Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-04
THE REPORT OF THE STATE ENGINEER.


fortify the position taken by this journal
in regard to the policy of the future. We
shall not recapitulate the statements of the
State Engineer, for theyexplain themselves,
We must, however, point out that his
labors have convinced him of the absolute
necessity of dealing with the drainage,
irrigation and debris questions as whole,
and have persuaded him of the futlity
of any partial OF piecemeal attempts
to obtain relief from the dangers
which threaten the State. In regard to
the overshadowing debris question, he has
no hesitation in expressing the opinion
that it will be useless to attempt to deepen
the channels of our rivers until the flow of
sand from the mines has been cut off, As
to the practicability of this as an engineer
ing problem he has no doubt He believes
that it can be accomplished in such way,
moreover, as not to interfere with n.y.
draulic mining, and at a reasonable outlay.
In expressing views upon the financial con-
siderations involved, it appears to us that
Mr.. Hall has overstepped the limits of his
jurisdiction, however. 1t was no part of
his duty to make suggestions as to how the
expense of any relief system might or
should be met, and as in discussing this
subject he is entirely outside of his pro-
fessional character, it is obvious that his
remarks ON this head are superfluous and
without weight With this exception the
report must be regarded as highly salts
factory and painstaking, and though it may
be said to do no more then clear the
ground for future work, it marks out the
line of action so plainly that the Legisla-
ture, State or National, can hardly fall into
serious error in following it's indications.
The main conclusion to be derived from
this preliminary survey is that the State
must take upon itself the direction and
control of large and comprehensive sys-
tenn of drainage, reclamation, irrigation,
and relief from debris, and that the neces-
sary work cannot be done in any other
way.
1t will be seen that the report vindicates
the soundness of the policy heretofore ad-
vocated in these columns, embracing the
proposition of Commission, consisting of
a Financial and Executive Board, and an
Engineering Department. The necessity
of treating the subjects involved as parts of
an harmonious system is here clearly es-
tablished, and the inference to be drawn
from this conclusion is that whatever is
done by the State must be done as tending
toward the completion of a comprehensive
scheme. Such scheme must demand the
employment of Board of Engineers,
whose duty it shall be to arrange the best
methods of practical procedure, and whose
plans when completed shall be submitted
to an Executive Board, itself empowered
to accept or reject these plans as
a whole, and if accepting them, to
apply the financial machinery which
the Legislature may provide for raising the
necessary funds. With the adoption of
such general system the progress of relief
and drainage and irrigation works would
be practically assured, and the strongest
guarantees for efficiency and economy
would be obtained. The report of Mr..
Hall proves conclusively that any partial
measures of relief are sure to fail in the
future as they have done in the past.
There is no escape from the necessity of
dealing with all the subjects treated of
together, and to know that this is the only
practical course is in itself great gain 1t
is not less clearly demonstrated that the
State must act energetically in the prem
ises, for it is made apparent that the mis-
chievous and destructive processes now in
operation are steadily and surely leading
up to catastrophe of the first magnitude,
and that only vigorous and timely remedial
action can avert it. Our rivers are
becoming not only unnavigable, but
sources of increasing danger. Our farming
lands are being ruined. Our bays and
harbors are being filled up. Our interior
cities are exposed to the risk of inunda-
ton, and our most fertile valleys to devas-
tating torrents. To resist these evils and
dangers broad and statesmanlike policy
must be adopted The situation requires
liberal and far-seeing treatment. 1t is not
question for the display of small and mar
row obstructionism. Before this session
closes the Legislature ought to have put
the whole issue in course of adjust
ment, and the State Engineers report fully
justi6es the assertion that this will have to
be done, no matter what the expense, I'M
less the people are prepared to accept the
inevitable alternative of sacrificing scores
of millions of property, and abandoning
the richest portions of the State to destruc-