Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-10-14
RIVER WORKS.
The Washington Levee Protection-works
Now Under Construction.

The Washington Levee Protection-WorkS
Now Under Construction.
The contract for construction of works to
protect the lsvee and bank on the Washing
ton side of the Sacramento. immediately
opposite the former mouth of the American
river, which was recently awarded by the
Board of Drainage Commissioners to Z. a.
Miller, of this city, has been entered upon
and the work is to be completed within sixty
days. The action of the water against the bank
and levee at this point was such during the
last rainy season that the levee was cut away
to nearly the hack edge of the crown surface,
and was only held back and prevented break
ing through and flowing iAto Washington
by single tier of sand-bags. The cutting of
the bank is caused, as is known, by the momen-
tum of the water from the American river,
coming in short distance above, at about a
right angle with the Sacramento. and thus
carrying the current against the Washing .on
bank. 1t is to repair the levee and construct
works for its future protection against the
iandward action of the current which is in-
cluded in the work now begun. A bulkhead
is being constructed about $50 feet long, COM
posed Of piles, driven five feet apart, and be-
hind which are placed facines or bundles of
nine to sixteen feet long, which are firmly
wired together, and weighted down with
stone or bags of sand. In rear of this will
be filling of earth, forming favorable slope
back, to the top of the levee, which slope
will be protected from washing OF u ting by
the water by means of revetment or brush
mating about eight inches in thickness,
and securely fastened to the bank
by heavy stakes. Outside of this work,
farther into the river is to be constructed a
permanent barrier. A line 900 feet long) of
piles will be driven parallel to the other row
of piling, but 80 feet further into the river.
Behind these, trees will be placed and fasten
ed with the tops between the outer piles and
the trunks extending towards the bank to the
other works. This is done to retard the
velocity of the water, without entirely Oh
structlug it, and by this means to cause the
sediment to be thrown down and de.
posted, forming proper slope to the
bank. AT intervals of about 100 feet brush
spurs will be constructed, extending from
this outer row of piles back to the levee. To
guard against and overcome the under action
of the water at the outer barrier, row of
piles at that point will be driven through
brush mattress to be sunk upon the bottom,
which will be Is feet wide, two feet in thick
ness, and running the entire 500 feet The
MATTRESS Will ne ufniy seWed togeeher Win
wire, and made upon barge anchored where
the barrier is to be placed. AS it is COM
pleted it will be paid out upon the bed of the
river at the appointed location, and weighted
down with stones, and the sharpened piles
driven through along its center This will
Immediately fill solid with sediment, and
withstand all underwriting about the new
structure.
The work is under the supervision of
Henry w. Wilson, resident engineer, and is
already well under way. The piles for the
levee bulkhead are being driven, and the
facines made ready for placing in position as
soon as the first row of piles are down. AS
many men will be employed as can be profit
ably engaged at the same time upon the vari-
GUS parts of the work.