is full, the water plane to the north of the creek rises to about the same height as the water in the creek. On the south side of this creek the formation is principally cement gravel, which has been penetrated to a depth of 120 feet. Seepage water is struck at a depth of 40 feet, but the supply is scanty. Half a mile south of Livermore, on the Rasmussen ranch, a well showed: Gravelly soil. Gray clay and pebbles. Gravel, with water. 2 feet. 48 feet. 3 feet. Eastward from Livermore a supply of water is obtained in gravel at a depth of 75 or 80 feet. The depth of the wells becomes greater as the hills are approached. Northward from Livermore the wells are shallower, especially in the northwestern portion of the valley. WATER COMPANIES UPON THE EASTERN SIDE OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY. The Contra Costa Company.-The principal supply of Oakland is furnished by the Contra Costa Water Company: Application was made by the writer to the officers of this company for particulars concerning their water supply, but at the date of this writing no information had been given. The Piedmont Water Company.-This company was organized in December, 1891, and incorporated in Oakland under the name of the Piedmont Spring Valley and Power Company. The tunnels from which this company derive their supply of water are about 5 miles distant from Oakland, and are situated in the Contra Costa Hills. These tunnels were commenced in 1891, and in May, 1892, ten tunnels had been completed, varying in length from 250 to 440 feet. They are situated between the altitudes of 1,000 and 1,400 feet. The officers of this company state that the total amount of water furnished by these tunnels has been estimated at nearly 2,000,000 gallons in twenty-four hours. The water flows from the tunnels into receiving reservoirs. One of these, which has a capacity of 10,000,000 gallons, is located about 3 miles north of Oakland, at an altitude of about 900 feet. Another reservoir, of about 5,000,000 gallons capacity, is situated at the Linda Vista Terrace, at an altitude of about 190 feet. In June, 1892, the writer was informed that about 10 miles of pipe had been laid. The water is sold at both household and meter rates, at the option of the consumer. The rates are established by the City Council. The meter rate for 1892 was fixed at 40 cents a thousand gallons. The Alameda Water Company.-The town of Berkeley is supplied with water by the Alameda Water Company, which was incorporated in 1884. This company obtains water from wells and tunnels in the Contra Costa Hills, and they pipe it a distance of 2 or 3 miles to the town. There are altogether six tunnels belonging to this company, and they vary in length from 300 to 2,000 feet, and supply from 250,000 to 300,000 gallons of water every twenty-four hours. Three of these tunnels are situated near Wildcat Creek, and penetrate the hills dividing that stream from the San Pablo Creek. Another is in Telegraph Cañon, and two more are situated in the western slope of the Contra Costa Hills, directly eastward from Berkeley. The tunnels near Wildcat Creek yield the most water. The wells belonging to this company are described under the head of "Subterranean Water Supply." They are situated at the head of Wildcat Creek, and yield about 40,000 gallons of water every twenty-four hours. The company supplies Berkeley with about 500,000 gallons of water daily during the summer, and with about 300,000 gallons of water daily during the winter. Water is sold by both household and meter rates. The meter rates are as follows: For any amount less than 2,000 cubic feet, 55 cents a thousand gallons; for any amount over 2,000 and less than 3,200 cubic feet, 50 cents a thousand gallons; for any amount above 4,000 cubic feet, the rate does not exceed 35 cents a thousand gallons. Water is furnished the town for public works at the rate of 25 cents a thousand gallons. The town of Alameda is furnished with water by the Artesian Water Company, who obtain their supply from artesian wells at Fitchburg, as mentioned under the head of "Subterranean Water Supply," and from seven wells, which are situated at High Street, in the eastern end of the town. The wells at High Street vary in depth from 120 to 450 feet, and in diameter from 10 to 16 inches. They yield about 40,000 gallons of water an hour, and continued pumping lowers the water to a depth of about 20 feet. The water is distributed by a modification of the Holly system. The Artesian Water Company furnishes Alameda with about 80,000 gallons of water an hour during the summer, and with about 25,000 gallons an hour during the winter. SUBTERRANEAN WATER SUPPLY ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY. Along the Oakland waterfront, and extending inland for a distance of probably 1 miles, the superficial formation is principally sand, which in some places is traversed by thin strata of clay. In this sand water is obtained at a depth of from 40 to 100 feet, and people who have any regard for health, use a surface pipe outside the casing of such shallow wells. This pipe extends from the surface down to the first stratum of clay, and the space between the two pipes is filled with cement, the object, of course, being to shut off deleterious infiltrations. The writer is informed that the wells furnishing water to many of the cheaper class of residences in the above mentioned portion of Oakland do not exceed a depth of 60 feet, and that in many cases the precaution of using a surface pipe is neglected. The wells which terminate in the sandy formation usually furnish sufficient water for a windmill pump capable of drawing about 600 gallons an hour. In such wells the water usually stands at a depth of from 10 to 12 feet, but deep well pumps are used, for continued pumping soon lowers the water to a depth of 35 or 40 feet. Along the waterfront the formation is principally as follows: Sand Blue clay This blue clay is traversed by numerous thin strata of bluish sand with muddy water, and shells, principally Macoma nasuta and Ostrea