35 



tions When we consider the amount of expense which will be required in or 

 der to attain this- object, and the hazard of failure to individual enterprise, vc 

 think it would not be unwise for a County like Los Angeles herself to set an 

 example as a County, by securing- the idea in the minds of the people, and ex 

 hibiting to them the proof that the work can be made successful by proper man 

 agement, especially when we know how deeply the failure or success of such 

 means for obtaining- water will affect the future growth and welfare of the plain 

 country. After a successful operation of this kind by the County, individual 

 enterprise would readily embark in similar works wherever they could be 'made 

 valuable. 



The accompanying diagram will elucidate more clearly the position of the 

 rocks included within the range of country under consideration. The section is 

 projected on a direct line from San Pedro to the City of Los Angeles, and is in 

 tended to give a suppositions position to the rocks beneath the surface, as deduced 

 from an examination of their out-crops for several miles along the borders oi 

 the plains on both sides. 



The capital letters, A. B. 0. I), are levels at which the Los Angeles River 

 flows, at different points north of the City. 



A. being 14 miles, 



B. " 11 " 



C. " 5 " 

 I). " 2 " 



E Station staff at San Pedro. 

 F. Old Fort near the City. 

 (1. The City. 



...H. A spring on the hill back of San Pedro. 

 I. San Pedro. 

 J. Banningville. 

 K. Outliers of gravel drift on the hills back of the City. 



The numerical figures represent the rocks and their coverings and outcrops. 



Xos. 1. 1. 1. Infusorial sandstone i>22 feet above tide. 



" 2. "2. Infusorial clay. 

 " o. S. Clay slate. 



" 4. Calcareous Shales. 



" f>. Bituminous Shales. 



" <i. Bed of gravel drift between beds of clay. 



" 7. Blue clay above. 



8. Blue clay and sand belcw gravel. 



" 0. Heavy bed of blue clay containing marine fossils. 



" 10.10. Probable position of stratified rocks beneath the surface. 



In the diagram at the point marked L, we find a constant but small supply 

 of water; this supply issues from between the beds 7. and 8, and follows the 

 course of the deposit of sandy gravel drift marked 6. in which water is usually 

 found. On the summit of the lower hills marked K. X. is found this drift in 

 sites, forming outlines of a larger bed which formerly existed, and which has 

 been removed by denudation, and deposited farther down upon the plains as in 

 the case before us. 



At no very distant day the Los Angeles River has flowed to the north of the 

 City, and was undoubtedly the principal agent, concerned in the removal of th'e 

 drift beds. Very unmistakable evidences are observable of changes of this char- 



