THE SALTON SEA—NEWELL. 345 
The amount of seepage which will come from the cultivated fields 
can at present only be guessed, although with very careful culti- 
vation this could be at a minimum. With careless use of the water, 
however, or with attempts to wash alkali out of the soil there will 
undoubtedly be a considerable amount of water wasted and this may 
find its way to the sea by surface channels or by slow percolation 
through many strata. 
In riding along the present seashore it is possible to discern with 
favorable light the ancient sea beaches at higher levels which mark 
the various stages at which the water has stood in past geologic 
times. Some of these beaches are very plainly marked and in many 
localities sea shells are found in great abundance. The soil below 
the ocean level is of the character that might be expected in the bed 
of an ancient lake. Some of it is sandy and loamy and of excellent 
quality for cultivation. In other places, however, there are vast 
expanses of clays, some of these highly charged with alkali and the 
stiff adobe is not easily subdued for agriculture. With patience, 
skill, and some capital it has been found possible to produce good 
crops on most of this land, and, in spite of the high temperature 
resulting from low altitude and low latitude, modern civilization is 
developing and a high degree of cultivation is attained. The future 
of the valley as a whole will always be a matter of deep interest 
because of the difficulties to be overcome by the inhabitants and the 
constant guard which they, like the people of Holland, must main- 
tain against the attacks of a tireless antagonist, seeking at the most 
unexpected times to effect an entry into their homes. 
