Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean: Vol. 5, Pt. 2

NEW RIVER-WELLS IN THE DESERT.
Three or four miles beyond the foot of the slope we reached the margin of a small pond of
muddly or slimy water, called the Big Lagoon, and encamped. This lagoon was very shallow,
and the shores shelving and miry, so much so, that it was difficult to obtain any of the water.
The water was slightly brackish and bitter, had an unpleasant odor, and was very warm.
Chenopodiaceous plants were abundant.
December 5.-Big Lagoon to Alamo Moc7io-twenty-six milcs.-The surface of the desert continued the same-a level and hard clay A mile or two beyond the Big Lagoon we came to the
edge of another and smaller one, called the Little Lagoon. It is much like the first, except that
it is bordered by mezquit trees, which, in some places, grow very thickly together. The shores
are muddy and shelving. We passed two canal-like channels, or wide gullies, in the surface,
with mezquit trees growing in the bottom, and evidences of the presence of water at a former
period. Shells of A4nodonta, and small spiral shells, were abundant. These channels probably
communicate with the two lagoons, and may be the bed of the stream called New Biver; so
called from the fact of its sudden appearance in 1849. At that time the Colorado River was
very high, and broke over a part of its banks between the mouth of the Gila and the head of
the Gulf. The water flowed inland, running backward through the desert towards the centre
of the valley once occupied by the-ancient lake; thus proving the valley to be lower than the
banks of the river at the place of overflow. Major Emory and party, who crossed thedesert
from the Colorado to Carrizo Creek in the yeas 1846, does not mention this stream, or any indication of its pre-existence. He mentions, however, that he was informed by a Mexican that a
running stream would be found a league west of the Alamo. Parties were sent out to search
for the water, but no stream could be found. 1 The appearance of the stream in 1849 was a
subject of general surprise and wonder; and was an unexpected relief to the many emigrant
parties who crossed the Desert that year. It is the general belief that this overflow was the first
instance of the kind, but it has evidently often taken palace before, and there are many reasons
for believing that it once flowed in a larger and stronger stream than it has since its existence
became known. The lakes are connected with New River, and are filled by it when the Colorado
is high. Since the appearance of the stream, a part of the travel across the desert has been
diverted from the usual course, in order to have the advantage of its waters and the margin of
grass and tule along its banks. When, however, the channel is not filled with water, the old
route is preferred. We did not follow the river, but kept the road towards the well and camping
place known as Alamo Mocho.
The surface of the desert, between the lakes andl Alamo Mocho, is slightly undulating; but,
to the traveller, it appears to be level.
After passing the lagoons, there is but little vegetation; and about half-way (13l miles) from Big
Lagoon to the well we passed a thin layer of drifted sand, and the surface became more gravelly.
Alamo Mocho.-TThe name of this place appears to have been suggested by the abundance of
cotton-wood trees that grew there several years ago, and that have been cut down. One or two
decaying trunks were all that remained. Our camp was on the margin of a steep bank of clay,
about thirty feet high. The well is dug at the fo t of this bank, in one of the lowest places,
and appears to be in the dry bed of a water-course, or canal, simlilar to that seen near the
lagoons. The desert beyond the well, south and southwest of the camp, appeared lower than
the plain on which we were, and was sparsely wooded with low, and partly dead, mezquit bushes.
The well was about eighteen feet deep, and lined with boards, and protected by a low curb; but
IReport of Major W. H. Emory, p. 100.
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