Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-08
DEBRIS.
SEVENTEENTH DAY OF THE sLICKENs
CASE IN COURT.

osFhH lhhsIa LAY VI THE SLlCkENS |
CASE IN COURT.
Interesting Testimony Regarding the River
Islands and the Bay Of San
Francisco.
The slickens case-The People of the State |
of California. vs. the Gold Run Ditch and
Mining Company-was resumed yesterday at
$50 A. H. in Department Two of the Superior
Court, Hon. Jackson Temple presiding.
Direct examination of Captain Eaos Fou.
ratt continued Ito Mr.. Cadwalader)-I have
noticed the sand moving in the river at diff
ferent times. was Captain of the Cora
when she was sunk in the Sacramento river.
Within two weeks from the time she was
sunk 200 tohs of sand was deposited between
her decks. We were nearly month in rails.
ing the Cora from her sunken position. If it
were not for the sand deposits she could have
been raised in less time, and with much less
expense. The sand and sediment in the
water retards the speed of steamers, and
where waters are shallow their steering ia
difficult. The
MODoC AND APACHE
Are as large steamers as can navigate the
Sacramento in its present condition at low
stages of water. These steamers are 200 feet
long and have breadth of 80 feet. The Ell
in Steamboat slough in some places must be
ten feet deep. The Capital, Chrysopols and
boats of that size formerly passed through
that slough, but latterly it has not been con-
sidered navigable for water craft of any con.
siderable size. A large bar near Mr.. Merklev's
in the Sacramento river, occupying one-third
| of the river channel, was washed out and car.
ried down stream last summer. 1 think the
washing out Of that bar was owing to the
clearness of the rivers water. The water is
| always clearer at low stages than it is during
foods. a large sloop was sunk many years
ago near the Hogs Back, and she lies there
day covered with sand. / do not rernem-
ber her name. She was about 100 feet in
length. and had about 20 feet depth of hold.
Schooners of the sizs formerly used on the
Sacramento river could not navigate It's wa
| ters at present. The
SACRAMENTO AND HAsKINs
| Are the only schooners that are engaged in
| the lumber trade at this time between Sacra-
mento and San Francisco. The Haskins is a
| scow schooner, and when loaded draws
about five feet of water.
Cross-examination (by w. q. Belcher)-'
Before came to California was engaged as
pilot on the Hudson and Raritan rivers.
| went to Marysville in 1858 or 1854 on the
steamer Bragdon. In 1850, for a short time,
I sailed the schooner Chesapeake on the Sac
| ramento river. About thirteen years ago
went some distance up the Sacramento river
on pleasure trip. / cannot recollect the
| tonnage of the McKim she was large yes-
sci, and on her first trip up the river in May,
1850, she drew about eight and a half feet of
| water. The Geld Hunter was vessel of
about 200 tons (; she was small coast steamer
| After leaving this coast she went to Australia.
| The New Werld was built for river naviga.
| tion. The Enterprise is vessel of about 125
! tons. and when | was her master she was
| plying between San Francisco and Sacra-
| mento. She has been running on the river
| off and on for the last ten years. The Julia
has been running about fifteen years. Do not
know exactly how long the Flora has been in
use on the river. The
SENATOR AND CAPITAL
Were not exclusively freight steamers. The
Senator began running on the river before nv
arrival in this State. The Capital ceased
making trips on the river in 1871 At that
time the California Psci6c Company owned
that steamer. Wheat barges have been
| in general use since that time. The steam.
ers themselves carry large amount of grain.
Rarhong WI vN-th hIrHS Of he xrrhao
ported on the river is carried on barges
La 1871 merchandise freight by steamer was
| 81 80 per ton. At the present time freight
by steamer between those points is 81 80 Der
| ton. The Hogs Back has from the earliest
days been an impediment to navigation. The
Hogs Back is about five miles above the
mouth of Cache slough Beaver slough
enters the river just below Hogs Back.
Mr.. Belcher-Is not the whole of Grand
Island product of sediment in the river?
Objected to by Mr.. Hart. and objection |
sustained
Witness continuing / first knew |
the river there was a shcal at Haycock's. |
This shoal extended across the river. The |
first time that these shoals caused trouble
was in 1862 In early days, at low stage of
water, the depth of water on these shoals was
about fifteen feet. l noticed sediment in the
river as early as 1854. AT that time the
water in the Sacramento river was very much
discolored. At low stage of water the sedi-
ment at Hogs Back is mostly black sand.
HOGS BACK
Is eighteen miles above the San JOAQUIN
river. About ten miles below the Hogs
Back there is what they called Three Nile
slough, connecting the San Joaquin and Sac
ramento rivers. The river when I first came
to the State was as clear and beautiful
stream as ever beheld. In early days you
A. IL. 1
present you can see it from the boats very
plainly. l have seen black sand in consid.
cradle quantities at Haycock shoals. In 1871
| was Captain and pilot the Yosemite,
and grounded on these shoals. l do not recol-
lect having any trouble on those shoals dur
ing the year 1864. never have noticed the
black sand below the Hogs Back. The char
acter of the deposit in the bay is grayish
mud, mixed with gray sand. The main. chan
mel of
SAN PABLO BAY
In 1853 was from eleven to twelve fathoms
deep. Now l find by sounding in the same
channel only five or six fathoms. These
soundipgs were made in the main ship chan
mel off Penola Point Napa creek comes in
by Vallejo. | run in and out there every
day. have been up Napa creek as far as
s quel. 1 never have hove the lead near |.
South Vallejo. The water near the mouth /
OF Napa creek HaS d uepGn OF ABOUT tnlrGy- |
five feet. Ths channel at the mouth OF the |
creek has. within my recollection, narrowed |
considerably I find this filling continues
about he same to San Fra SEQ. The filing
in of the main channel at the Two Brothers |
is about fifteen feet. at Pablo Point the fill. |
ing is not quite so much. At
ANGELS ISLAND
The filing is about feet deep. The filling |
in the neighborhood of Two Brothers is q |
kind of grayish black sand The bottom eff |
Penola Point in former times was a kind of |
dark mud. AT the present it is dark sedi- |
| ment, mixed with gray saad first noticed |
the island in San Pablo begin to form in 1860 |
and 1861. This portion of the bay was |
originally shoally. In 1850 l made no exam. |
ination as to the material of the shoals in |
Suisun hay. The sub channel cat through |
there about the year 1855. The water of its |
own motion cut this channel that year to |
depth of about s feet. Since then it's depth |
has increased to 10 feet. Before coming to |
California l navigated the Hudson, Della |
ware. Raritan and other Eastern rivers For |
the last two years, owing to the opposition on |
the river. freights are less than ever before.
Redirect examination Ito Mr.. Cadwal- |
ader)-Freight formerly loaded on steamers !
at P. NJ. at San Francisco arrived at Sacra- |
mento at 2 A. NJ. It takes steamer with |
harpe t0.r trUaptx-.four bo,,rs - ,aol-o