New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-28

hang dense clouds of steam. He also tells OF the
great nitre fields and borax plains of the Mojave.
OF the gold and gems which lie hidden in its
wastes. and OF the desert madness which over
takes the venturesome traveller who wanders
too far afeld in his search for these tempting
treasures and fails TO find well. or worse, COM
ing 10 one. discovers that II has gone dry"
There IS life in the desert. and strange are the
creatures that dwell in that strange land Curl
Gus lizards, the poisonous ella monster its cous-
m the chucawala, the harmless horned toad.
which Is also a lizard and not a toad abound:
mere the cactus bat makes home and the
coyote roauls at large; the tarantuIa the scor-
plon' the cenrpede the ''sidewinder'-a pecuI-
AIRY venomous rattlesnake-add to the dangers
u desert travel, and. far above mortal sight.
aoVers the vulture ready 10 settle down 10 his
greWsome feast as soon as man or animal falls
prey 10 any OF the ever present perfls
more strange yet. human beings, whole tribes
OF INDIANS. have made their home in the desert
'or centuries and exc out a precarlous exist
7I4ce oy eating the repUlsive food afforded by
the siugs and snakes and lizards, which are
their only game" and finding nournishment
nreWood. shelter and material for such little
c4olhlng as they need in the cactus and other
curious plants that grow in that thirsty soil
some of these plants are used by the Indians
Tor weaving baskets Oddly enough. in this re-
pellant region the art of basket making has
reached state Of perfection unattained in civ
ilized communities
The basket plays an important mart 8, +ba
fancy II s1 1e Cess5[ t1Gan II is his cradle in in
being used in which to store ms grain co0IS bis
IL Tle s serve MS food and carry his burdens
TJ TSeT supply Is brought and stored in baskets
into basket designs II = mas S eetDe are woven
speak of using baskets in which to cook food bnI
yegetabes are boiled and nusb rdok tribes
sro-s ~ cropping into the basket with the food
when nave been heated live Goals Ger
71-iob 1ooas are also cooked in shallow baskets
Goals beside the food and then skfIfuIIv tVi-Iipe
ne oaSKet IN such manner keep the food
sane TINE separate from each other BY occasion
any blowing into the dish the mess Is kenr T~eA
from asAeS and the Goals are kept glowing
The paleface, too has begun 70 invade the
desert, attracted by the wealth OF which 3. g,
q treasure house Many rich strikes OF gold have
been made in the Colorado and Moiave deserts
The prospector is the advance agent OF progress
CIVILIZATION and prosperity He has spied our rhe
has marked every trail preceded eve 3ggToand
f ~ aI GAG, ana founded the greater number OF
'O"AS on the Western half OF the United States
Gold is not the only form of wealth. however.
which attracts the white man.
In Death Valley thirty thousand acres of borax
nItre, soda and salt deposits have been located
where Nature has cornpounded and stored IIs 90 ~,
me millions If tons. II is the drugstore of the
universe - 800
Many men are employed in gathering these
mineral harvests. and where man lives water
must be dug for or thither brought. And wher-
ever water touches the desert soil it discovers
latent fertility that promises still a new
source Of wealth Already irrigation on a large
seals has been undertaken by tapping the Colo
RADIO River. and over 10000 acres have been
brought under bountifuI cultivation II fore
shadows the death OF the desert
The death OF the desert Will a beautiful one
There VIII 6e no lack OF flowers lay upon its
bier It's Eriruless and derCeuess and LerrOrs Will
have given place % peace. plenty and prosperity
me region u death Will be transformed into
kingdom Of life.