The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-01

Professor Forrest Shepard in letter to the Evening
Pcayune OF San Francisco gives the following graphic
the coast range north OF the Napa Valley Another ac
count says that Professor Shepard intends claim part of
the valley, and plant tropical trees in the hot soils
Messrs. EDITORS: In answer to your inquiry respect
ing the Geyser fountains on Pluton river permit me to
say that my attention first arrested at the remarkably
peaceful and quiet thermal springs in Napa valley by the
me that the springs the chemical action causing them.
might have been instrumental in producing this change
On dlgen inquiry, learned that the Indians knew Of
now / was led 10 believe this from the fact that the
springs OF Messrs. Richie e. Tucker varied their tenn
perature four five degrees in the Of three four
weeks visited the place indicated by the Indians,
and found it perfectly tranquil externally and nothing
the surface 10 attract special attention But digging
down about two feet found that the heat increased
rapidly. thai could bear my hand in the earth
inserted the bulb OF my thermometer and the mercury
instantly TO hundred and twenty degrees of Fab
renheit 34
From observations already made in company with Pro-
lessor James Mooney led believe there existed
line OF thermal action undG the neghborng mountain
chains and scSorSinsly. in company with Mr. Cyrus.
and expert huners travelled nor,hwestery in the line
OF thermal action; and. after wandering through almost
nnumerabe dense thckes the fourth day after leav
ing the head of Nspa Valley, arrived an immense
chasm full thousand feet in depth. where the rocks
had evidently been rent asunder by great violence.
beautiful river and its terraced banks covered with
most luxuant vegetation and spring flowers the s,h
of February. This extraordinary appearance soon
explained Tor, proceeding the river the earth grew
under feet. and we emerged from thicket
Of evergreen bordering deep assure the mountaiR
SIDE the secret workings Of the inner world suddenly
burst upon asonshed You may Judge of my
surprise when found myself, not the brink Of vol
canc saataa, amid the sases of Humboldt,
and yet the earth 20 hot a. to burn my feet through the
soles OF my boots. tt'i 81
AT no place was there any appearance OF lava, but
powerful cdtaiytie action going eecng the dssolu.
on Of every kind of rock the evolution OF steam through
innumerable orifces, and sometimes in columns rising
like that from steamer two hundred feet
height; also the decomposition OF sulphuretted hydro
gen gas the sudden formation OF boiling hot water the
deposition OF beautiful crystals OF sulphur, and the orma
ton OF less sulphuric acid and astonishing
amount OF metallic oxides. mineral salts, and the Gene
ation of brecated and conglomerae rock. The scene
leads the mind almost to bewderment, and you uemble
you approach the Geysers, lest, like the lamented
Pny, you become victim 10 your curiosity especially
when you find yourself sinking. did the writer into
the abyss below by breaking through the thin crust
der your feet The spouting Geyssrs, the boiling mse
stroms springs OF hot wate steam pipes, &c. probably
exceed two hundred on half mile square. The writer
has commenced series OF experiments and improvements
the place, and has made arrangements cut road
and house the premises, and in due time hopes
TO communicate to the public the results OF his observa
tons - rtr.