THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



47 



RAMONA'S HOME IX SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. 



WATER DEVELOPMENT BY TUNNELLING. 



BY JAMES T. TAYLOR. 



""Phe Ontario Tunnel, commonly known 

 as the Bodenhammer Tunnel, is 

 located on Mountain avenue, about one 

 mile west of the famous Euclid avenue 

 of the Ontario Colony lands, San Ber- 

 nardino Co., California, and about 5^ 

 miles Northwesterly from the growing 

 and prosperous city of Ontario. 



The mouth of the tunnel is very near 

 the San Bernardino Base line at an el- 

 vation of some 1700 feet above sea level, 

 and commanding a large area of land 

 which has been demonstrated to be first- 

 class for the successful growth of citrus 

 fruits. 



Mountain avenue runs north and 

 south and at right angles to the general 

 slope of the upper portion of the valley 

 or mesa, and has an average fall of 

 about 206 feet per mile. 



The object of the tunnel was to inter- 

 cept the underflow from the mountain 

 range known as "Sierra Madre", and 

 divert the waters so developed by gravity 

 into the present system for an increased 



supply of the Ontario lands, and possi- 

 bly other lands in the immediate vici- 

 nity. 



Prior to the commencement of the 

 tunnel proper, several shafts were sunk 

 to a considerable depth, and tests of the 

 water supply made by pumping. 



These tests as reported seemed to in- 

 dicate a considerable volume of water 

 available, and to support in a measure 

 the theory advanced by the promoters, 

 and concurred in by the "water witch 

 enthusiasts," that a stream of water ex- 

 ceeding a thousand inches was running 

 to waste and only required tapping to 

 secure and control the precious fluid. 



The glowing accounts and reports of 

 the hidden treasures, coupled with the 

 growing necessity for a more ample 

 supply of water for the Ontario lands, 

 lead to the making of the contract by 

 the San Antonio Water Co.. on the part 

 of the property owners, with Mr. Boden- 

 hammer, et al., the promotres, for the 

 development and delivery of a water 



