A NATURAL CVRJOSITY. 623 



A NATURAL CURIOSITY'. 



About two miles south-east of Santa Paula and near the foot of the mount- 

 ains is a natural curiosity. The rocks, which were once doubtless impregnated 

 with petroleum, have undergone oxidization, all the bituminous matter having 

 been burned out. They consist of horizontal strata of sandstone, some coarse 

 and others fine grained. The oxidization bears evidence of having taken place 

 ages since and to have extended to a great depth. As a result of these internal 

 fires, a circular district, some five or six hundred yards in diameter, has sunk to 

 the depth of about one hundred feet, leaving an opening on the west side. A 

 conical hill rises in the centre to the height of nearly one hundred feet, capped 

 with sandstone. The perpendicular walls extend nearly around the depression, 

 showing a fine exposure of stratified rocks of various colors. Those containing 

 most bituminous matter are left more highly colored and present a pleasing con- 

 trast to the gray layers that were less affected by the heat. About a half mile 

 from this amphitheater and a thousand feet higher up the mountain is a solfatara 

 similar to what this one was at the time, and from which hot air and steam are 

 still escaping. Mr. George Richardson, who owns the land upon which the 

 solfataras are situated, informs us that the living one was much more active sixteen 

 years ago when he first came to this place. The places described are well worth 

 visiting. — Ventura Free Press. 



ENGINEERING. 



- THE NICARAGUAN CANAL. 



ADMIRAL DANIEL AMMEN. 



While there are other considerations which might determine our government 

 to execute a great work such as the Nicaragua Canal at even a commercial loss, 

 it is obvious that a limit exists beyond which action should not be taken; such 

 for example, I would say, as the sea-level canal at Panama, involving primarily 

 from its physical conditions enormous outlays, entailing great uncertainty of 

 results, and certainly great outlay for its maintenance in a navigable condition, 

 and from time to time serious delays from land slides into the canal. The sub- 

 ject presents itself as abnormal, distasteful, and unnatural if not considered com- 

 mercially. What will the canal cost, and what for its maintenance ? What will 

 be the minimum traffic, and what period of time will be necessary to execute the 

 work ? 



On the present location the engineer's estimate for labor and material is 