lurida. Yellow clay and cement Three or four strata of water-bearing gravel, separated by hard yellow clay or cement, altogether about.. Yellow clay.. In this clay another stratum of water-bearing gravel is usually struck at a depth of about 360 feet. Blue clay Hard yellow clay and cement 60 to 100 feet. 20 to 40 feet. 120 to 140 feet. 30 feet. 60 to 100 feet. 30 to 100 feet. 200 to 270 feet. 8 to 12 feet. In the marsh a surface pipe, 2 or 3 inches larger in diameter than the well pipe, is sunk to the first solid bed of clay, which is usually struck at a depth of from 80 to 120 feet. When the well is finished, the space between the two pipes is filled with cement to shut off the salt water. After cementing the well, the water generally rises to within from 4 to 12 feet of the surface. The best water-bearing strata along the waterfront are found at a depth of from 280 to 360 feet, and wells of this depth, which are 7 or 8 inches in diameter, will furnish sufficient water for pumps drawing from 3,000 to 5,000 gallons an hour; indeed, some of the best wells yield from 8,000 to 10,000 gallons an hour. Occasionally strata are penetrated from which the water rises to the surface, and even flows over the casing. In some instances, on these marshy lands, wells have been obtained which flow when it is high tide in the bay, but when the tide is low, the water in the wells sinks several feet below the top of the casing. It is said that about twenty-seven years ago a well was bored to the depth of about 500 feet, near the workshops of the S. P. R. R., and that a strong flow of water was obtained. The cost of boring wells in Oakland and Alameda is $1 a foot for the first 50 feet, below which depth 25 cents a foot additional is charged at each 50 feet of increased depth. This price includes casing and surface pipe through the sandy formations. A comparison of observations made by those who have bored wells. along the waterfront, shows that this description holds good in a general way from Sixteenth Street to a point near the old Neptune Gardens, in Alameda. Farther inland, near the eastern and northeastern margin of the sandy formation, the sand is of less depth; the stratum of blue clay seldom exceeds 20 feet in thickness; indeed, it is sometimes absent, and strata of water-bearing gravel are usually found at a depth of from 70 to 120 feet. Below this depth the formation is similar to that along the waterfront, but in some instances wells have been bored to a depth of several hundred feet without a large supply of water being obtained. Farther toward the foothills the sandy formation ceases. The yellow clay comes to the surface, and the formation is principally yellow clay, angular fragments of rock, and cement gravel. In such localities the occurrence of water-bearing strata is more uncertain, but a supply of water for domestic use is usually obtained either in the first stratum of water-bearing gravel, at a depth of from 60 to 100 feet, or from the second stratum at a depth of about 200 feet. From what the writer could gather with regard to wells that have been bored toward the foothills, in the direction of Piedmont, the following appears to be the general character of the formation: Yellow clay.. Gravel, with water Yellow clay and fragments of rock Beneath the yellow clay is sand and gravel with water, which rises to within about 28 feet of the top of the casing. 30 to 40 feet. 10 to 15 feet. 10 to 20 feet. 8 to 10 feet. 100 to 150 feet. In the vicinity of Temescal bored wells are usually from 140 to 150 feet deep, the formation being principally clay and cemented gravel. Throughout the southern part of Temescal, especially, a good supply of water can be obtained at these depths. The water usually stands at a depth of from 25 to 30 feet. In this vicinity irregular strata of gravel are also frequently met with, which afford a fair supply of water at a less depth. South of Berkeley, in the vicinity of Klinknerville, on the O'Neil tract, a 12-inch and a 7-inch well were bored. These showed a black soil for about 3 feet and a cemented gravel for 130 feet, which yielded some seepage water. Water-bearing sand and gravel were then penetrated for about 14 feet, which yielded a good supply of water. The water from these wells flows from the top of the casing when the windmill pumps are not working. In other places in Klinknerville borings were made to a depth of about 160 feet. These wells did not flow, but in them the water stood at the depth of about 10 feet. In this vicinity a supply of water for domestic use can generally be relied on at a depth of something less than 100 feet; and a second water-bearing stratum is generally struck at a depth of from 160 to 175 feet. Some well-borers are of the opinion that a bed of gravel containing a large amount of water extends from the vicinity of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum in a southwesterly direction toward the bay. In a well at Butchertown, near the bay, flowing water was obtained at a depth of about 175 feet; the formation is principally clay and cement gravel. Within a short distance of this well borings were made to a depth of 300 feet, and only seepage water was obtained. It is said that there are other flowing wells near the bay in this neighborhood. In West Berkeley the formation is principally clay, gravel, and cement; and bored wells for house use are usually from 60 to 80 feet in depth. The water stands at a depth of from 20 to 25 feet. A well was bored at the planing mill, close to the bay, and clay and cemented gravel were passed through for 390 feet, at which depth sandstone is said to have been struck. This well yielded only a small supply of water. Both in West and East Berkeley there are many dug wells from 20 to 30 feet deep, which yield a supply of water for domestic use. The writer was informed that continued pumping from shallow dug wells near the bay had introduced salt water. In East Berkeley the formation penetrated by wells is principally yellow clay, with angular fragments of rock and cemented gravel. This