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Show 220 BY PATH AND TRAIL. fornia up to the ancient beaches on the inclosing moun tains, will become submerged and a great lake formed at the end of twenty years. So, at least the engineers of the Southern Pacific and the hydrographers now here assure me. The new sea now forming in the desert lands of Ari zona, Mexico and California is one of the most extra ordinary assisted natural phenomena of modern times. It has changed the course of one of the greatest rivers of the West, has forced one of the greatest railroads in the world to move back, and back and back again, is con verting a desert into an inland sea, may possibly change the climate of a great territory, and even involve two friendly nations in diplomatic controversy. Back of all is the sinister suspicion that behind the opening is a deep- laid plot to acquire by purchase from Mexico an important slice of Lower California. This suspicion has probably reached the ears of the President, who is above trickery and treachery, and may account for his " rush order " to Mr. Harriman of the Southern Pacific to " close the breach; count not the cost, but close the breach. ' ' It will be closed. This morning I sailed over the ruins and roofs of some of the buildings of Salton Sink, where a few years ago were the greatest salt works and evaporating pans in America. Where three years ago there was a desolate and forbidding wilderness, there is now a lake twenty-three miles wide, fifty miles long, in places forty feet deep and forced by the inrush of the waters of the Gila and Colorado rivers, is rising nearly one inch every twenty- four hours. The break is in the banks of an irri gating canal a few miles south of Yuma, Ariz. Three miles above this town, the Colorado opens its side and |
