The Placer herald., 1861-12-21
SACRAMENTO CORRESPONDENCE
SACRAMENTO, Dec. 10th, 1861.

one can now begin to look about aud judge more
accurately of damages DONE and of its effects
upon the energies of the citizens of Sacramento
Notwithstanding the gloomy prospects directly
attributable to the work OF the muddy waters of
the American the cloudy and iog9y weather pre-
vailing since has contributed its full quota 70 our
despondency. Old Sol endeavors occasionally to
alleviate our uncomfortable condition. by show
ing his bright aud full face, and radating lit
tie heat upon this damp and cold community but
meeting with such immense bodies OF water, Il
thick Jog or heavy mist is soon developed, rem
derng the task an impossibity.
ENERGY OF THE PEOPLE.
Notwithstanding almost insnrmountable obsa
cles the citizens of this city begin to show re
grit than was first moniest after the calamity.
Instead OF seizng he Interest Fund monies,
with which to rebuild levces. which policy was
inaugurated when the public mind was in state
OF panic, the monied men have rallied confidence
sufficient to advance, through subscriptions, about
$4,000, with which the work Of repairs is to be
commenced This fact, considering that every
contributor great loser by the flood, con-
vnccs me that there is still an unconquerable
ergy and a vital elasticity possessed by this peo-
pie which pervades few communities of no great
er number. There is time when patience and
perseverance ceases to be q virtue but that
notch in the scale has not yet been reached by
the people OF Sacramento. who now seem to be
putting forth prompt and mighty efforts to
pair the leveeS. streets and sidewalks. Besides
the public work which has to be carried on, al
most every other man has his personal grievances
to assauage and remedy. The damaged goods Of
the merchant have to be overhauleu and dspoS-
ed OF as best they may; the family residence and
household goods require immediate attention;
and thousand little things, destroyed or damaged.
must be replaced. The necessary effect OF all
this deran cement is very visible in the ordinary
and usual channels of trade.
CREDIT SUFFERS.
nr b,,p ril Ike
credit, and already several houses have been
closed by attachments. More will he compelled
to succumb, but not many. The heaviest failure
on the list this week is that of p. Vertimer,
grocer He has been engaged in the Washoe
trade. where he buried his goods in the silver
mines and quartz mills.
THE $. V. r. r. co. VS.. SACRAMENTO.
A war has been commenced upon this company
since the flood which seems very likely to become
! surrounded with very serious results. 1t is claim
| ed that the action OF this company. by filing up
the slough east OF the city near Poverty
Hill. is the sole cause of the flooding OF the city.
| At this point an opening of trellis work or
! gnally erected under the track for The escape
Of the water in the slough during high water.
As this became old and likely to tumble in. the
company instead OF renewing it. filled it up. 1t
is also believed by many that had this opening
been preserved that the waters after breaking
over the banks above Smiths Garden. would have
passed down this slough aad out beneath the
railroad. instead Of being backed up and finally
forced through the eastern levee. and thence
down inside the Railroad or r street levee. But
what reasonable man can believe that the waters
of the American breaking the banks on the
morning of the food. could have found an esca-
ping place through this small aperture, had il
still been open. The waters running across the
lands from the American. when the flood at
| its highest point covered territory half Il mile
wide and foot and upwards deep-running
| I,Iifb nnsi,lp lla t-plncitNf hO
such an immense volume OF water could he car
ricl through this small space originally spanned
| by the road to cross q slough which might only
prove troublesome to the track II very nigh
water? No this viii not do If the people here
wish to open and wage war on this railroad. they
on -ht to begin to fight more sensible pre-
text. The real object Of this move is to compel
The road to c ntribute heavily to the protection
OF the city against another food. To This end
the Board Of Supervisors have repealed The right
OF way. and committed has been appointed to
conftr with the company as to the propricty OF
removing the road to tht North side OF tD3 C.ty
so that its track shall become the ievee on the
North Instead Of on the South. This is all very
we'll provided the 5. V. Il. Il. pleascs. II tie
owners thereof should deem it-lO advantage to
! them TO change their track for three miles, /
suppose they viii not do it. The K. Il. Company
cannot be forced. because in case that il is there
| is Il chance that the track may be removed TO
! SuttcrVille. Ii the road was removed to that
| place. considerable town would undoubtedly he
built up in opposition 10 the Capitol. Besides
| all this there has always existed strong pref
udice against the road by the, (and induence) in
| consequence Of extending the track from Sixth
street to the steamboat landing. This old fire has
burst forth anew. and taken in connection with
the supposed fact that the road has been the
means of flooding the city, it is not surprsin g
that there is considerable bile stirred up about
these days But the Railroad Co. will keep cool.
and after the ebuliton Of passion passes away
will get things fixed up again just about as they
want it. The tempest will pass and be sue
ceeded by calm.
HARD AT WORK.
The citizens Committee. in conjunction with
the Board Of Supervisors. have set many
hands to work repairing the levee be
worked to advantage. The contract with Rite
mre has been rescindod and he has brought in
vouchers to show an expenditure OF little over
Sl000-though he has not touched the levee
The fact that the citizens have taken the work out
of the hands of the Board of Supervisors is no
great compliment to this body. The wet cond-
ton of the soil renders the work performed not
! of very subs antial character, though the ut
most that can be done will be-
DRAINING THE STREETS.
! Two three surface dltches have been dug
! from points in the lower part of the city, leadn e
| Northerly across X and streets, for the purpose
| Of draining streets and low blocks of ground in
tervening between T, G, and H. and from Ash to
9th This work is done by private subscription
! of owners interested. outside Of the general
work. The section of the city adjoining the
Railroad levee is still submerged as high as
Seventeenth street. particularly; according to the
high or low grounds
THE SUFFERERS WELL PROVIDED FOR.
Through the benevolence and lberaity Of the
people OF San Francisco the greatest sufferers
by the late food are being well supplied-as well
as the managers Of the Howard Benevolent So
ciety can dispense the 100000 put in its hands
for distribution. 1t was little anticipated that
Agricultural Hall would become great Hospital