The  quantity  of  water  in  Strawberry  Creek,  was  noted  through
the  dry  season.  The  springs  in  the  hills  were  explored.  E.\-
amination  was  maJc  to  ascertain  whether  there  were  other
sources  of  water  sujjply  available  in  the  hills.  It  was  never
intended  to  do  so  focjlish  a  thing  as  to  locate  a  College,  in  this
State  of  long,  rainless  summers,  on  any  site,  without  an  abun-
dance of  pure,  flowing  water.  During  the  year  it  was  satis-
factorily ascertained  that  a  copious  supply  could  be  obtained,
back  in  the  higher  hills.  When  this  fact  was  finally  settled,
the  opinion  of  the  Trustees  and  friends  of  the  College  seemed
to  gravitate  towards  this  spot  as  the  permanent  site  of  the
C<illege.  A  notice  of  this  general  conclusion  is  found  in  the
racific,  of  November  26,  1857,  but  no  formal  action  in  the
matter  was  had   by  the  Trustees  during  that  fall  and  winter.
\


PREPARATION  OF  rilR  FIRST  COLLFGK    CLASS.  37

The  site,  as  contemplated  at  that  time,  consisted  of  one  hun-
dred and  forty  acres.  It  was  to  include  both  banks  of  Straw-
berry Creek,  and  their  fine  bordering  of  oaks,  sycamores,
bay-trees,  and  a  plentiful  growth  of  evergreen  shrubbery.  It
had  to  be  purchased  in  five  unequal  parcels,  of  as  many  dif-
ferent owners.  Messrs.  Willey  and  Rankin  were  appointed  a
committee  to  examine  titles,  ascertain  terms  of  purchase,  and
report  to  the  Board.  They  presented  their  report  at  the
meeting  of  Trustees,  held  March  i,  1858.  In  view  of  all  the
facts,  the  Board  then,  by  fc^rmal  vote,  which  was  unanimous,
adopted  the  Berkeley  site  as  the  permanent  location  of  the
College  of  California.
