The copper era., 1905-03-16
LAKE THREATENS TO
 SWALLOW TOWNS ON DESERT
Colorado River, on Rampage, May Con.
 vert 25OO Square Miles on Colorado Wastes Into Permanent Inland Sea.

| From the Los Angeles Examiner.
 Unaided by the hand ot man, Ma ture seems determined to reclaim the great Colorado desert, lying in South ern California and Arizona.
 Fourteen years ago-in the spring Colorado river forced an opening into the New river, which in turn cut d channel through the low sand dunes bordering the great basin and spread it's waters broadcast over the desert.
 For several days the Colorado poured it's waters through the gap into the great hot sink. When the lowest level had been reached, the waters rose, and for d time it was thought that California would have on its southern border d great inland sea. But the Colorado fell before it had time to cut channel to its low water level and New river resumed it's old pathway to the south.
 Along the course of the stream from New river to the bottom of the basin vegetation sprung into life. Willows and wild grasses rapidly climbed above the surface and grew in great profusion until the sun had robbed the soil of it's moisture. Then they faded away, leaving nothing
 Here was hint from nature. Here was land as fertile as any in the world. Here was the climate to raise any plant that grows. And all also was water.
 Not only had nature given the hint, but she had dug, with her own waters, canal ready to be used by they saw. The hint was not given in vain.
 Shrewd farmers set to work to open up this new domain. A head gate the channel was deepened that the Colorado might be tapped even at low water mark. Further down in the desert, the old channel was de- serted and q canal made to divert the waters from the low lands and put it on those that seemed more promising.
 The people built homes, turned the sod, and planted. They prospered. Towns sprung into life, railroads were built, and a government was organized. A community was estab- lished in what was once the bottom of the sea. Imperial, the largest of these towns, is 13O feet below sea level. Brawley and Calexico are a few feet lower.
 Again, after fourteen years, the Colorado is pouring its waters through the old channel. No longer under control, it has washed away the head gates of the canal, forced it's way across country toward the lower basin, which it is slowly filling up. continue while longer. the river may cut a channel through the sand to such depth that the entire river will change its course. and empty it's waters into the great arid basin to the west. Reports from its source. say the Colorado is still at flood and rains are again falling over it's drain age area.
 The people who inhabit this basin are alarmed. They have done all that can be dOue to stem the flood. but in vain. Help has been asked for. More men, more workers. are needed. But those who know. say the work is useless. The river is be- yond control and nothing but a fall in the waters will remedy the harm already done, if indeed, it is not all ready too late.
 And if it should be too late the re- suit would be far reaching. The Southern Pacific railway track for over a hundred miles lies below the level of the sea. From Palm Springs station west of Indio to Volcano Springs the track is from 10 to 240 feet below. All of this track would be flooded. Iudio, Coachella. Wal ters, Mecca, Salton and the many farms around them would be sub merged. The new line of the South ern Pacific from Old Beach to Im- perial and Brawley would be entirely swallowed up. The cities of Im- perial, Brawley, Calexio. Holtville. Heber, Camerons. Silsbee and Blue Lake. all would be devastated and left lying in the bottom of the lake.
 California would have instead of these vast stretches of desert fresh water lake covering about 2.50O square miles, with a maximum depth of 400 feet. Boats would take the place of prairie schooners. And the towns that were sunk to its bottom would rise again upon its shores.
 Nor would the Colorado desert he alone in the metamorphosis. The sandy lands west of San Diego, in- stead of being fed from the east by hot blasting winds. would receive moist breeZeS and what is now. prac- t.cally desert between the Salton basin and San Diego would be. in few years, as productive as the coast All Southern California would experience climatic changes. Instead of having a rainy season rain .-nn11 ha a~noctal ;v afI co,e4-z