LIVERMORE’S PASS. 11 
from one-half to two miles wide, and, to the eye, perfectly level. We are, however, at first 
ascending the little stream which waters Monte Diablo valley, and subsequently get upon 
ground descending in the contrary direction. The greater part of Livermore's valley is of a 
gravelly soil, and unfit for cultivation. 
It is used principally as a cattle rancho, and numerous herds were grazing on different parts 
of the plain as we passed. This valley is about eleven miles long and six broad. A view of 
its surface is presented in the annexed wood-cut. 
Several beds of streams intersect it, which in winter may be called rivers, but in summer are 
perfectly dry. The banks of these are well timbered with cotton-wood and oak, but elsewhere 
no timber is to be seen. Springs abound at the base of the hills. "The waters of this valley 
accumulate at its western end, forming a lake, from which the water, after flowing through a 
cañon in the hills, finds its way to San Francisco bay. 
LIVERMORE'S PASS. 
On the afternoon of July 13 we reached Livermore's house, and encamped. at a spring about 
a mile in its rear, and nearly four miles from the entrance of the pass. Here I determined to 
stop a sufficient length of time to enable me to make a survey of the pass, in which is the 
wagon-road usually travelled by those going from San José to the lower San Joaquin valley ; 
and for this reason this pass is much better known than several others lying a little to the south 
of it. There is, however, good cause for supposing that some of these other passes are better 
adapted for a railroad than the one known as Livermore's. The hills here are destitute of 