drift formation varies in depth from about 15 and 20 feet near the hills, and more than 100 feet in the vicinity of Dwight Way and Shattuck Avenue. In some places in the hills, however, the drift formation has been penetrated for about In East Berkeley the bored wells for house use vary in depth from 30 to 90 feet. The cost of bored wells in East Berkeley is $1 a foot, including the casing, for the first 100 feet. Dug wells cost $2 50 a foot for the first 30 feet. A contract is generally made to work by the day if rock is struck. The writer learned that the University of California had made efforts to procure a water supply from wells and tunnels in the University grounds. He therefore placed himself in communication with the Secretary of that institution, who kindly furnished him with the interesting particulars set forth in the following letter: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, October 27, 1892. * W. L. WATTS, Field Assistant, State Mining Bureau, San Francisco: DEAR SIR: * * It has been and is the desire of the Board of Regents to ascertain with certainty that there are or are not available water sources on the University site, before seeking a supply from sources beyond control of the University. To this end investigation has been approximately thorough and prudently expensive. We have not yet finally solved the problem. The excavation of a tunnel on the hillside lying east of the University forest was begun in 1883 and continued off and on until about February, 1886, at which time it measured 1,400 feet in length. The cost was about $4,500. The excavated material has been worth to the University about $2,500, and the water received and used was about $1,000, making the cost of the tunnel in excess of returns about $1,000. Α The tunnel pierces blue sandstone throughout its entire length, with the exception of a few narrow walls of yellow sandstone, and about 30 feet of drift at the entrance. few very thin seams of coal were found, enough to make a test, which was done by Professor Christy, who reported that this coal produced 60 per cent of fine coke. The water product of this tunnel has averaged about 3,000 gallons per day, counting the winter and the summer supply. Seventy-three wells were drilled in 1890, varying in depth from 10 to 73 feet. These wells were sunk mostly on the north side of the University site, and are scattered from the high hill east of the forest to the west end of the grounds. They pierced adobe and the varied drift, loam, brown, red, and yellow clay, sand, gravel, bowlders, hard yellow and blue sandstone, and rotten reddish rock. Of these only one well (and that at the east line of the forest) seemed to be promising, and at that point a short tunnel was excavated through a deposit of broken rock of varied character. For a few days water seemed to be abundant, but was soon exhausted. It is thought this pocket of broken rock may prove to be a useful, though small subterranean reservoir, to be filled by winter rains. Another tunnel was run into the side of the hill east of the forest and well up on its flank. It was short and non-productive. During the summer of the present year a 6-inch well was drilled in the bed of Strawberry Creek, within 40 feet of the eastern boundary line of the University site. This well is 120 feet deep and the formation pierced consists of blue sandstone and dark shaly material, so intimately associated and intermixed that no separation of these two prevalent kinds of rocks into definite strata is possible. The whole of the rock passed through must be regarded as one formation of sandstone and shale of varying character. A pump has been placed at this well, which lifts into the old reservoir about 1,000 gallons of water per day. A second well, with a diameter of 10 inches, is being drilled about 30 feet farther up the cañon, and it is expected that this well will be sunk to a depth of about 500 feet. The Regents have worked over the ground at their command very thoroughly, and while the result has not been great, the expense has been comparatively small, as $3,000 actual outlay, above the value of returns, will be the limit of expenditure up to this time. Two things are to be noted in this search for water on the University site, which lies on the western slope of the Contra Costa Hills, below Grizzly Peak: First, the bedrock is sandstone, impregnated with blue clay-a combination that is impervious to water. Hence, the winter rainfall, when it permeates the drift on the hillsides and reaches the blue sandstone bedrock, simply runs off under the drift down to the marshes or into the bay. The rainfall has no place to lodge, except in gravel pits, small depressions, and crevices in the bedrock. Secondly, when a well is sunk into this blue sandstone bedrock and finds crevice water, it is soon drained, and the well becomes useless, unless, indeed, the well happens to strike a system of crevices of great extent. I have no knowledge, however, of any well in this vicinity on the western slope of the Contra Costa Hills so happily placed. There is found, however, near the top of the ridge of these high hills (Grizzly Peak is 1,759.52 feet above the sea), a water-bearing rock, but it is outside of our jurisdiction. It is yet to be seen what may be found on the hillsides at a depth of 500 or 1,000 feet; the presumption, however, is that but little water will be obtained, unless a system of crevices be found. It is probable that more water will be found by tunneling into the edge of the ridge, or by sinking very deep wells on the level part of the campus, where the surface is only 234 feet above mean tide. Very respectfully, J. H. C. BONTÉ, Secretary University of California. Several wells were bored for the Alameda Water Company at the head of Wildcat Creek. The formation penetrated is clay and broken rock, to a depth of from 30 to 70 feet. Beneath this, in some wells, a very hard bedrock was struck, but in others the bedrock was sandstone. Some of these wells yielded an abundant supply of water, and in several |