Page 93 - 1915, Springs of CA.

HOT SPRINGS. 89

erence to areas northward and eastward from Little Geysers, but his
conclusions are probably just as applicable to the area in the canyon
of Sulphur Creek. Hej considers that the cinnabar in the Knoxville,
./Etna, and Sulphur Bank localities has been deposited by the action
of the hot waters.
ANliERSON SPRINGS (LAKE 55).
Anderson Springs aije situated about 5 miles northwest of Middle-
town, along a branch of Putah Creek. A resort has been conducted
at this place for many years, and in 1910 a hotel and several cottages
provided accommodations for 150 guests.
Nine springs that differ in character of water emerge at rather
widely separated points on the property, but are reached by paths
that form pleasant ^alks along the wooded canyon. The Cold
Sulphur Spring, whi(jh is the farthest downstream, issues from
schistose material at the creek edge 300 yards east of the hotel. It
has been protected by a cement basin and yields a small flow of
cool, clear, rather strongly sulphureted water used for drinking.
About 400 yards by trail eastward and southward from the hotel, in a
little gulch on the sidel of a ravine, is the Sour Spring, which yields a
slight flow of water that tastes of alum. The spring is perennial,
but it seems to be supplied by surface water that becomes mineralized
by seeping through crtished sedimentary material. Across the creek
and about 100 yards northeast of the hotel, in a rock-walled pool at
the creek edge, is Father Joseph Spring, which yields mildly sulphu-
reted water that is pleasant for drinking and is considered to be a gentle
laxative. Belmer Sprang is 675 yards west of the hotel and beneath
a gravel bank at the p.orth side of the creek. The water rises in a
pool a few feet in diaineter and also in a barrel sunk near by. It is
much used for drinking, but it tastes disagreeably strong of sulphides.
The other five springs form a group about 325 yards farther upstream,
where they issue from banks of greatly altered sedimentary rock.
The Hot Spring, which is the principal one, rises in a barrel that forms
a drinking pool. The^ water is thence piped to a small reservoir and
a bathhouse near by. This water is mildly sulphureted and when
cooled somewhat it is a palatable drinking water. Near it are two
short tunnels that also yield warm water of similar character, and a
few yards away vapor vents are utilized in small steam-bath cabinets.
The other two springs are a few yards westward, across the creek.
One forms a pool about 3 feet across, which is normally covered with
an iridescent film, possibly of iron, and is known as the Iron Spring.
Efflorescent salts probably sulphates of aluminum and of iron
crystallize on the adjacent banks. The other spring is about 60 yards
away, in a branch ravine. It yields clear water that tastes strongly
of alum, and the banks near by are also usually coated with alum.