168

CROFUTT’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

    

 

miles distant. During the wet season,
when the swollen rivers have overflowed
the low lands around the lakes and united
them, they form a very respectable sheet of
water, about eighty miles or more in length,
With a large river emptying its waters into
each end; and for this vast volume of water
there is no visible outlet.

Across the outlet of Humboldt Lake a
dam. has been erected, which has raised
the water about six feet, completely oblit-
erating the old emigrant road which passed
close to the southern shore, The necessi-
ties of mining have at length utilized the
waters of the lake, and now they are em-
ployed in turning the machinery of a
quartz mill. In the lower end of the lake
is an island—a long narrow strip of land—
which extends up the lake and near the
northern shore. Before the dam was put
in the outlet, this island was part of the
main land. There are several varieties of
fish in the lake, and an abundance of
water-fowl during portions of the year.

Leaving Brown’s, and passing along the

shore of the lake for a few miles, an inter-
vening sand ridge hides the lake from our
| sight, and about eight miles west we ob-
tain a fine view of the Sink of Carson Lake,
which is a small body of water lying a few
miles north of the main Carson Lake, and
| connected with that and the Humboldt dur-
| ing. the wet season.
ARSON LaxE lies directly south of
Humboldt Lake, and is from 20 to 25 miles
long, with a width of ten miles. In the
Winter its waters cover considerable more
area, the Sink and lake being one.

The Carson River empties into the south-
ern end of the lake, discharging a large
volume of water. What becomes of the
vast body of water continually pouring
into these lakes, is the problem yet un-
solved. Some claim the existence of un-
derground channels, and terrible stories
are told of unfortunate people who have
been drawn down and disappeared for-
ever. These stories must be taken with
much allowance. If underground chan-
nels exist, why is it that the lakes, which
are 10 to 15 miles apart in low water
are united during the winter floods?
And how is it, that when the waters have
subsided from these alkaline plains, that no
openings for these channels are visible?
| ‘The only rational theory for the escape of
| the water. is by evaporation. Examine
each little stream bed that you meet with;
you find no water there in the summer,

nor sink holes, yet in the winter their beds
are full until they reach the main river.
The sun is so powerful on these lava
plains in summer that the water evapo-
rates as soon.as it escapes from the coolin
shadows of the hills. By acutal experi-
ment it has been demonstrated that at
Carson and Humboldt lakes the evapora-
tion of water is equal, in the summer, to
six inches every 24 hours. In the winter,
when the atmosphere is more humid, evap-
oration is less, consequently the waters
spread over a larger area.

Carson River, which gives its name to
the lake, rises in the eastern slope of the
Sierra Nevada Mountains, south of Lake
Tahoe and opposite the head waters of the
American River. From its source to its
mouth is about 150 to 200 miles by the riv-
er’s course. From its source its course is
about due north for about 75 miles, when it
turns to the east, and follows that direction
until it enters the lake.

Under the general name of Carson Val-
ley, the land bordering the river has long
been celebrated as being one of the best
farming sections in the State. The thriv-
ing towns of Carson City and Genoa are
situated in the valley, though that portion
around Carson City is frequently designa-
ted as Eagle Valley. The upper portion,
from Carson to the foothills, is very fertile,
and yields handsome crops of vegetables,
though irrigation is necessary to insure a
good yield. In some portions the small
grains are successfully cultivated, and on
the low lands an abundant crop of grass is
produced. The valley is thickly settled,
the arable land being mostly occupied.
South and west of the head waters of Car-
son River, the head waters of Walker's
River find their source. The west fork of
Walker’s River rises within a few miles of
the eastern branches of the Carson. The
east fork of Walker’s River runs due north
until joined by the west fork, when the

 

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course of the river is east for about forty |
miles, when it turns to the south, following |
that direction until it reaches Walker’s

Lake, about forty miles south of the sink
of the Carson, having traversed in its tortu-
ous course about 140 miles. In the val-

leys, which are found at intervals along the
rivers, occasional spots of arable land are
found, but as an agricultural country the
valley of Walker’s River is not a success.
WaLKER Lax is about 45 miles long
by 20 miles wide. Like all the lakes in
the basin, it has no outlet.

The water is