El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-06-30
CHANCES
COURSE 5 TIMES
West From FL Paso the Line
zigzags; Goes Through
Sand Storm Region.


Washington, D. C., June 30-That part
Of the United Stares-Mexico boundary
line extending from Ell Paso. Texas, to
The Pacific coast is described in the
following war geography bulletin or
The National Geographic society:
After leaving the Rio Grande, the
natural boundary, and striking due
west from FL Paso for 100 miles, the
International line betwee1 the United
States and Mexico changes direction
five times before reaching she Pacific
coast As If il had struck an insur-
mountable obstacle in the Big Hatchet
Fountains. il turns at right angles,
and extends TO the south for 80 miles,
then strikes west again for distance
o. more than 100 miles 10 a point De
yond NoEales Forming an Obtuse an
gle. the line now runs in a northwest
erly direction for its longest leg
more than $50 miles. until II reaches
the Colorado river. which forms the
boundary for 20 miles from south
west to northeast At Yuma, near
the juncture Of the ella river with
the Colorado. the line takes its final
change Of direction. toward the west.
terminating in the Pacific, 40 miles
This boundary is marked by 25s
monuments, more than 200 Of which
are of cast iron weighing 500 pounds.
They are six feet tall. and set In con-
crete The expense OF their erection
borne jointly by Mexico and the United
States. averaged $3.50 each.
Although the boundary was chosen
arbitrarily, when the work Of survey
1lE began IL was found that the line
between the Colorado and the Rio
Grande followed almost exactly the
summit Of the divide separating the
waters flowing north into the United
States from those flowing south into
Mexico
Highest Point on the Line.
The highest point on the line is AZ
che summit OF the san Luis range
part Of the continental divide The
elevation is 5000 feet which is nearly
5000 feet above Ell Paso- II is in this
high altitude that quantities Of game
are to be found. making il one Of the
most Interesting sections Of the line
Here antelope. deer. bear and wild tur-
KEYS are plentiful. and the acOrns from
the evergreen oaks Of the picturesque
valleys attract great flocks OF wild
pigeons Many years ago there were
few struggling settlements IN this
region. but they were abandoned dur
ing the raids of the ruthless Apache
chief. Geronimo.
zone Of the most considers bic towns
along the western border is Bisbee.
ARR, with a population of 5000 It is
situated in the Mule mountains. 10
miles from the border Tombstone,
which is 20 miles northwest Of Bisbee.
was once one or the great mining
camps of the world
Where sand storms Are Violent.
-ln the valley to the west of the
FaboQuivari mountains. also called the
PozO Verde mountains. zoo miles east
of the Colorado river. the traveller
sometimes is so unfortunate as to en-
counter a sandstone which in severity
rivals the torrid tempests Of the Sa-
hara desert
IN 9 report 10 the United states
the international tMexi-
canl Boundary comm ssion. which I
made the final survey Of the line and
erected the monuments which now
mark the border. described such a.
storm. saying
IN this valley ON July ?. was en- I
q sandstone of frlghtful I
rioleDce- About 4 o'clock IN the after /
noon a dense dark brown cloud was
seen rising in the south which pre- 1
sented a sinEularly threatening ap- 4
oearance- The sun. which until then /
had been shining brightly. was soon /
overcast and in a few moments after (
The cloud was first noticed the storm I
burst in all its fury. filling the atmos- I
1here TO a height Of several hundred
-cet with the loose soil OF the val
cE- In ten or - minutes after the
storm burst it became as black as
Midnight, respiration was almost i'm
possible and il was only by breathing
-hrough a handkerchief held in front :
lf the mouth that suffocation was Z
avoided In about half an hour the
wind began 10 sUhside and the dark
ess TO diminish, and finally. in a lit
lie over two hours after the storm
'Omemnced the setting sun shone
aintly through the particles Of dust !