SOUTHERN PACIFIC LINES 261 
About Indio are many trees and fields of alfalfa and various other 
crops. <A large date orchard can be seen just north of the railroad 
jadio: west of Indio, and in the station yard is a fine Deglet 
ie ee ag Noor date palm (female), imported from North 
Population 1,500." Africa, “‘the offshoots of which are always true to 
to aaa 1872 type.”’ At Indio is the winter resort of the Los 
Angeles Y. M. C. A., and near by is the attractive 
resort of La Quinta (keen’ta). 
The tilted Tertiary rocks constitute the range of high ridges known 
as the Indio Hills, which lie about 5 miles northeast of Indio. 
_ In the center of the valley west of Indio and north of Indian Well 
is a heavy accumulation of dune sand, some of it bearing considerable 
stunted mesquite. Loose sand is an abundant material in the Coa- 
chella Valley, most of it shifted by strong winds that separate the sand 
from the coarser materials brought into the basin by many sidestreams. 
Small sand dunes accumulate, but the material is moved rapidly. 
The wind-blown sand is a powerful agent of erosion, cutting rocks, 
metals, and wood; the railroad company finds that the replacement of 
railroad eyuipment, telegraph poles, and bridge timbers is a consider- 
able item of expense. It will be noted that many of the telegraph poles 
are protected by a pile of stones at their base. Sand storms occur 
occasionally, and if the traveler is not protected he may find them 
trying. The sand is rounded and worn as it cuts and finally loses 
most of its abrasive quality. Pebble pavements seen in many desert 
regions look almost artificial. They owe their origin largely to the 
removal of sand by the wind so that the pebbles remaining settle 
down into a pavement that resists further erosion. The surfaces of 
the ieara ths smoothed and polished by the attrition of sand carried 
by the win: 
From Lie northwestward the railroad ascends the Coachella 
Valley through Myoma, Dry Camp, and Edom sidings. At Edom 
there is a small irrigated area in which some of the fields are sur- 
tounded by tamarisk. This tree was imported from southern Europe, 
for use in making hedges and windbreaks. As it withstands droughts 
and thrives under various other adverse conditions, it has proved very 
useful in the Southwest. As it is not an evergreen and is quite unlike 
cedar or cedar or juniper, the name “salt cedar,’”’ by which it is often known, is 
. <9 Bemea kinds of igneous rocks and | in rock disintegration by solution of 
Sandstones in desert regions show | the cement or of mineral: 
Pitted or cavernous surfaces, with | hold the grains together. Wind and 
cavities of various sizes up to several | other agencies remove the disinte- 
inches in diameter, differing materially | grated material. Thesame process has 
from ving and fluting caused ae ae elena RE 
by wind-blown sand. These cavites dd 
are believed to be due to inequalities region. " (Blackwelder.) 
