Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-22
STATE ENGINEERS REPORT.
HISTORY OF TIE OPERATIONS OF THE
ENG.NEER'S DEPAR TMENT.
Valleys-Discharge of Streams
Debris Question.


transmit it to the Legislature. The report Of
the Engineer is made in several divisions,
treating the subjects submitted to him sever.
ally. It is an exceedingly able report,
eviiencing profound study of the matter in
hand, and as exhaustive treatment as was
possible in the time afforded Mr.. Hall and
his assistants to gather data and make obser-
vations. It will, when given fully to the
public, be found to be of the deepest interest,
treating as it does upon topics of great mo-
ment. 1t was expected that the report, SO
far as fled, would have been transmitted to
the Legislature yesterday, and the outline
sketch of Part l., presented herewith, was
prepared and placed in type with that ex-
pectation. For mechanical reasons the pub
LEGATION of the synopsis is made now. At an
early day the full text of MIR. Halls valuable
paper will be given in these columns.
Part |. embraces history OF the operations
of the Department. The objects of the work
the Engineer has held in view have been:
First-Solution of the problems of drainage
in the great valley of the State for the recla-
nation of lands, and the improvement of
rivers in the future for navigation.
Second-The solution of the debris prob
lem, so-called, that means may be suggested
for the protection of agricultural lands from
mining detritus, and relief of the rivers from
the burden of sediment brought into them.
Third-The solution of the irrigation prob
lens.
DRAINAGE.
He holds that to perfect the rapid drainage
of valley is to prevent the uncontrolled in
undation of its plains. A perfect system is
~
tenn of q large city; that levee in a river is
but side of a drain which forms part of q
system more complicated in It's parts than any
sewerage works ever can be; that all works
for rapid drainge tend directly to prevent
overflow of the alluvial plains, yet there is al
ways much to be done in accomplishing this
end which is not designed directly for the pro-
lection of any particular part of the lands ::
that while the construction of levee may
not be essential to the land Immediately be-
hind it, yet it may render thousands of acres
far below productive and fertile that facili-
tating rapid drainage in one part Of a river
may be a great relief to the land above, yet
the immediate result may be an overthrow of
protective works on the lower river. While
the efficiency of all natural drains may be
greatly enhanced, a partial treatment Of them
may produce disaster.
As the experienced physician who under
stands the constitution of his patient, and
knows where to look for the seat of the dis
ease and how and where to apply the rem
edy, SO the engineer, who has had the oppor-
tunity of feeling the pulse and studying the
parts of great drainage system, learns of its
defects and can shape a treatment for their
correction.
He maintains that, because there is lack of
thorough study made Of these matters, and
because engineers are called on to give opin-
ions and design works without data to guide
them or proper power to inform themselves
and fortify their positions-because of these
things, there is failure. In his opinion works
for protection from overflow in California
have generally failed and millions of dollars
have been expended and lost. He sets forth
the fact that in selling swamp lands on con-
dition of reclamation, the State has set up
the owner of one swamp tract against the
owner of another, and all efforts to harmonic
and achieve general success have failed, and
now tracts formerly above overflow are
becoming subject to annual submersion, be-
cause, in great measure, of the effects of
works constructed for reclamation Of lands
sold BY the State to be reclaimed.
RAPID DRAINAGE
It is cleaned from Mr.. Halls report that
the State, through her Engineer Department,
has undertaken to collect the data necessary
to shape the works designed to accomplish
the end Of rapid drainage, and to this end his
study has been to place the solutions of the
problems in hand upon the highest plane
He considers the nature of the foods, vol
ume of discharge, combination Of Volumes and
sets out how the same have been studied, and
also the natural capacity Of the drainage
channels and the effect of artificial construc
tons in increasing or augmenting their capac-
ity. He explains how the progress of the
food wave has been measured, and the vol
ume ascertained, and the approved methods
employed to these ends.
On the debris problem he reports upon all
those questions submitted to him by the law,
and gives the result of his observations con-
corning the relation of hydraulic mining to
river navigation; flow of debris into the
rivers; the threatened damage to adjacent
lands and will consider plans for preventing
the injury resultant upon the flow of detritus
into the streams, without interfering with the
working of the mines.
IRRIGATION.
Irrigation next engages his attention, and
the peculiar characteristics presented by each
irrigation section, by reason OF topography,
geological formation or climatic influence,
considered, as we'll as the character of crops
to be raised in the various sections, and the
differences in soil, and the consequent neces.
sity for different methods of applying the
water, and the variations necessary as to the
amount of water 10 be applied. He points
cut how much depends upon adjustment of
methods and on management in distributing
the waters, and the like necessity for prac-
tical knowledge concerning irrigation on the
part of irrigators. He claims that from
comprehensive view of the practice, and an
extended study of the details of all the cir
cumstances surrounding irrigation in differ
ent sections, alone can just conclusion be
arrived at as to the best methods and means
to be employed He will hold that irrigation
is essentially an art, but one which is much
abused and often degraded to mere process
to answer selfish ends and suit personal
prejudices. He knows he says, of no IL
stance where cultivators by irrigation have
yet voluntarily brought the use of water to
near its highest standard, and even in old ir-
rigation districts it requires, he says, constant
vigilance to prevent waste.
USE OF WATER.
In using water each cultivator using is op-
posed to his fellow. If every man could have
all the water he wants and when he wants it.
there would be little difficulty, for wherever
this could be irrigation would not be neces-
sity. In his report he considers the question
of water supply ia different localities accord
ing to season, and the question of the settle
ment of differences between claimants in the
distribution of water, and the attainment of
that desirable end, the use of the water of the
State for the greatest advantage of the whole
community. MI. Hall states unhesitatingly,
and has all along held that the State has been
in error in permitting general appropriation
of the waters OF streams, and that it
has resulted in waste, in trouble and
ia litigation and unhealthy contests, for
no checks had been provided as to appropria-
ton or diversion, and no vigilance exercised
as to proving up claims, or compelling show
of compliance with the law, while there
seems to have been no recognition CT what is
an economical use of water. With a view to
light on these points the work Of the En-
gineer has been specially prosecuted and data
gathered which will be given in full, and
must prove of great interest in considering
the sources of water supply, irrigable area,
practical results of irrigation, etc.
FIELD OF oBsERvAT IS.
The chief fields in which observations have
been made are the Sacramento and San Joa-
auin valleys-the former being subject to
great foundations annually on lands where
has been attempted, the latter
being similarly afflicted, in less degree, in
the lower portions of the valley.
The two valleys joining at one outlet, their
rivers having a common delta and opening
to the bay, have afforded the problems OF
IL