The record-union., 1899-10-11
Tahoe the Probable Source.

Eds. Record Union: While some Oh
the citizens of Sacramento are looking
after clear water it might not be anllss
for me to say that there is almost pos
tive proof that a larger body OF water
as clear as crystal and entirely pure
is running through a gravel bed IN TINS
valley, fifty-five feet below the surface
and one and a half miles from Sac
ramento. To write all the facts 10
prove this would be tedious but py
your permission 1 will state few.
In the first place / will simply refer
to the fish story that l never men
toned publicly before, but which l
know TO be true. They have been seen
three different times by four persons
when there were no fish nearer than
the river and no trout even there.
There are some who believe what we
saw. and others who will not believe
this fish story" and they will not be-
lieye the ancient fish stories. If they
win not believe those emanating from
the source they do, of course 1 shall
not become offended if they do not be-
lieve mine.
Nevertheless the fish were pumped
out of the well, and not believing it
is immaterial, and does not annul,
modify nor change the fact in any par
ticular. These trout had eyes and
would not be living or running in still
water fifty feet under ground.
With this I drop the fish story, and
refer to another fact. There are two
wells twelve feet apart. These wells are
bored through clay to coarse gravel,
being the same depth Muddy water
sr+ tn IN
quantity sufficient to fill it, and con-
tinued to run for one half hour, and
yet the water in the north well was not
discolored. Had the water been still
the muddy water would certainly have
run through the coarse gravel to the
north well twelve feet distant, almost
instantly. For seven years the water
in these wells has been fourteen de-
grees colder in spring and summer than
other wells in the valley. But very
little colder in the fall. On making
inquiry of those who live by Lake Ia
hoe in the summer and fall, 1 am told
that the water in the lake gets warmer
in the fall than in the spring and sum-
mer, owing to the melting snow in the
spring months. 1t would be natural
for water to keep cooler while running
III one cudnntI lIdn SldHOlIS III WcIls
where the water was comparatively
still A gentleman who lived near Lake
Tahoe for many years. says it is gem
orally believed that there is a subteA
ranean passage from this lake, as the
source of supply is much greater thar
its outlet, Truckee River.
assert that there are strong reasons
for believing, I say believing, that the
vast amount of clear, soft water in thi:
valley has for its source Lake Tahoe
1t would be preposterous to talk about
seepage from the Sacramento River
for from actual survey the water from
these wells is considerably higher thar
in the river.
AS to the American River the sam
objection can be made. Neither has i
the supply. 1t is very plain that TIL
soft water in this valley cannot b.
seepage water from anywhere.
There are over 600 wells in dis
trict of country running five mile
south from Sacramento and three miles
wide. An average we'll raises in a fai
wind 1920 gallons in an hour. If W,
take 500 wells, instead of 600 at thi
rate, 30, 100000 gallons would be raised
in a day. The pumps in these some
times run several days in succession
and when they cease pumping there i
no apparent diminution of water.
This 80, 100000 gallons would make
stream forty-three feet, six inche