Page 322 - 1915, Springs of CA.

302 SPRINGS OF CALIFORNIA.

SALT SPRINGS NORTH OF FURNACE CREEK RANCH (INYO 19).
The sink or lowest portion of Death Valley, in the eastern part of
the State, is crusted with impure salt, and at several places along its
borders small springs issue whose waters are strongly saline. One
group of springs of this character is situated about 10 miles north
of the Furnace Creek 1 ranch at the northeast border of Death Valley,
where a slight amount of salty water issues.

SALT SPRINGS SOUTH OF FURNACE CREEK RANCH (INYO 21).
About 4 miles south of the Furnace Creek ranch saline water
forms a small wet area at the east edge of Death Valley. The flow
is slight and the water is too salty to be drinkable.
POISON SPRING (INYO 18).
Poison Spring is on the western border of Death Valley, 7 miles
northwest of the Furnace Creek ranch. It yields salty water that
probably also contains sulphates, whose sickening effect on thirsty
travelers has given the spring its name.
VALLEY SPRING (SAN BERNARDINO 2).
A few strongly saline springs issue in the southern extension of
Death Valley proper, in the portion that is known as South Death
Valley. Valley Spring, which rises in a marshy area on the western
side of South Death Valley, is probably the largest of these. The
water forms a clear stream that flows for a short distance, but it is
strongly saline.2 The source of the water is believed to be Amargosa
River, which normally sinks a few miles to the southeast. A portion
of its flow is apparently brought to the surface at the spring by a
ledge of rock that is there exposed above the valley floor.

SALT SPRING (SAN BERNARDINO 4).
Salt Spring, at the southeast end of South Death Valley and about
5 miles southwest of Dumont railroad station, is probably better
known than the saline springs farther north in the valley (San Ber-
nardino 2). It was mentioned many years ago by Fremont, who
camped there in April, 1844, and described the springs as being " a very
poor camping ground; a swampy, salty spot, with a little long, un-
wholesome grass; and the water which rose in the springs being useful
only to wet the mouth but entirely too salt to drink." 3 The springs
are in the canyon of South Branch of Amargosa River. This canyon
1 The name Furnace was applied to this creek not because of the climate of the region but because a
small furnace for the reduction of ore was built near its mouth in 1862.
2 An analysis purporting to represent this water (U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 224, p. 46) is
believed to be that of water from Owens Lake.
3 Fr6mont, J. C., Report of the exploring expedition to the Rocky Mountains, p. 264, 1845.