Wealth of the Worlds Waste Places and Oceania | Page 9

above the raging torrent, at nine o'clock at night. They
were ready to drop in their tracks, yet hope inspired them to renewed
exertions. They struggled on fifteen miles more ere they staggered into
a farm-house on the verge of collapse.
In the following year, 1901, the United States Government, becoming
interested in diverting the waters of the Gunnison, sent out one of its
engineers, Professor Fellows, to look into the practicability of the
project. After looking over the field, the government engineer
succeeded in enlisting in his service Mr. Torrence, who was a member
of the first expedition. They planned to accomplish the feat which the
former explorers failed to accomplish, namely, to go entirely through
Black Canyon.
Profiting by the previous trip, they provided for themselves a complete
equipment, consisting of a rubber raft, two long life-lines, rubber bags
for food and clothing, a camera, hunting-knives, and belts. Until they
reached the water-falls where the previous expedition had left the
canyon, the "Fall of Sorrow," the first part of their trip possesses little
of interest beyond what had been experienced before. But from this
point on unknown dangers menaced them.
The roar of the plunging water from below rose upward with a
deafening sound as they gazed into the seething current. The rising
mists obscured the tree tops on either side far below. Should they press
on or retreat, as those before them had done? Yes, they must go
forward whatever the hazard. They clasped hands, bidding each other
good-by. Torrence threw himself into the water first and Fellows
followed. A few seconds later both clambered upon a bowlder in the
pool below. The narrow cleft by which the former company effected
their escape was passed and no alternative but to go forward was left to
them.
They encountered many other perilous adventures in their thirty-mile
trip. Before they escaped from the canyon their provisions gave out.
Death by starvation stared them in the face once more. Weakened by
hunger and about to give up, they spied at the base of a cliff two
mountain sheep.

Now, mountain sheep, which roam among the rugged crags, are
exceedingly difficult to catch. One of the sheep darted into a cleft. With
a quick movement born of desperation Torrence rushed before the
opening, but scarcely had he reached the spot before the frightened
sheep, in attempting to escape, jumped into his arms.
Realizing that his life and that of his companion depended upon
securing the animal, he succeeded in killing it with his knife after a
fierce struggle. The meat obtained saved their lives and sustained them
until they reached a ranch fourteen miles from the place from which
they emerged from the end of the canyon. In making the perilous
journey they had swum across the river seventy-four times.
Although their instruments and most of the other articles which they
had taken were lost, yet the valuable data, sought for and recorded in
the engineering book, were safely brought out and contained enough
encouraging information to lead the government to take up the project
of diverting the waters of the Gunnison River to the Uncompahgre
Valley.
Salt River Valley, one of the most fertile sections of Arizona, has been
settled for many years, but the lack of a sufficient supply of water for
extended irrigation has caused a large portion of this rich desert land to
remain dormant. To meet the demand for more water in this valley the
United States Government has just completed one of the greatest water
impounding reservoirs in the world, the construction of which called
for the greatest engineering skill and cost nearly nine million dollars.
Salt River enters the valley after a tumultuous passage through a deep
and rugged canyon forty miles long. It derives its name from the
saltness of its waters, which results from the discharge of salt springs
into the main stream as it courses through the gorge.
Though unsuited for drinking purposes the water does not contain
enough salt to make it detrimental for irrigation, and the soil,
stimulated by the water, produces marvellous crops. Here extensive
farming can be carried on with the greatest success. Six crops of alfalfa,
averaging eight tons per acre, are harvested yearly. The oranges, dates,

figs, lemons, grape fruit, olives, and peaches grown upon these lands
are of superior quality and flavor and yield abundantly. The climate
during eight months of the year is unsurpassed.
Ostrich farming here is becoming an important industry. There are at
the present time in the valley about eight thousand birds, and the
number is rapidly increasing. The value of the feathers plucked yearly
from each full-grown bird is from thirty dollars to forty dollars.
Indications are that in the near future Arizona will lead the world in
ostrich farming and