The Wichita Daily Eagle

THE DESERT LAKE.

Los Angeles, Cal., July 6.-The following dispatch was received Sunday night from G. W. Durbrow, superintendent of the salt works at Salton: "The Indian sent out from Volcano Springs has returned. His statement settles the question of the water coming from the New river. The water is coming into the sink at Salton through Carresco creek. I made a diagram of his trip as he told me. His story was compared with the map and found true to it in every particular. The course of water can be traced by land from Fig Springs. The water empties into Salton sink twenty-five miles from Salton. The water is rising slowly, but moving to the west fast."

There are no new features about Salton lake. Since the source of the water has been definitely solved as coming from the Colorado river, by way of New river, and the fact that the railroad track is in no danger, interest has partially subsided, and all that can be done is to wait developments.

At first it was believed by most of the well-informed people around here that it came from the river, whence the previous overflows have come several times during the past thirty years, but the steadily increasing volume of the water in the face of the fall in the river has caused a change of opinion, and now, in spite of all the reports to the contrary which have been sent from Yuma and other places, it is generally believed that the flood must have its source in the gulf high tides, which might easily break down the slender barrier of sand which stands between it and its old bed. Should this theory be correct it is evident that we are on the eve of witnessing one of the most interesting geographical changes which has taken place on this continent. The increase in the area of the gulf would itself be small in importance compared with the great modification in the climate which this inland sea would cause. Not the least remarkable feature of this phenomenal occurrence is the great difficulty of obtaining authentic information. The water is too shallow to navigate and too deep to ride or drive through, while the frightful heat makes it an act of great danger to venture away from the water and shade.