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

page 47

-47- Previous knowledge of the channel is of no avail, and the pilot judges the course of the river at each moment by the appearance of the water surface, shape of the bars, direction of the drift and other light indications significant alone to his experienced eyes. A sounding pole is kept going constantly, and the boat is frequently aground each day. She is then hauled over by all sorts of devises, with spars, anchors, and capstan, or, as a last resort, is backed up to the bar, and digs her way slowly through by stirring up with the wheel the loose material of the bottom, until enough has been carried away by the rapid current. In this manner they have actually made a cut for themselves and hauled a barge through a bar of fine gravel, over which there had been found only from 2 to 3 inches of water. A trip from Yuma to Hardyville can generally be made in low stages in from 10 to 14 days; the return in from 5 to 10. Much uncertainty is introduced into these calculations by the wind, which occasionally blows with extreme violence straight up or down river, greatly hindering or even completely preventing navigation for 3 or 4 days at a time. As a result of all this and the lack of any competition transportation is extremely expensive, freight being charged for in pounds and the weight estimated by measurement. Cost will vary greatly for different classes of supplies, but the average price for the Government from Yuma to Camp Mojave is said to be 4 cents per pound.