OCR Text |
Show -34- inches is often found on the "crossings" (i.e. places where the current swings from the bank to the other) and progress with the light draft steamers used is slow, it being often necessary to turn stern on and wash a channel through a bar. These steamers draw 18' to 20' light. When the Yuma gauge is about 21 ft. as when we were there, about three feet is found on the crossings. Between 24 and 25 ft. on the gauge water begins to escape over the banks of the river and cover the adjacent low lands. When this occurs the current is decreased and sediment is deposited in the channel, thus filling it up and rendering navigation more difficult than on a lower stage of water. The steamers used here have all been flat bottomed, and all stern wheelers except the first one brought on the river. This was a side wheeler but was used only a short time. It was 127 ft. keel 28 ft. beam and 20 inches draft, light, and registered 120 tons. The next boat put in commission was the Colorado, 130 ft. keel, 28 ft. beam, 18 inches draft light and 200 tons register. Various other boats of about this size, or a little larger, were used on the river up to 1876. It was found that boats of a heavier draft than 20 inches could not be used in the low water season. There are now on the river the following steamers: Cochan, 135 ft. keel, 32'8" beam, 18" draft light, 219 tons register Mohare, 155" " 32' " 23" " " 188 " StVillier 70" " 17' " 24" " " 60 " Retta, 39" " 9' " 9 " " 5 " The first two are owned, I understand, by the Southern Pacific Company, and the last two by the Mexican and Colorado Navigation Company. The Mohare is not in Commission: the others make occasional trips from Yuma. |
Source |
Original book: [State of Arizona, complainant v. State of California, Palo Verde Irrigation District, Coachella Valley County Water District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, City of Los Angeles, California, City of San Diego, California, and County of San Diego, California, defendants, United States of America, State of Nevada, State of New Mexico, State of Utah, interveners] : California exhibits. |