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Show 118 line of levels was run from ^ ort Yuma to Indian Wells, and to the dry camp beyond. Tbe profile shows that there is a steady descent, with but few breaks, from the altitude of 137.89 feet at Fort Yuma to 38.8 foetbelow sea- level at a point 6$ miles west of Indian i Wells. From this point the rise is rapid and constant up to the mountains which border j the desert on the west. One of the branches of New River leaves the Colorado near Amotion station, and this artificial channel might be utilized in the construction of a canal for | diverting the water of the river into the depressed area to the northwest. The exact j course of this canal cam ot be determined without further surveys, but it seems prohahli i that it would be necessaiy to run it below the boundary- line nearly as far as Seven Well-in order to avoid the sand ridge. From this point it could bend more or less toward tht north, according to the downward slope of the surface in that direction. The amount | of cutting required is difficult to estimate- without further surveys, but it would doubtless be moderate, as the water flows into this area from the river when it overflows it* banks. From several persons who have resided for years in this section I have obtained the following information with regard to the flow of the water through New River ami changes in the bed of the Colorado. Mr. Haulon, owner of the ferry at Hanlon's Fern, 7 miles below Fort Yuma, says : " The channel of the Colorado opposite Pilot Knob U now abont three- fourths of a mile east of where it was at the time of Mr. Wozencroft » examination. It then runs close to the point of rocks which jut out from the eastern base of Pilot Knob. In June and July, 1801, there was a great overflow. The current at Alamo Station was more rapid and four times greater in volume than at Fort Yuma now, ( March, 187( 5,) water flowing to the northwest toward the desert." Mr. McMasters, station- keeper at Algodon, says: " Thegreat sand billows southwest from Pilot Knob are constantly moving toward the south, caused by the prevailing north winds. There has been no overflow for three years. During years of unusually high water iu the river the water was 2 feet deep in the station- house, which is 600 yards from the river. ( Judging by the depth of water in the well at the present time, the river must have risen about 17 feet above its present stage.) Captains Poole and Polhemus, of the Colorado Steamboat Line, say that up to 1864, during summer, at high water, boats took slough at base of Pilot Knob. The highest floods occurred in 1862 and 1867." Mr. Conners, engineer on steamboat, says : " Crossed New River at Indian Wells in July, 1862. Water 7 feet deep and flowing north. Volume about twice that of the Los Angeles River in July." | Mr. Redondo, butcher at Yuma, says: 11 Slough from Algodon rnns to New River, and from there came the water of New River during the heavy flood of 1862." Mr. Jaeger, owner of ferry at Fort Yuma, and a resident of the place since its establishment as a military post, says: " Heavy floods in 1840, 1852, 1859, 1862, and 1867." Tasted the water flowing in channel at New River' Station in 1862, and fonnd it fresh water. A Mr. Jones ( now dead) told me that he came along the west side of the great desert basin in 1862, on his way from San Bernardino to New River, and saw iu tbe basin a great lake some 60 miles long by 30 wide. This came from the overflow m 1862. From information obtained and examinations m& de, it may be taken for granted that there is a current which sets in along the channels of New River during big" floods, and that this current flows toward the north into the depressed area. At the same time, a large portion of the country between Pilot Knob and Mount Purdy is submerged, as are also portions of the plains or meadows between Signal Moan tain and Indian Wells. On the subsidence of the water these plains soon become dry, » nd also the different channels of New River, except iu the deeper portions, where reservoirs are formed, in which water remains for a year or more, depending on its depth. Several questions of importance remain to be considered iu this connection, such ** probable difficulties and cost of keeping the channel free from sand blown in from the sand- bills, as well as from the settlement of the sediment in the water. These canuot be determined without closer investigation and a more detailed survey. The area of the depressions below sea- level can be obtained approximately from « *** obtained from Southern Pacilic aud Texas Pacific Railroad surveys, together with the level- lines run by my party. The accompanying sketch shows the outlines of this a***; as well as the direction and extent of the lines of profile, aud altitudes at differeuc points; these altitudes all beiug referred to the Southern Pacific Railroad benchmark at Fort Yuma. From these data it appears that the northern limit of the depression is near Indian Wells, iu the Coahuila Valley, aud extends westwardly beK « the Mexican boundary. This gives an approximate area of nearly 1,600 square wiles lying within the limits of California. |