The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-19
NOTES FROM NILES.
The Recent Discovery of Natural
Gas-SOcial Items.

EuitOr -HOrnng eau: The natural gas
hnd IN Pleasanton has caused quite ripple
OF excitement even in Niles. As was stated
in last weeks letter the ''rches of the hills
are yet to be developed-ores, coal, chrome,
stone, ETC., are known to abound" and
while it has never been suggested or sus-
pected that gas could be found here, still il
may be, and 1t is positively known that coal
oil exists, not in one, but in several places.
a gentleman VINO understands such mat
ters has examined the indications and pro-
nounces them unmistakable.
This find of gas has set the Nilesites by the
ears, as it were. and all sorts of suggestions
are floating around. but like thousands of
such things talk is more plentiful than work.
and as is usually the case it will only be by
accid ent that the discovery will be made,
and the suspicious and knowledge Of few
be confirmed as facts. As stated in las
weeks letter, all the ramifcations of the
hills, from Contra Costa or DiablO
TO almost Mount Hamilton, are known
10 contain various substances used either
IN the arts or IN mechanics; the western
portion of these hills trend from beyond
Berkeley southeast about twenty-seyen
miles, until Niles Canyon, or to speak ex-
actly Alameda Canyon, is reached (Nles
being on the western side, and then extend
directly south about eighteen miles. Now
east of these hills are found, extending
north and south, shorter and narrower
ranges, meeting each other occasionally and
spreading apart TO encircle in their protect
ing arms exquisite valleys, where the har-
vests OF fruit amt vine are found. At the
eastern terminus of the canyon is Sunol
Valley, about eight by twenty miles, and Ii
is on its eastern side tnat Pleasanton is sit
uated, but Niles does not propose to shine
by reflection only, as her quarry and cement
works already prove, and it Is sincerely
hOnp1 and nypnatnd that no 90 lon1
she will have her own Illuminating power
All fruits are looking unusually fine, with
the best OF prospects so far for full yields,
except perhaps almonds In the whole
history OF the valley almonds had never
failed until last year, and this season many
farmers report that half crop, in some
places less still, is all that will be harvested
this year. Some Orchardsts affirm that it
Is because the underground water supply
has been curtatled for the past two seasons,
others don't know" 1t is well-kDewn
Tact that there is an underground gravel
lake underlying thousands of acres adjoining
the Alameda Creek, and which Is and always
has been fed by sinks" which are found
in two or three places in the creek, between
the canyon and the bay. The creek had
never been dry until the Spring Valley
Water Company began TO run water into
their pipes in the fall of 'S8. draining the
following winter being dry, not enough
creek-the underground lake lowered iInne-
diately as was lndisputaby proved by the
drying up of all wells in its circuit. The
water was stored in this vast underground
reservoir to last through the summer. Be
this as it may, it would still need another
year, or two perhaps, to determine with
any sort of surety whether this was the
reason or not of the failure of the almond
crop. No other variety of fruit has shown,
any sign of change, and if such should
prove to be the case it would prove the need
of the almond for more water than other
trees, and probably the consequent loss OF
thousands of acres of almonds which would
have to be converted into other fruits.
OF the seven Worlds Fair. Commissioners
A. I. Hatch of Solano has been appointed
to represent this district, choice which is
particularly pleasing to orchardists, as the
gentleman understands fruit culture thor
oughly.
The health of the neighborhood Is i'm
proving. At one time there were eighteen
or twenty cases of sickness. now there are
not more than half dozen sick people. La
grippe in some one of its numerous forms
seems 10 be the prevailing complaint.
The Ladies' Guild held meeting last
Wednesday afternoon at the parsonage, it
being the first meeting held at that place.
Nearly every member was present. The
ladies are very busy on work for their an
nual bazaar. Mrs. Henry Tyson read very
interesting paper upon the "lndian Ques-
ton, and the Work of Women in Christian
lZlDR 1uuluuS. L IlS COlllUtllb6 VI lIlE6tt
appointed by the Spare Minute Circle. met
with the committee of three from the Ladies'
Guild and series Of entertainments for the
next few months WAS planned. Several new
and interesting features are promised. A
social Is to be held on the evening of May
18th at Mrs. j. E. Thames. The Spare Min
ute Circle held its regular meeting at the
parsonage last Saturday evening. There
was large attendance. The young people
held debate upon the late New Orleans
trouble. The circle is alive and is proving
power in helping the young people to
broader knowledge of many things by the
work done in its meetings.
The School Trustees held a meeting last
week and inspected the building. School
will close May Sth, sooner than was ex-
pected, because of the lack of funds. In
the two years the school has been occupied
by eighty odd children not single cut or
scratch could be found on a desk nor
mark or injury of any kind on any part OF
the building or premises. 1t would be hard
to make better showing. At this meeting
a letter was read addressed to the President
of the Niles Board of Education, from
gentleman in the East, who shall be name
less and homeless, asking If there was any
vacancy for State Superintendent or II
not when would vacancy occur, as he
wished to apply, etc. So much for the wide
spread circulation of The CALL.
Mrs. Ii. A. Mayhem gave another one OF
her charming parties last Friday evening,
thirty-six guests being present Six tables
of players whiled away the evening with
tiddledewink5 and euchre. Mrs, II. II.
Mayhem of San Francisco aud Edward
Clarke won the dainty favors. After the
choice refreshments the guests fingered
singing ana chatting. The house was pro-
fusely decorated with purple and whit3
lilacs by the nimble fingers OF Miss Florence
Mortimer.
A gay party of young people drove from
Niles to Palo-Alto and return last Monday,
with a four-in-hand. c. Peters handled
the ribbons; Mrs. Ford and Mr.. aud Mrs
Maar were chaperones; Misses Ellsworth.
SNYDER, Mortimer and Lamb and MeSsrs.
Shinn, Bristol and Ellsworth were of the
party. They inspected every nook of the
vast structures, from the great soup caul-
drons to the marble floors of the halls,
where they ate their lunch, and spent au
hour or more inspecting the mammoth sta
bles in which were hundred noted AMI
mails They patted aud admired Sun0l,
Piedmont, Elmer. Nephew, Palo Alto aud
Electricity, and were loath to leave for
home so soon. They made the trip of 60
or more miles from s o'clock in the morning
till IL o'clock in the evening, and had about
six hours to spend there.
1t is hoped that arrangements can be made
to allow the Presidential party to remain in
Niles an hour or more on the morning OF
May 1st when an entertainment of sone
kind will be rendered him and his party.
under the auspices of the Farmers Alliance.
The towuSpeople will be asked to assist,
and those OF neighboring towns invited to
be present. MRS. L. E. THANE.
Niles, April IS, 1891
Racing After a Funeral.
Timothy Murphy and John Trot went 70
funeral yesterday, and upon return took