AZ vs. CA:03 California Exhibits, Vol III; Nos. 114-150

page 62

-62- We found, however, that the United States Geological Survey had placed an observer at Yuma in November. He has been taking frequent measurements of the river since then and has also taken four measurements of the Imperial Canal, one of which was at Yuma Gauge 16.9 or, practically, low water. This gentlemen kindly allowed us to copy his record and we thus obtained data of much more value than we could possibly have obtained by a single visit. The River. Our observations of the river's channel below Yuma did not quite substantiate the description thereof in my former report, which was based on the statements of Captains Mellon and Polhamis. The principal discrepancy was in the width of the river between overflow banks. With the exception of a few wide places filled with low islands, this runs from 400 to 900 feet, averaging, I should judge, under 650 ft. instead of from 1200 to 2000 ft. as stated by the Captains. It grows narrower as the Gulf is approached, on account of the escape of large quantities of water over its bank at medium high water. Its width where our last measurement was taken (at "Mike's Landing") was 410 ft. between overflow banks. The banks vary in height from five feet above low water to eight feet. The maximum flood of 1902 was 24.5 ft. on the Yuma gauge and this, judging from water marks, filled the river a trifle over bank, full whether these were five feet or eight feet high. Apparently, so much water escaped as soon as the banks were topped that the rise closed. At and near low water the lower river oscillates about as much as at Yuma, possibly a little less.