while big Mexican fire-places
In the main rooms are meant TO afford COM
fort on the few days that heat is required
In that all too fervid, shadeleSS locality
The building and ell will occupy sites six
ty-two feet by twenty feet, and ffty-five
feet by eighteen feet respectively, and the
ground plan, as shown, provides tor a large
study for the resident investigator. Access
to broad porch will be had from each Of
The structure will cost $4,000 and the need
OF such facilities ii will offer has been
felt for years by all botanists interested in
the peculiar vegetation found in desert
places.
DESERT CONDITION.
Contrary to the general idea deserts are
rarely mere barren wastes, but are the
habitat of particularly interesting plants
adapted towithstand long periodso Of drought
and very scant annual rainfallat best. Thick
succulent leaves like those of the aloe or
century plant as it is more commonly
known, or great columns, wide blades and
triangular shapes that the cacti delight to
aIor
desert flora, the plants being great store
houses OF moisture. which is laid by against
the many days when no water is TO be had
In almost all instances nature arms the
plants against animal attack with Quanti-
ties or most vicious and keen spines.
Nor are the deserts entirely abandoned
by man, but on the contrary the natives of
such places have learned along with the
plants, to make the most OF such unpromis-
ing surroundings in the struggle for exist
ence, and Will discover Underground SUM-
pies OF water or will force plants to give
up their supplies ia places and ways mat
more civilized people would never dream Of
Civilized man has never. however; been
deserts to his needs, and botanists have
for years risked health and strength in the
search of such localities of Knowledge
which will aid man in battle against desert
conditions.
1t is estimated that there are a million
square miles of such lands in North Amer
lea. Field study In these lands Is always
cumuiation of knowledge concerning them
has been necessarily SLOW.
These facts were presented to the Car
negfe institution several months ago, and
the institution made an appropriation of
$1,000 for the establishment of the labora-
tory and It's maintenance for one year.
To further insure the ultimate success of
the undertaking, the executive committee
of the institution requested DR.. Daniel
Trembly McDougal first assistant and d.
rector OF the laboratories of the New York
Botanical Garden. and Frederick W. Co
Department OF Plant Industry of the United
States Department of Agriculture, to LOOK
up favorable site for the new laboratory
SHOOSING THE SITE.
They accepted the task, and spent some
five weeks in exploring desert regions in
various Localities at widely divergent points
Amons some of the more important places
visited were the Chihuahua and the Tula-
rosa desert, the latter of which proved the
most interesting. Field work was done in
Mexico between Los Nedano and Sa-
malayuca, and in the neighborhood of No
gales, town which is half in Mexico and
half in Arizona, and a hurried trim was
also made to the Mojave desert, but only
a short stay was made there, as Mr.. Covilie
was pretty familiar with the conditions
there, having explored the desert quite
known as the Death Valley Expedition"
Tularosa desert was interesting from the
dazzling white sand which prevails. 1t is
a coarse gypsum soluble In cold water
and the solution. which is strongly alkaline
supports only such vegetation as can en-
dure theaalkali.
The tract examined near Los Nedano was
peculiar from the number of immense sand
dunes which are slowly travelling over the
plain in the direction of the prevailing