The water, even during the dry season, stands within 7 or 8 feet of the surface; it rises still higher in the spring time. Continued pumping from two Blake pumps, throwing respectively 15,000 and 34,000 gallons an hour, lowers the water about 6 feet. The works supply about 400,000 gallons a day during the summer, and probably about 150,000 gallons during the winter. In and around Bakersfield, a good supply of water is obtained at a depth varing from 30 to 60 feet. The soil is sandy loam, from a depth of a few inches to that of 12 feet. The subsoil is usually fine sand, becoming coarser toward the bottom, and is from 16 to 50 feet thick. Beneath the sand, gravel is generally met with, or clean, washed cobblestones, yielding an abundant supply of good water, which rises to within 5 or 10 feet of the surface. Toward Kern Lake several wells have shown: Black sediment soil.. The average thickness of this surface soil is about 16 feet, and in it “alkali” water is usually struck at a depth of from 8 to 12 feet." Coarse sand.. Yellow clay.. Coarse sand and gravel 10 to 35 feet. 10 feet. 18 feet. 50 to 60 feet. The strata are sometimes thicker than the above, but good water is obtained at a depth of from 100 to 150 feet. A well was bored at Belleview, about 7 miles southwest of Bakersfield, to a depth of 960 feet. The formation penetrated is composed of alternate strata of sand and clay. Good water was obtained, which stood about 12 feet below the surface of the ground. The following formation is reported as having been observed in several wells on the Pescadero ranch, about 16 miles west of Bakersfield: A well was bored to a depth of 920 feet at the Poso Headquarters, about 20 miles a little west of north from Bakersfield. Strata of sand and clay were penetrated to a depth of 600 feet, when sandstone was encountered, beneath which the formation was sand and gravel, with an abundant supply of water. The water in the casing stood at a depth of 60 feet. Outside the casing there was plenty of water at a depth of 25 feet, which forced its way into the casing and disappeared in the strata below. It was the opinion of the well-borer that the stratum absorbing the water was at a depth of 800 feet. From this well many sea shells are said to have been brought up. On Kern Island, near Kern Lake, shells and fish bones are said to have been brought up from a depth of 500 feet. A few miles westward from Kern and Buena Vista Lakes the drift from the mountain has been frequently penetrated for 100 feet before any water was obtained; even then it is always very hard. At a distance of about 3 miles west of Kern and Buena Vista Lakes it frequently contains "too much alkali even for stock." All along the western foothills the well water is hard, and the chances of obtaining it are uncertain. Potable water is obtained in some places from wells dug in spots which subtend the beds of creeks, but the water is always very hard. Oil is said to have been observed on the surface of the water in some wells a few miles from the foothills to the west of Bakersfield. Eastward from Bakersfield, beyond the Southern Pacific Railroad track, the foothills of the Sierras are entered. The soil is gravelly, bowlders are of frequent occurrence, and the depth at which water can be obtained is uncertain. About 5 miles southwest of Delano, on Sec. 32, T. 25 S., R. 25 E., M. D. M., a well was bored to the depth of 822 feet. Surface water was struck at a depth of 22 feet; at a depth of 265 feet the water rose to within 6 feet of the surface, and at a depth of 293 feet it rose 3 feet higher. No further raise was noticed. In 1891 a few wells were bored a little east of Desert Well Station. At a depth of something less than 40 feet an abundance of water was obtained, but it was impregnated with "borax." The formation is said to be decomposed lava. GOLD AND SILVER. At Havilah mining has been prosecuted during 1891-92 on a comparatively small scale, and operations have been principally confined to working above the water level. Since this district was last reported on by the California State Mining Bureau, a Huntington mill of 6 or 8 tons daily capacity has been erected by W. J. Graham. It has been estimated that the returns from the Havilah mines during 1891 were about $10,000. METALLIC ANTIMONY. Four miles south of Hot Springs, on Erskine Creek, a ledge of “quartzite and porphyritic rock" was discovered, which yielded a metallic antimony (native antimony). Two