Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1920 — Salton Sea Now Rapidly Receding [ARTICLE]

Salton Sea Now Rapidly Receding

Waters Are Retreating at Jate M About a Mile 4 Yearly. SETTLERS GRAB THE LAND Opens Up Largest Area es Date *»•- tfMdng Land in the Country—Big Fish Cannery Planned by Arizona Capitallot*. ’ Lot Aagelek Cat—The Saitou sea, Sa the Imperial valley, one of the natural wonders of the West, is conatantly shrinking. At present it la about 18 miles long and nine oniles wide at the greatest point. During the last five years the water is said to have retreated about a mile a year, leaving a salt-encrusted adobe land, which is eagerly seised by homesteaders. Often their location stakes are .pleated far out in the water. The sea, which Ues 169 feet below the level of the ocean, abounds In mullet and carp, which local and Arizona capitalists are planning to utilize by the creation of a great cannery. The United States department of agriculture reports state that about the Salton sea lies the largest area of dateproducing land tn the country. Geologists say the Salton “sink,” as It once was known. In prehistoric times has changed from desert to sea and from sea to desert 50 times or more. Becomes Inland Sea. For centuries the Colorado river would fiow quietly to the Gulf of California and gradually build up a sand—bar across its mouth. Then some spring flood would cause a washout in the river’s bank farther north, and

the whole torrent would sweep toward the Salton “sink.” The desert would become an inland see, remaining so for centuries perhaps, until seme great flood would carve out a shorter way to the ocean. The sea would be drained and the region relapse into a desert. Mud volcanoes abound near the sea, a short distance inland. They are of all sixes up to great mounds 16 feet in height. They all emit steam, some in a steady stream, others steam and nni(i alternately. Many of them give out a sulphurous gas. A*t times their roaring can be heard for miles. More and more the sea Is being visited by tourists, and during the heated season, when the temperature is from 10 to 20 degrees cooler than in the valley towns, dances are frequently held on an old wharf which once served as a landing place for fishing boats, but which has been left, high and dry by the receding waters. Of Interest to Tourists. Of especial Interest to the tourists are the bubbling “paintpots.” As the water retreats it is in a state of con-

etant ebullition. Gases from some UPknown subterranean source are continually finding escape through unseen ventp in the bottom. Layer after layer of colored pigment is deposited. The retreating waters have left uncovered acres of this deposit, said by experts to be fully equal to the dry sienna and umber colors of which no much is Imported. It is thought that the shrinkage of the Salton sea will continue until it finally becomes a salt “sink” with a pool of brackish water in ths center, unless a fresh outburst of the great Colorado should replenish its waters. ■