The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-07-10
In Underground River That Yields an
IlGIAaUStihlG Supply.
ARTISAN Wells at Alvarado That Furnish
100000 Gallons Daily-An EN-.
barcadero of Early Days.

one worth going long distance for. Down
in the southern part of Alameda County is
spot where such a sight is possible.
Ii IS only necessary to drive the
casing that forms the artesian we'll
down 10 feet TO strike How
Of water, apparently ineXhaustible. clear.
sparkling and delicious. just what is the
source OF the supply the scientists have not
fully determined. The general belief is that
an underground river flows through that sec
ton. At Alvarado, where the land is low.
close TO the bay. which down there is
scarcely more than long, narrow arm. the
flow is struck at depth of 10 feet. There
are q number of wells, each with a daily
capacity of nearly 100000 gallons. Up
toward Alameda, at greater level above
the sea, it is necessary to go down twice
that depth before water is reached,
and the force of the water seems
10 be somewhat less. but it is evil
IDENTIFY the same supply, cool. refreshing
and delightful. Theirs is an endless fascina-
ton in the thought of this mysterious river
flowing darkly in those subierrauean depths.
Where does it flow? Whence is its supply?
How did 1t get lost in those cool shades?
Are there trees and flowers along its banks?
IL so they are such as We know not OF.
There are fishes In its clear depths, we
know. for they sometimes find their way up
are, too. One hundred and seventy feet.
however. is not so very deep, after all, and
at just that depth this cool, delicious river
lies ready with its sparkling current to
Quench the thirst Of waole eitiesfnl Of peo-
pie.
But hush, hushl Don't say anything
about that. What would become IF the
water companies who supply US with nice,
clean. open aud aboye-ground water, if that
notion got abroad.
ONCE A THRIVING TOWN.
Alvaradoi is pretty little village Of perhaps
zoo population. Once upon time il babe
fair 10 become great city. When Oakland
was tiny hamlet, Ayarado, then called
Union CRY, was the county seat of Ala
media County, and already thriving burg.
The first steam fuurmill ever built in this
State was erected there by John 81. Horner,
who afterward laid out H0rner's Addition
TO the city of San Francisco. became ill.,
volYed in financial difficulties thereby
and finally went 10 the islands to
redeem his shattered fortunes by
manufacturing sugar for the United
States trade. Union City, AlvaraGo was
called then. A naYigabe creek ran from
the bay way IN to the town, and large side
wheel steamers used to ply up and down
tie stream. which is now wholly filled up
10y the wash from the hills. Nothing re-
mains but tule swamp. The rottng tim
beTs Of the old wharves lie exposed to view
ike the bones OF some great monster, They
are, In fact, the decaying bones of dead
commerce. The planking has long sine
disappeared, and only the plies aud heavy
braces remain. skif could not now
force Its way where once great steamers
Heated free. Cattle Craze where once i'm
mense warehouses stood, haystaeks have
taken the places Of business blocks, geese
wander where once the busy merchant
trod, and tradition only remains of the Old
emDaTcadero that was once one of the
lyeiipst on the coast.
4 CALL reporter visited the place few
days since 10 see the wonderful artesian
wells that are located there on the property
q Colonel t, B. Granger, one of the earlier
LloneerS OF the place, who has lived there
Tor The past 81 wears, and during 20 of
these years has been familiar with the
almost incredible capacities Of this
underground water supply. a company
has lately been formed fol- the purpose Of
piping water from these wells to supply the
city of Alameda, al the other end If the
county A supply Of 100000 gallons daily
VIII De easily Obtainabe here. and a reser-
y0Ir is also to be constructed on the hills
back OF Alyarad0, ia which the surplus
supply of the wells viii be pumped and
stored. A gang of men are already at work
there. building fiume, sinking other wells
and getting things in shape for the erection
CT the pumping house and other apparatus.
THE FLOWING WELLS.
Colonel Granger took the porter over to
the scene of operations from the hotel at
along the line Of the 1ume. Some Of these
have been IN operation for years. TIE
colonel drew rein near group Of men who
were driving 10-inch well, the largest yet
put down. Near by was another well, con-
sisting Of 4z-inch pipe sunk in the earth.
Like the others, 1t was closed, the only use
for them at present being for purposes OF
irrigation At Colonel Changers request,
however, one Of the men turned the water
on, and Immediately such a stream rushed
ont a. the reporter had never before dreamed
could flow from pipe. Out il
poured. tumbling over itself in its hurry.
and flowed along deep ditch that carried it
of across the fields With such an irriga-
ton system as that those fields ought to be
converted into yerItable gardens of Irene.
This was originally Finch well, but the
stream proving unmanageable for tie par-
noses for which it was desired. smaller
pipe was substit Ited, about three years
ago, After watching it for some time the
colonel prepared 10 drive on. Just let it
run to-day" he called to the man. You
surely don't mean TO let that water run all
day, e0lonel?" gasped the reporter. why,
that pipe will send out 100000 gallons be-
fore night"
Nearer Million" was the careless re-
spouse, and the colonel drove on 10 the next
one. pointing out the remains Of the old
embaTcadero. and chatting Of olden times IS
he went.
ut don't seem possible. does it, he ex-
claimed, gazing across the green expanse
where once the creek ran, "that large steam
eTs and ships once came up here? Yet |
have seen them lying here loading grain.
and unloading all SORTS OF merchandise"
What little water remains is almost fresh,
the great artesian supply having nearly
conquered the sadness Of the sea water.
SALT FOR THE MARKET
A peculiar feature OF the landscape near
here is any number Of great piles that at a
little distance resemble huge white build
ings. The reporter learned with surprise
that they are piles of salt. which is pro-
cured here by eyaporating the sea water 10
great tanks, TakiDg up the salt, which is
then shipped 10 the city. very simple
process. that, but nature seems TO have rem
Gered all processes simple in that section.
Where once was a vast expause of almost
worthless marshland the wash from the
surrounding hills of earth loosened by the
agricultural operations Of the past scors of
years has produced rich alluvial soil. 1t
literally rains farms down there during the
rainy season. The water to irrigate these
farms lies all along under the soil, and the
time must come when Alvarado, left behind
in the march OF mercantile progress will
become one of the richest aud most pro-
ductive agricultural sections around the
bay.
A PICTURESQUE LAKE.
Near the head OF the creek. not far from
the old wharyes. is low. picturesque-look-
ing house that was at one time one of the
beautiful homes of the county. An early
history of the section gives a picture of If,
in beautiful order, the embGrcadero scene
OF busy life and big sidewheelar tied up
near the front door. The big steamer could
not get within many a mile Of it now. In
the yard OF this place is seven-nch we'll
that has been flowing for wears. So great is
the force Of the water that il has been
necessary to incose the pipe in a strong
iron casing, and even this has been so forced
that series Of little streams flow from
its joints into the cement basin be-
low. The overflow from the we'll
has formed a large lake in the rear
Of the house and transformed what was