tons of this metal were taken from a shaft 30 feet in depth, and 1 tons from a cut only 8 feet deep. The deposits from which the antimony was obtained are on the same ledge, and about 1,000 feet apart. The native antimony was found in nodular masses; these nodules, which were coated with oxide of antimony and clay, varied in weight from 1 ounce to 300 pounds. In the immediate neighborhood of the ledge, particularly for a distance of about 4 miles in a southerly direction therefrom, are many veins carrying sulphide of antimony (stibnite). In this district several antimony mines have been located and are awaiting capital to develop them. Near the head of Erskine Creek, and about 2 miles from the above mentioned deposits of metallic antimony, is the Iconoclast Mine. This mine has been prospected by two tunnels and an open cut. The lower tunnel is 180 feet in length, and follows vein matter, which yields on an average about 24 ounces of silver and $4 of gold to the ton. There are several rich spots in the vein, from which the ore assays from $100 to $150 a ton. CALIENTE CREEK. About 18 miles east of Caliente Station, on Caliente Creek, some very rich silver ore has been discovered. A large specimen of silver ore, which shows more than $600 a ton by assay, was obtained in this vicinity by Andrew Sauser, Esq., who donated it to the Museum of the State Mining Bureau. In the same locality there are a number of narrow veins of auriferous quartz, from which the ore is profitably worked in arrastras. At Kernville mining has been principally confined to prospecting the old workings and taking out any high-grade ore that could be found, a mill run being made whenever sufficient ore had accumulated. Mr. J. W. Sumner, of the Tom Lane Mine, reports that for the last three years the returns from his mine have been as follows: In 1889, 420 tons were taken out, which yielded. $9.600 6,400 2,200 All this ore was taken from the old workings, where mining had been carried on for the last thirty years. Mr. Sumner states that the mine has been worked to the depth of about 100 feet, and that for successful operation it has been found necessary to open it at a lower level, which is being done. About 12 or 15 miles southwest of Kernville a number of veins are worked during the summer. It is said that they are narrow and pockety, but that the ore is very rich, frequently running from $60 to $150 a ton. The ore is worked in an arrastra. Some mining has been carried on during the last two years at Rand Hill, but the writer could not obtain particulars with regard to it. The Long Tom Mine, which is situated about 22 miles northeast of Bakersfield, is owned by Messrs. Herman & Hershfield. During 1891, this mine was worked by Frank Littlefield and J. Fisher, who straightened up the old workings for about 200 feet, and took out about 50 tons of ore. When the ore was milled it yielded $45 a ton in gold and $8 a ton in sulphurets. At Agua Caliente, Messrs. McRay & Stuter report that since 1889 they have taken out about $15,000 worth of ore from the Jann Dosie Mine. In this mine they have run a tunnel about 80 feet, and have also sunk a shaft about 80 feet from the tunnel. They report a large lode of ore, which will mill from $10 to $15 per ton, and a pay streak running from $50 to $75 a ton. They worked their high-grade ore in a steam arrastra, which has a capacity of one ton every twenty-four hours. They say that their ledge crops out in several places for a distance of about 1.200 feet. They also own a prospect adjacent to their claim, which showed a pay streak of from 1 to 2 feet in width, which milled at the rate of $100 to the ton. This is called the Bella Ruffin, and it is said that one man took out about 33 tons of it in twenty days. Messrs. McRay & Stuter state, however, that the vein "broke square off," and that they have not been able to find it again. In the autumn of 1891, the Fairmount Mine, on the Agua Caliente Creek, was purchased by an English company, who have erected a fivestamp Huntington mill. The lode in this mine is said to be about 10 feet in width. Discoveries of rich ore are also reported from the mouth of Sand Cañon. The writer is informed that during 1891 the Shipsey Mine, on Basin Creek, yielded about $3,000. In this mine there is said to be much ore that is too low grade to be worked in an arrastra. In 1891 a vein of quartz rich in gold is said to have been discovered in the old workings of the Warrington Mine. |