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Show -3- colorado river, arizona. preliminary examination of colorado river, arizona, above yuma to el dorado canon, to determine the advisability and probable cost of improving said river. United States Engineer Office, San Francisco, CaL, October 28. 1890. General: I have the honor to present the following report upon the preliminary examination of the Colorado River from Yuma to El Dorado, Canon required by the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890: In 1888 I was charged with the examination of the upper section of the river from Camp Mojave to the point where the boundary line between Nevada and Utah intersects the river. In considering this section, I reported that in my opinion the commerce of the river did not justify the expenditure of the amount of money that would be required to make any permanent improvement. In making the present examination, I left Yuma on the 9th instant on the Steamer Gila, and ascended the river to the old bridge crossing of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company near Needles, Cal. While it was expected that the steamer would get some freight at Needles for El Dorado Canon, the captain expressed his doubts of being able to reach that point on account of the low stage of water. In making this trip, I was eight days going a distance of about 260 miles. The river was very near its lowest stage, and navigation was exceedingly difficult. The distance from El Dorado Canon to Yuma is about 350 miles. The river flows through a succession of canons and desert valleys. In the canons the banks are permanent, the course almost invariable, and the water is |
