Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1905-08-16
Current Beyond Control And Is Running
 Faster
Tom Laird Describes The Conditions In
 Detail
(From Tuesdays s Daily.)

Tom Laird. a well known miner of this section. who for the past six months has occupied a position in the employ of the territory at Yuma, has returned to Prescott with one month s leave of absence. He expects to straighten out a mining tangle while here. and in the event of his succeeding he will not return to his place at the penitentiary. He tells much that has not been made public of the great Sal ton sea that has broken through and overhown the lands in the vicinity of Imperial, and says that at the time he left that section the water was steadily overcoming all that was be- ing done to turn it back.
 From the report of a government off cial it was learned the day previous to bis departure that the water that day had shown an increase in current of three miles an hour, over that measured a couple of days before. He says the Southern Pacific has now a "shOO- fiy' line around the point that the track cannot cross, nine miles in length, and that this tenn pOrary line may at any moment become useless from the increased flow of water into this val ley.
 In explaining why it was known that the water is still not under con trol. he explained that a few days ago the water became salty, showing that it was affected by the tides in the gulf, and indicating that a great part of the Colorado river is now finding its way into this valley.
 It had been estimated that no less than SC per cent of the flow of the Col orado was passing into this new out let. He explains that the valley is about 127 miles long, and nearly as wide in all, and that this entire dis trict which has cost much to improve, and is very valuable, may become per manently inundated.
 The Southern Pacific is doing every thing possible to turn back this heavy flow of water, and is still exerting ev- cry effort to arrange for a permanent dam that will bar its ingress and save the valuable land lying in the Imperial country. Car loads of empty sacks, intended for temporary walls after being filled with sand, are being sent to the scene of the flood. and steam CTS loaded and towing piling and other material for a dam are being hurried up the river Some three hundred men are engaged cutting brush to be used in the new dam, and help of any and all kinds is being engaged to set to work on this apparently last chance to turn back this flood.
 The bad feature of the business is the nature of the ground where the riv. CT has broken through. It is sandy formation, and every hour increases the opening, and allows more water to pass through into the valley. Had the break been in rock it could much more easily have been contended with, but in view of the difficulties to face, the impression among the residents of that section of the territory is that the flow cannot be turned back.
 From the statement of Mir. Laird the task of turning this inflow means practically turning back the Colorado river.
 Late scientific reports with refer ence to the damage possible and tho area to be converted into a salt ses are given by experts who have watched the progress of the flood. They as sert that no less than 800 square miles will certainly be affected by this over flow. and very likely more. A sta