Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-04-26
AROUSED!
What Property holders Propose to Do
Down the River.

What Property holders Propose 10 10
Down the River.
Notice is given this morning OF meeting
TO be held by the residents of Levee District
No. 1.-THE district situate next south OF this
city-at Nick Dole's, Wednesday, at P. NJ.
The call for this meeting is made to have
levee matters discussed, and il springs from
motives which are as commendable as they
are wise and high-spirited. The district,
from defective leyees, was two years ago
placed under water, and thousands of dollars
of immediate damage done, and tens of thou
sands of dollars damage consequent upon the
weak spot which SO practically demonstrated
the philosophic epigram, that nothing is
stronger than its weakest part. This year
the river levees of the district have
had another test, and fortunately with
stood the pressure brought to bear upon
them. But the residents of that dis
trict realize the fact that last week the pos
sibility OF the embankments giving way was
altogether too near. They reason and ex-
press themselves thus-and their expression
is closely adhered to in the recital" We
live in district unequaled in the world for
fertile soil /; it is blessed by climate with the
vigor of the north and the softness of the
south /; our lands are fruitful beyond all
others our children were born here, our dead
are buried here here are our homes here
have we put forth our best life efforts; here
are we content to live, content to die when
the summons comes. We seek no falrer
place no more bountiful spot on the bosom
of mother earth do we dream of /; no other
would better satisfy us for our homes. Now
there is but one shadow on all this tar PIC
ture. Production, market, climate, lands,
society, schools and all the advantages of an
advanced civilization we have but there
is one drawback, and that Is the
apprehension of river overfiow-au
apprehension which has been once
made reality recently, and if we re-
main in our present condition, is likely to be
fact again. We have no ternados destroy
ing life and property In an hour. Those
afflicted with them would, if they could,
gladly find security in any preventive or pro-
tective measures they could take-they can
not levee against tornados. Those who live
in apprehension of being swallowed up by
earthquakes would dub themselves fools if
they did not prevent the evil if they could
they cannot levee against earthquakes. The
people who cling to homes beneath the foot
of the avalanche would avert its descent if
they conld-they cannot levee against the
avalanche and glacier. The community
which dwells under the shadow of the danger
that is cast from the reservoirs that cluster at
the head of canyons and sometimes burst and
sweep life and all gains to destruction, would
joyfuily levee against the danger if they could.
Those who live in fear of the lava torrent
would gladly avert its course if they could
they cannot levee against the volcano. The
people afflicted with other ills and dangers in
which nature asserts her superiority over art,
would resist her if they could. snow, we in
District No l, say the long edresidents
for they have been thinking and consulting
and have already spoken-and this is the echo
of their words, 1--WE have but one over
hanging danger. 1t is not the fear of burst
ing reservoir, of earthquake, of famine, of
descending ashes or molten lava, of tornado
or avalanche, or encroachment of the sea
none of these, but simply of river overflow.
Against this We believe we may levee so as
to remove all doubt as to the safety of the
homes we have founded Some of us believe
our levee defenses quite safe now, but realize
that it is not certainty, and those who think
deeply agree that permanency cannot be
assured until We have leveed in such
a manner that no man will entertain a
doubt about it to build to such
an extent, indeed, that in midst of highest
waters and fiercest gales we may rest and
sleep in security We therefore propose to
raise, widen and strengthen our levees. We
do not propose to dabble in the NATTER but
to do whatever we do thoroughly. We will
endeavor to so build our levees that they
shall neither be overtopped, washed away nor
broken through. One of us who owns but 10
acres says ne will pay $500 as his share
rather than endure another season of anxiety
Another of us will submit to even 10 per
cent. contribution on the basis of his values
rather than take further chances. Another
of us will sacrifice one-eighth that the other
seven-eighths may remain as steadfast as the
hills" And so throughout the district the
spirit is moving and the belief is that even
those heretofore adverse to the building will
yield now. and that the levees from Y street
to Freeport will be made so high, so broad
of such long outerslope, and so faced, packed
and protected, that the Sacramento river in
It's widest efforts to baptise the people shall
roll back abashed. The meeting of Wednes-
day promises to be one of much interest, and
those who attend will find by the expression
of the men who think deeply that the report
of the spirit which prevails now among the
people down river is very mildly expressed
in this report.