The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-01-30

miles. Over this area the water
found at various depths, ranging iron
e $50 to 700 feet; and, of course, the cos
of the well is IN proportion to tn
depth. A 5OO-foot well costs usual,
$1,000. There is graduation in dept
and in quantity of water as the we'll
approach or recede from The lake. VI
the eastern limits of the belt, WHERE
the belt is highest, the wells, contrar,
! to what was originally expected, are
shallower than on the low land neal
the lake, and the obvious explanation
is that the water-bearing strata dip to
ward the lake, with a sleeper pitch
than the surface of the land, of which
the incline is about eight feet to the
mile. On the other hand, the flow Of
the wells near the lake is much more
copious than that of those on the high
land, even when the latter are sunk to
the same depth. This, again, may be
explained on the hypothesis that in the
wells which tap the water strata at
their lowest level the hydrostatic pres
sure would be greatest, and the stream
expelled with more violence. This
corresponds with the observed facts in
the Santa Clara valley, where the most
productive wells are at Alviso, near
the shores of the bay.
All of these one hundred wells on
the margin of Tulare lake, which are
now gushing in streams of greater or
less volume, obtain their water from
sand or gravel strata underlying strata
of blue clay. The clay is impervious
to water, and confines it to the gravel,
however deep the latter may go down.
Doubtless the blue clay is superim-
posed upon the gravel all the way back
to the mountains, from whose clefts
and assures the supply is derived, and
these gravel channels carry just as
much water twenty-five miles east of
the lake as anywhere else but there is
not pressure enough to cause the wat
er to rise to the surface, except at the
lowest edge of the gravel-beds, which
is near the lake.
To one who has never before seen
flowing well there is something eerie
in the way the water comes boiling out
of the depths of the earth. Thrust
your hand into the flow on a cold day
and it is found to possess an unex-
pected warmth. This, as well, as the
slight smell of sulphur which is no
ticeable in most of the wells, strength
ems the fancy that there is something
Satanic about the spouting marvel. In
one of the fertile valleys of Lake
county, a few months ago, man.
moth artesian we'll poured forth
such a torrent of sand and
gravel that it was feared it |
would in time overwhelm the adjacent |
farming lands with the detritis, like a
glacier or lava stream, but while the |
excited farmers were considering how
the monster might be choked, the sub
terranean genii Suddenly ceased their
Satanic prank and the people breathed
easier, as if dreadful dragon that
to waste the land had been
slain. There are no such wells as this
IN Tulare county, but a great gusher
has been struck on Posey creek, south
east of the lake, and of this we shall
lave more to say in future letter.
On the splendid ranch of Page &
Norton, near the town of Tulare, there
ire four artesian wells, one of which
s SUR ounded by reservoir, showing
he proper manner of utilizing water
rom these sources. If the stream is
allowed to wander over the land lust
Is it comes from the well it will make
)uddles and sink-holes without doing
much good. To remedy this Mr.. Nor
on has built reservoir around the
veil to confine its waters. Twice
very twenty-four hours the industri-
Jus little demon who is rushing up
his sparkling column of water fills the
nd ha,,, |
opened the water will flood two acres
# land. Thus utilized an ordinary
.rtesian well will irrigate great deal
# ground, and the farmer who has a
Iuarter section and well is independ-
mt for life. The ranch of Page &
lorton is a model of large farming,
which is at the same time diversified
arming. Four thousand acres of rich !
and are covered with canals, dikes, !
nd checks for irrigation, and almost
very kind of crop is raised. There is 9
lready an orchard and vineyard of s
40 acres, which next year will be in '
reased to over 1000 acres. The :
took on this ranch consists of 1000 l
heep, 1000 hogs, 240 cattle, 50horses,
DO hives of bees, and so cats. The !,
lst are by no means an incumbrance,
,r they are kept expressly to subdue I
lie gophers, which, it is said, they do
ute successfully. Some large L
inches now buy hundreds of cats at b
) cents head for this purpose. A T
w years ago this rich land around ! v
ulare was worth 50 so to S. an acre. s
now commands $40 to $50, and is s
ard to get at those prices. Water for L
rigation is supplied by the canal v
at the rate of 81 an acre for t
heat and 81 so for alfalfa. s