A Comparison Between Two Mountain Sides. 139 



chief canyons carried turbid and turbulent strea ns, and everv 

 gully and hillside depression, even c|uite near tlie sum nits. 

 delivered its gushing rill. Ascending from Rincon Valley after 

 a certain night shower, many a siher ribbon was seen fro.n afar 

 glistening in the morning sun as it meandered down over smooth- 

 ly polished rock. 



Thus, to use impersonation, while the east side practices 

 an economy in water that is probably of very great importance, 

 the west side spends it recklessly. But something else, not vet 

 considered, is at the root of the proble ^^ chief cause of the run-off 

 as well as the difference in soil conditions and plant life. The 

 most powerful factor in producing the contrast outlined is be- 

 lieved to be the wind. As the pine leaves fall in October, and 

 spread a fresh brown carpet beneath each tree, all the tips of the 

 leaves, after falling, point in an easterly direction, due to the 

 wind. But this is true only on the west side near the main 

 crest and on high ridges; on the east the fasicles lie in every direc- 

 tion. On the main crest here', as well as on several other high 

 southwestern ranges visited, are many trees with the tops of their 

 crowns bent eastward. Many others are distorted, and either partial- 

 ly orcompletely shorn of their crowns on the west side. Such evi- 

 dence reveals the direction as well as the power of the wind 

 factor. But these western gales, often blowing with great force, 

 have been actually experienced a number of times while upon 

 high divides during the autumn months. While occasionally 

 coming from the east, as a trade wind should, it blows habitually 

 sometimes constantly for several days, from the west. On the 

 east slope no steady wind was experienced on any day, and it 

 has left no impress. The usual atmospheric condition is calm, 

 or, at most, periodic swirls or eddies produce a rustling of the 

 leaves. It is like a sheltered haven, while overhead the clouds, 

 if any, may sail eastward ceaselessly and rapidly, propelled by 

 high wind. Even an east wind, being deflected by the steep 

 slope, is little felt. On the main crest its crippling power may 

 undoubtedly be exerted partly through mechanical stress, but 

 on the west slope generally the chief factor must be its evapor- 

 ating capacity, acting not only upon the soil, but as a most 

 powerful draught upon the transpiration. Some of Livingston's 

 atmometers, placed upon the two sides, would unquestionably 



