Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-21

Terry went on MS bonds So we let him select
both contracts. The average bid on the abutnnent
was too high and the bid on the lumber too low
In the aggregate the contract was considered low.
Currer and others agreed to assist him in the work
by preparing the brush, etc. 1t was not DC ssib.e
for Ney to have done extra work, we reservipg the
right to stop work at any me- so to keep within
the limits OF the appropriation. Ney took the con-
tract in the city, and it was nearly completed when
the work was stopped. sent to Mayor Turner and
asked h m to have the city complete the work
that is, the levee work, think 200 feet, which was
agreed to and executed The order gwen to
stop work on the English break when it was so far
completed to be considered safe. The Board
made provision in the contract that it could add
and take from the work to be performed. The En-
gineer thought it best to extend the levee on the
English break 200 feet below the bridge This
agreement OF the management was more in regard
to the English break than anything else,
apprehend that all the trouble grew
out OF the feeling of Bryte against
Searles for stopping the work The other night in
giving his testimony Ney confused by the mode
OF questioning by the committee, or some other
cause, and made soma inaccurate statements The
contracts provided that IS per cent OF each months
work should be paid for and % per cent. be re-
served. Ney at the last meeting of the District
Board OF rectors had only received IS per cent OF
the amount OF work done. The duty of the State
Engineer is to prepare plans and submit these plans
to the Board, which it may adopt reject. The
fact is that most of them taken substantially as
recommended, and the Board let the contracts. The
Resident Engineer takes charge OF the work, and
before contractors can get pay the Resident En-
gineer has to make returns of the amount of
work done. Our rule has been to accept the lowest
bid. We never refused bid because he'd the
bidder to be irresponsible. All the work given out
has been divided into convenient sectors. It has
sometimes happened that one man would get 1t all,
because he the lowest bidder. The rule of this
Board has been of the strictest economy. Not
than $50 SIS has been paid for travelling and
incidental expenses. The same rule has been OBJ
served in the letting Of contracts. My opinion is
that there never was such large amount OF work
done in California with little lamapa There has
been substantially no injury done to the dam.
The north e. of tbs aba dam. where the
brush connects .ith the Ca IN or water has been
carried away. Tine Bear river, understand, is
settled, and some brush which piled on the dam
washed away and carried down the stream
which led to the reports that the dam bad broken
away / have 10 doubt but that the dams here and
at Marysve have effected the purpose for which
they wee constra-;si. There is a storage Il Y
in both the Yuba and Bear river dams for rs coo
cubic yards of earth. II was estimated ty Mr. Hall
that in the Bevr, Yuba and Feather rivers was
53,000,000 yards of debris Assuming the
Yuba to contain one half, there is here stor-
age for three years, for one-ffth per cent
of the total amount Of debris. The dam
can be raised to twice its hight and more than
double its capacity have not the slightest doubt
that it would thus prevent the gravel from coming
down. Ii the work had not teen done the effect
would have been to make the Bear and Sacramento
rivers leave their ch'nne's. The water in Bear
at highwater mark is twelve feet higher than
at Woodland At high-water max it would iuun-
would have left its channel had tnoi en- for this
work. The Feather will leave its channel if
gorged, ard rush down to Sutter county,
doing an incalculable amount of damage. As
natural consequence the Sacramento will also leave
its channel just as the old American. 1t would alb
solutely destroy navigation above knights Land
ing, and would do great damage. II the debris sys-
tenn be not perfected the Sacramento will flow
between here and Marysve until it has fall enough
to cut out channels, and this day is not
far distant: Thirty years ago the river at Marys
vile was thirty feet lower than it now is. At
point it $50 feet, that is increasing fall of
l20 feet in twelve or fourteen miles. When
the fall is quadrupled the velocity OF
the water is doubled, and with double
velocity its moving power is increased
sixty times Millions OF yards of earth would ave
been washed down the Feather river, and is sure
come down unless arrested. There is material
enough in the Yuba to gorge the Feather and Sac
ramento rivers. With the present facilities for hy
draulic mining, detrtus must increase very rapidly.
At the conclusion of his statement, Mr.. Parks
was oss- examined by the committeeman, and re-
piled to the following leading interrogatories
Question What would be the effect if the law
should be that the hydraulic mines should be com
PEELED to take of the debris?
Answer-It is | said enough would come
down to gorge the Yuba and Feather rivers.
Q.-Are you certain what it would cost TO keep
the dam you have spoken of
Al don't think that part of it alone will cost
Q-After hydraulic mining was stopped the min
ers would be compelled to take OF the debris
A.-Yes, ths material, because they eoud not find
room for it.
OFF hydraulic mining is stopped, what is there
to fill the Yuha river?
A.-The sand and gravel that is now in the river.
Q-Will not this expenditure of $4,000 make
the dam in the Yuba river large enough and strong
enough to hold II the waters in the liver?
A No; think not
Q-will your books show the amount expended
up to the present time?
A.-Yes.
Q.-And that viii include the cost OF the work
performed?
A.-Yes sir.
Q.-Have the residents along che river banks
taken contractsf
A.-No, sir, not always.
Q.-Who designated the place where this money
should be expended?
A-The State Engineer.
Q.-Were the Directors not allowed to de gnate
where the work should be done this year?
A.-No, sir, not at all
Q.-Was it not done to the benefit of the parties
you have mentioned, Boggs, Glenn and others
A-No, sir, tdoes not touch them.
Q.-Do you know the approximate amount Of the
outstanding indebtedness?
A.-No, sir; cannot say.
Secretary Coglan of the Board of Drainage
Commissioners called and examined relative
to the amount Of money due fo- work
perfo med, but not yet paid for. lie said he could
state for the reason that the progress estimates
of the several engineers had not yet been returned
to the Board. He stated the total volua-
tion of property belonging to the Drainage
Commissioners in the several counties to be
as follows: Butte, SO SOS, ,0CO 94; Colnsa, S17,-
s35, 773 Ell Dorado, 81 743,070 Nevada, 81 S64 S5s
Placer 6,4S95.S Plumas, S2, lo0,3o2 Sacramento,
$40 7G0 600; Sierra, 81 741, ,537; Solano $1SS II2
Sutter, So 200; Tehama, S. e27, ,36S Yolo, Sl2-
053, ,465 Yuba, s., ,040,3 1888,
The Chairman stated to the committee that the
district tax amounted to S50,53l: water tax, S5O-
III. Total district tax, Sl00,520. Grand total,
SS93 622 %.
Mr. Hall, who has previously been examined, was
called and gave some unimportant testimony rela-
.1aaf u ne
which the committee adjourned.
During the examination of the Secretary, Mr..
johnson, the Chlirman, manifested a desr of i'm
patience, remarking that he had not received the
information he expected end considered that the
committee had been trifed with
Mr.. Parks replied that himself and the Secretary
were willing at any time to give all the information
within their knowledge, but that the total amount
o. money due could not be ertained until the
gineers had returned their estimates. The Commits.
sion had arranged, however, SO that none Of the
contractors would expect to be.paid for any unul-
filed toEtrscts in the event OF the repeal OF the
present drainage law.