The Placer herald., 1874-12-19
CALIFORNIA RIVERS.


Build railroads as many as we may, re-
duce fares and freigbs as low as we will,
we never will be able to compete, in point
of economy, with the grand and noble rivers
which nature has wisely provided as though
for the very purpose OF carrying the produce
of the interior to the oceanside, and deposi-
ting it in the lap Of an ocean commerce.
For time it was thought that railways
would do away with river navigation, and
the rivers of our country began to be aban-
doned and neglected. But already, in spite
of all the railroads, the people Of the entire
Middle and Northwestern States are paying
dearly for such neglect, and on bended knees
and in suppliant tones. are praying Congress
to give them some assistance in again open
ing up the channels Of the great rivers of the
Mississippi Bsein Since the construction Of
railroads through the great Sacramento and
San Joaquin Valleys, the rivers of California
have suffered the same neglect. The dam
age to onr state in consequence of This neg
lect is twofold. Not only is the naviga-
ton Of these rivers obsrucfed, but the filling
Gon year to year of the main channels has
caused them from the least freshei to over
flow their natural banks and inundate thou
sands of acres of the very best land in the
State, rendering it, for years past, worthless
Millions Of dollars worth Of our best produ-
cling country have been thus destroyed.
Thus we wrote on the 14h of last March
on the OCCASION of the introduction OLA bll.
in our Legislature by Hon. =. A. Roach
providing for deepening an widening the
'nay igable rivers 'tf California. Mr. Roach's =
bill failed TO become law, altl ou5h its pas
sage would have done more to promote The
prosperity OF Tie State and he independence
of the producer than amy measure before the
last Legislature.
Hon. j K Luttrell, like true Repre-
sentative that he il, looking only TO the pros
periiy of The State, md lhc Interests OF the
whole people, evidently appreciates the inn
porlance of keeping open TO navigation the
States natural chinncs Of comm rce--ihe Vi
tai arteries Of her prosperity, and to tf't end
! has introduced bill in Congress 10 improve
The navigation Of Peialumt Greek, and The
Sacramento and Feather rivers. The san
Joaquin should have been incuded.) Foi
this pur ose he asks 800 600. The
amount asked is small considering lt
amount of work required to be done, though
f the General Government will appropriate
bat much. the State could well afford to, and
should. make up what would be lacking to
complete the work in good shape. Our
rivers, in sense. are great canals, dug on
Wih, ut hands, for our especial heneht A.
., means of commerce, for moving to the sea
board the ponderous productions OF fertile
country, no artificial appliance can in point OF
economy compare with them, and to quietly
sit back and do nothing to prevent the IL
rep mble destruction of these great natural
blessings, is no less than suicidal to the in
dependent prosperity of producers and the
country at large. True economy appeals
not only to this State but to the nation, fol
the reopeuing and improvement of our navi.
gable rivers We hope our Representatives
cmulatmg the example of State Senator
Roach and Congressman Lultrell, will awake
10 the vast importance of the subject and
exhibiting degree of craftsmanship worth,
of Americans, not allow the appeal to bt
made in vain.