8 THE SALTON SEA. 



"The vegetation around the springs was luxuriant; and wherever the soil was moistened it 

 supported either a growth of grass or of rank weeds. The Indians had their houses in the thickly 

 growing mesquite trees around the springs. A growth of weeds was noted over a wide area near the 

 mountains, but not far from the cultivated field." 



Samples of the soil, taken for analysis, showed the presence of all the elements neces- 

 sary to fertility. It is added: 



"From the preceding facts it becomes evident that the alluvial soil of the Desert is capable 

 of sustaining a vigorous vegetation. The only apparent reason for its sterility is the absence of 

 water; for wherever it is kept moist, vegetation springs up. 



"If a supply of water could be obtained for irrigation, it is probable that the greater part of 

 the Desert could be made to yield crops of almost any kind. During the seasons of high water, or 

 of the overflow of the Colorado, there would be little difficulty in irrigating large areas in the vicinity 

 of New River and the Lagoons. 



"By deepening the channel of New River, or cutting a canal so low that the water of the 

 Colorado would enter at all seasons of the year, a constant supply could be furnished to the interior 

 portion of the Desert. It is indeed a serious question whether a canal would not cause the overflow 

 of a vast surface and refill, to a certain extent, the dry valley of the ancient lake. This is possible 

 and would result, provided no change of level has taken place since the water dried up." (Pages 

 249-250.) 



GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. 



The mountain ranges, which figuratively frame the valleys, rise wall-like on both 

 sides of the Cahuilla Valley and the Desert. Those on the west are the most abrupt and 

 rugged, and form a complete separation between the Delta region and the Pacific Ocean. 

 These are the San Jacinto ranges of the Peninsula Mountains. San Jacinto, the highest 

 peak, stands at the south end and on the south side of the San Gorgonio Pass, which sep- 

 arates it from the massive ridges of San Bernardino. Both of these mountains rise to an 

 altitude of over 11,500 feet above the sea. The white snow-covered summit of San Ber- 

 nardino is a conspicuous object for a large part of the year from the decks of vessels sailing 

 along the coast. San Jacinto does not attract so much precipitation, but is a very sharp 

 and picturesque peak. (Plate 7.) 



Geologically, these mountains are essentially crystalline and granitic. The Peninsula 

 ranges north of the boundary line consist chiefly of granite and syenitic rocks, in which 

 there is an unusual amount of the mineral known as schorl, or black tourmaline. Gneiss 

 and micaceous schists are largely developed and are sharply upraised and plicated, forming 

 extremely rough and jagged croppings, especially on the side bounding the Desert, where 

 there is but little soil. Owing to the desiccation of the wind from the sea, the scanty 

 precipitation is insufficient for mountain streams of much volume. The few brooks or 

 rivulets of the higher ridges in their descent to the valley in the rainy season are quickly 

 absorbed or dissipated by evaporation on reaching the lower slopes. 



On the seaward side of the mountain range the conditions are very different and many 

 small and fertile valleys are found. 



Amongst these, Warner's, so named for the pioneer settler, Don Juan Warner ("Juan 

 Largo"), a tall New Englander from Lyme, Connecticut, was a great haven of rest in the 

 early days for those who had survived the terrors of the desert in the 90 miles journey 

 from Yuma to Carrizo Creek, without water. 



These granite ridges from San Jacinto, southward, through San Diego County, have 

 become noted for the superb gems taken from many places, more particularly for red, green, 

 and pink colored tourmaline, obtained by patient mining. The rock generally may be said 

 to be characterized by the abundance of the ordinary black tourmaline or schorl. Amongst 

 the other gem-stones, the rare form of spodumene, a lithia mineral known as kunzite, is 



