The Shasta courier., 1855-03-17
THE SHASTA COURIER
Bill 10 Render the Upper sacramento
Navigable.

Bill TO Render the Upper sacramento
Navigable.
In the Senate on the Sd inst, Mr. Mahoney,
from the Committee on Commerce and Navga-
ton, reported Senate bill No. 81, an act author
lzing p. B. Reddng and others to improve and
exclusively navigate the Sacramento River be-
tween Red Bluffs and Clear and Middle Greek
The committee had amended the bill and re-
commended that il pass as amended.
Section grants to Pierson B. READING. Sam
uel III. Hensley and Thomas W. Lysle The ex-
elusive right to navigate the Sacramento River
between the mouth of Clear Creek and Red
Bluffs, with steamboats,, for the term of twenty
years from the passage of this act; the parties
shall improve and render the river navieable
within two years from January lsi, 1855, so that
| the same can safely be navigated by STEAMBOATS,
whenever the stage of water will allow the
passage of steamboats, between Colusa and Red
| Bluffs, and provides that they shall not charge
for freight exceeding half a cent per pound by
weight or fifteen cents for cubic foot by mea-
| surement.
| Sec. provides that within three years if the
said parties further improve the channel of said
river above the mouth of Clear Greek TO the
mouth OF Middle Greek, they shall have the ex-
| elusive right to navigate the river to the last
mentioned point Rates of freight not to ex-
ceed three-fourihs of cent per pound, or
more than twenty cents per cubic foot by mea-
| surement
Sec. 3 provides that if the parties shall fail to
| improve the river between the two last men,
TONED points, the Legislature may grant the
right to other parties. and also grant the concur
rent privilege of navi gazing the same between
Clear Greek and Red Bluffs, upon payment of
dollar per tun to the parties named in this act
And the committee offered an amendment to
| stand as section d:
That. if the parties fail to improve said river
| the act shall be null and void and the State of
California may, at any time within ten years
| upon payment OF the amount actually expended
| and the legal rate of interest. annn the privi
leges granted, and make such disposition OF the
matter as 1t sees proper.
MIR. SPRAGuE-This bill is special legislation.
l admit but it is an experiment l suppose.
every Senator knows that the river is not navi-
gable from the lowest point mentioned in this.
bill. believe that. two years ago this winter
one steamboat did attempt to pass the mouth of
Clear Greek, but it was faure nor, alhou OH
the river has since been explored by experienced
men, has the attempt been renewed.
One of the persons named in this bill has been
engaged some time in navigating the waters of
this State. He has examined the stream, but
4 neither he or any one else con;empates navi-
| eating this portion of the stream without the
expense OF heavy outlay. Above Red Bluff
commences what is called the Iron Canon and
II Is thought by many that no amount of money
will render it navigable. These parties desire
so to make the experiment; but. from the low
rates charged for freight and provided in the
bill, it will be utterly impossible to make money
| by carrying freight or merchandise Mr.. Read
ing is, however the owner of six leagues of
land within the points named N the BILL and his
object is to increase the value of his property
| If he succeeds he will at the same time enhance
| the interest of the country.
There are at present great impediments to its
| navigation; number of rocks will have to be
blasted; there is considerable body of water.
but il must be confined 10 narrow channel to
/ render 1T navlgable. These persons are willing
to take the matter in hand but they have no in
i ducement, except the increase of the value of
their property which it may give. If they sue
ceed, they will at the same time assist in devel-
| oping the resources of the State.
| Mr.. TUTTLE-I move to strike out Red Bluff
and insert Sacramento, for | held that if we
grant these persons this privilege, we also grant
them the exclusive right of navigating the
stream TO Sacramento. And the reason is obvi-
Gus, for suppose at the expiration of two years
| these parties have made the river navigabe to
| Clear Greek, there will then be no depot at Red
| Bluff; the goods will not be landed there; the
| depot and warehouses will be at the head of
| navigation, and these parties having the exclu-
sive right to carry freight upon that portion OF
| the river. no other steamboat company can COM
pete with them, and we thus grant Indirectly
monopoly from Sacramento to the head of navi-
CATION. This may not be the intention of those
who favor the passage of the bill, but, the laws
OF commerce will give it this effect; and sir. l
repeat my motion to strike out Red Bluff and
insert Sacramento.
Mr. KENDALL offer an amendment to the
| amendment Strike out Sacramento and insert
San Francisco; - and for this reason, that if we
commence giving any exclusive privileges for
well give them the whole waters at once, and
we shall thus see the principle endeavored to be
established. standing out in all its deformity.
Mr.. MAHoSEr-The object of the Senator is
to defeat the BILL know the Senator to be a
reasonable man, and if he will view the subject
| fairly. l think he will withdraw his amendment
As one of the committee to whom il was re-
ferred felt at the first opposed TO the bill but
as amended by the committee, / think it will
work no injustice TO any one, but will be de-
velopment OF the resources of the State. for it
is well known that the river is not navisable be-
tween the points mentioned in the bill. The
charges for freight are reasonable aud the OBJ
lection urged that it grants an exclusive privi-
lege to these parties is groundless, for the bill
expressly provides that parties may navigate the
stream upon the payment to these parties Of 81
per tun. Well, sir, if any steamboat wishes to
go to the head OF navi CATION ii can do so upon
the payment of this amount. and the commit
tee have further added, that the State at any
time, upon the payment If the money actually
expended, with the legal rate of interest NAV