Page 226 - 1915, Springs of CA.

208 SPRINGS Or CALIFORNIA.
FERNDALE SPRINGS (CONTRA COSTA 1).
Ferndale Springs are in Vaca Canyon, about-6 miles (by road)
south of Martinez. Two springs of small flow issue from a steep bank
on the southern side of the canyon, about 50 feet above the creek, and
were formerly piped across it to bottling works on the opposite side
of the canyon. In 1908, however, bottling had been discontinued
for a year or more. A small tunnel has been excavated at the prin-
cipal spring, which yields a flow of perhaps 1^ gallons a minute of
noticeably carbonated water. The rocks consist of shale and soft
fine-grained buff sandstone, the spring issuing from a bank of thick-
bedded sandstone.
ALUM ROCK PARK SPRINGS (SANTA CLARA 3).
Alum Rock Park is in Alum Rock Canyon, about 7 miles northeast
of San Jose. The property was purchased from the Spanish Govern-
ment by the Pueblo de San Jose and still belongs to the city, being
conducted as a recreation park. It received its name from an alum-
coated bowlder that lies in the grounds. The improved part of the
park extends for about 600 yards along the narrow canyon and has
been partly laid out with walks and garden plots. Tub baths and a
swimming plunge have been constructed, and a cafe", Japanese tea
garden, candy booth, and a few other concessions have been granted
in order to help defray the expense of maintenance. The place is
easily reached by electric car from San Jose.
At least 16 mineral springs issue along the park at the bases of the
canyon sides, their positions being shown on the sketch map (fig. 4).
The springs differ notably in the chemical characteristics of their
waters. All are distinctly sulphureted, four are moderately car-
bonated, and one deposits considerable amounts of iron. A seven-
teenth spring, which is noticeably saline and is known as the Salt-
Condiment Spring, issues in a little ravine 600 yards west of the
lower end of the park grounds. It is piped to a drinking basin at the
roadside a few yards away.
Thirteen of the springs, including the Salt-Condiment Spring, have
been improved by cement or rock-masonry basins to form drinking
pools, and water from at least two of them is also piped to the baths.
The other four the one that deposits iron, a sulphur spring, and two
carbonated springs that deposit lime carbonate issue in tunnels
that have been run into the canyon sides a few feet above the level
of the other springs. They have been used in part to supply water
for the baths.
Two drinking springs that issue from pipes side by side near the
upper end of the park are worthy of special mention. One of them
yields water that is milky from suspended sulphur, and the water