The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-10
Skeletons Scattered
Along Trails En-
oh Need of
Markers for Guild.
ing Travellers to
Water Holes Hid
den by Nature


miles in southeastern California,
southern Nevada, and a part OF Ari-
roma lying adjacent to the Mexican
border. This region is crossed at vari-
Gus widely scattered parts by the rail-
ribbed paths of certain Of our great
trunk lines. In between these high
ways of steel are vast arid stretches,
in parts quite barren OF vegetation,
which are sparsely inhabited by types
Of living creatures so constituted tina,
they can in large measure be indiffer-
emit to an awful scarcity of surface
water.
From time to time interest has been
aroused in this far flung area Of dis
tressing dryness because OF Its mineral
wealth, and the potential fruitfulness
Of It's soil, If only q union with ample
moisture could be effected. Now the
region takes on a still newer signifi-
canoe owing to the ever widenins
reach Of the automobile and the motor
truck. The latter. inevitably, 10 bound
either to follow the routes already
blaIed by the railroads or to open UP
new paths across this parched no
mans land that stands squarely
athwart the otherwise easy approach
to the bounteous farms and orchards
Of Southern California.
Tragedies and Hidden Water Holes
The Governments train Of motor
trucks at present crossing the cont.
nent from east to west, and kindred
but less pretentious demonstrations of
the moor vehicles endurance, all
point to that day when traffic of this
sort will become commonplace. Con-
venience and the urge of commerce
will not permit the desert to deter
wheeled traffic. But neither man nor
machine can get along without water,
and 1t therefore follows that the
traveller by these newer agencies of
transport must either carry an ample
supply to tide him over scores upon
scores Of miles or natures scattered
Gases or water holes must be marked
80 that they can be found where they
lie for the most part concealed.
The need Of this is not a new born
realization. Time and time again a
hck Of knowledge of where hidden
water lay has been emphasized by the
grim bare bones Of human victims
scattered along prospectors' trails and
not infrequently these sacrifices Of
life have occurred within short dis
lance Of a succoring spring or well.
The tragedy of an all consuming
thirst is an old story in our Western
desert section, and repeatedly during
the fairly recent building of the San
Pedro. Los Angeles and Salt Lake
Railway the blanched skeletons Of
thirst crazed wanderers were found in
groups close to sources Of water which
they had missed. all because of an alb
sence Of guiding marks OF mans
erecting.
Work has been done I'm the direc-
ton Of supplying these needful desert
Sign posts, thanks to the initiative
and the persistence of George Whit
well Parsons, to-day Of Los Angeles.
but more must yet be done to Offset
the perils Of the vast arid area, espe-
cally If we are to tap this treasure
house Of mineral wealth and trans
form It to a large extent. as Mr.. Par
sons believes possible, into a great
garden susceptible of yielding i'm
mense quantities of foodstuffs. This
Is by no means a fanciful dream. be-
cause 1t is a well known fact that soil
o; similar chemical composition in
near by Arizona has produced rich
crops after the institution OF irrigat-
ing systems.
Congress Aroused at Last.
But the desert sign posts which the
efforts and propaganda of Mr.. Par
sons have brought into being were
not planted until after he had APP
pealed convincingly to the public spir-
itedness Of Californians and finally
won TO his cause our national legis-
lators, The authorities in Washing
ton were long time In recognizing
the Governments obligation 10 the
pioneers, the prospectors who were
risking their lives in seeking natures
mineral treasures. The California
legislature appropriated $1,000 fol-
the erection of desert sign posts d.
recting to water supplies In the two
principal desert regions, aggregatine
10000 square miles, within the State
This was started a comparatively
short while after Mr.. Parsons made
lha Iatw Axtt mi
until August of 1915 after appropria-
ton bills had been introduced unsuc'
oessfully session after session, that
Congress authorized the expenditure
OF $4,000 to promote the welfare OF
The traveller entering upon these
Widespread, inhospitable waste lands.
Agreeably to that act, the bill read
That the Secretary OF the Interior b<
and he is hereby authorized and en-
powered, In his discretion, In so far
Us the authorization made herein will
permit, to discover, develop, protect
and render more accessible for the
benefit Of the general public springs
streams and water holes on arid
public lands OF the United States; and
IN correction Herewith to erect and
maintain suitable and durable monu-
hents and sign boards at proper places
ana intervals along and near the ac-
eustomed lines OF travel and over the
general area Of said desert lands. con-
taning information and directions az
70 the location and nature OF sale
springs, streams and water holes. tc
Me end that the same may be more
readily traced and found by persons
N search or need thereof; also TO pro.
Viue convenient and ready means, ap.
pdratus and annNa meas k.u which ulafaI