TABLE SHOWING THE PROBABLE DEPTH OF A PERMANENT SUPPLY OF WATER ABOVE THE 



SANDSTONE. 



FEET. 



At Sacramento City, - - *^ - 775 



Twelve miles east of Sacramento City, 700 



Seventeen " " - 660 



Twenty " " - 625 



West of Sacramento, (at Washington), - - 775 



Eleven miles west of Sacramento, - - 700 



Fifteen " " t - . . 650 



Twenty-two " 550 



To this table may be added 380 feet, should it become necessary to descend 

 through the sandstones and upper beds of slates, which we have arranged as 

 belonging to the superior beds which form the basis of the Valley. 



It would be impossible to estimate the increased value of the lands lying upon 

 these extensive plains when the fact has once been demonstrated that water can 

 be obtained from these sources; at the same time it must be seen that individ 

 ual enterprise alone will not be equal to the task of penetrating such depths, in 

 consequence of the heavy expense which must be incurred in the undertaking. 

 Few individuals are possessed of a landed estate of sufficient extent and value 

 to warrant their embarking in such an expensive and costly operation. The 

 State has, perhaps, a much greater interest in this matter than any other land 

 holder, from her large landed possessions on these plains, and we here suggest 

 the wisdom of the policy on her part, which shall take the initiative, if it were 

 only to carry one shaft to the required depth at which water can be obtained. 

 Not only would one success of this kind greatly enhance the value of her own 

 lands, but it would also prove a strong incentive to combinations of individuals 

 for the attainment of similar objects respecting private property. It is evident 

 ly the fear of failure which now deters many from undertaking the enterprise, 

 consequently each district is now waiting for some neighboring section to enter 

 the field, the effect of which is to retard the settlement and cultivation of the 

 country, and affect materially the general prosperity. The effect of partial fail 

 ures in obtaining water at small depths, and with limited means, will be that 

 these operations will be esteemed unavailable, and it therefore becomes a matter 

 of both public and private pecuniary interest to determine at what depth it will 

 be necessary to descend, in order that a permanent supply may be obtained. 

 After the solution of this matter by fair practical experiment, it would be found 

 that all individual and corporate enterprises would be governed by its results. 



I have conversed with two intelligent gentlemen who have been large contractors 

 in well boring, in the Atlantic States, and they have given it as their opinion, that 

 an eight inch bore cannot be carried to the depth or twelve hundred feet in Cali 

 fornia for any sum less than $14,000. This fact alone would be sufficient to deter 

 almost any individual from an attempt to sink a well of this character, unless there 

 should be a probability almost strong enough to approach a reasonable certainty 

 that success would crown the enterprize. The sinking of one well to the requisite 

 depth, would have the effect of imparting confidence in the undertaking, which no 

 other circumstances can ever inspire. If this were done by the State, the exten 

 sive area of lands lying upon the valleys, and belonging to her, which under present 

 circumstances must be sold at vey low rates from their desiccated character, would 

 rise in intrinsic and market value sufficiently to more than repay the State for the 

 expense of their reclamation. 



The immediate occupancy and improvement of the broad plains of California 



