Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-09


Sacramento river. They do not draw 40 much
yater as did the Chrysopolis Capital Yosemite and
,ther vessels that formerly navirated its waters
The shoalng OF the river and the sand-bearng water
lows the steamers at least 80 per cent The vessels
ormerly were handled in the current much more
asily than at present. The pilot wheels OF the
tea1ners Apache and Modoc are handled with steam
lave seen the sand moving in shoals in the river
These shoals shift about from place TO place, and
sometimes R1ove half & mile in "a hours. The
teamers very often become grounded on those mov-
pg waters. The channel has been much better this
'ear than for some time past. The water for the
,ast four or five months has been comparatively
lear, and seemed to have more of cutting effect
lpon the sand deposits in the channel
Cross examination (by Mr. Catiin)-I don't think
hat steam is generally used in the management OF
blot wheels on river steamers. 1t is used in differ
mt ways in the management OF large steam vessels.
The water
COMPARATIVELY CLEAR THIS YEAB
During the months Of June, July, August and Sep
ember These moving bars and Jumps usually
ppeared after the fresbets. Last year high water
in December, Some years high water
during the month of November, and
ometimes not until January. The waters usually
einain high ur til June 1 have seen moving bars
4 the month OF July. They are often seen near
CORTLAND, Hollister, and in what we call the Long
Reach. On one trip you will see the river running
mooth IN certain plafe, and the next 1t will be
olling and boiling, aud nne of these moving bars
Ippear. This has the effect of shoalng the water.
lave not seen them moving with much rapIdity
Turing the month Of August. These bars, once in
notion, do not stop, but work themselves along
lown to Collinsvile and into the bay. Don't know
hat have seen the same sand at ColiinsviIie that
aw at Courtland, but have sand at that point
II the nature and character as that at Court
and and other points above. The boats, during
Ugh water have been sho4led on these bars and on
he trip the next day would be shoaled from a
quarter to half mile below, on apparently the
lme bar The boiling, turbulent condition of the
water on these shoals plainly indicated that they
we're rolling the sand and sediment down stream
The Wilson G. Hunt eould not carry as much freight
Is the Apache or Modoc. The steamers Senator
nd New World could carry more. / noticed
he first shoaligg in the Sacramento river in 1860
pilot can tell when he is in shoa water even when
lis boat does not touch the bottom. In 1853 oppo
lite o street, should judge there was an average
epth across the river at that time of twenty five
eet sounded the river opposite L street that
ear, and found that to be the depth there. |
ounded the stream at that time with pole |
lon't know of any place on the Yolo bank that had
o slight depth as twelve feet
W. S. MEsIcK
,worn-I reside in Sacramento and am sengascd in
arming about three miles below Sacramento city.
iy place consists OF $50 acres lies both sides Of
he Riverside roa1, and hasa frontage OF ,ot0feet Oh
he east bank OF tire Sacramento river. have
,nown this land intimately since 1S49. IL
las always been considered first class bot
ON land, and the soil clnsIsts OF black loan.
The land has become wet.er colder and less sus-
eptible Of high state of cultivation, owing 10 the
water coming nearer the surface caused by the fill
ng up of the bed of the Sacramento river. This
iliing up of the channel of the Sacramento river
las mostly been done during the last ten twelve
ears. Our levee originally was buit five feet high
II 1873 we added three feet more, and it has re-
eived subsequent additions The land in my
TO within half mile OF the cemetery,
md west Of the
RIVERSIDE ROAD,
s all land OF the character, and has from the
anne causes been similarly affected. Land that has
lIgher placement has escaped to a certain extent,
,ut the general body OF the land has suffered.
These lands were almost exclusively devoted to the
cultivation of vegetables and alfalfa prior to 1877
The cultivated portions OF heland along the Ri ersde
Dad were no injured in any way up TO that time At
PRESENT it is difficult to get in alfalfa soon enough to
ecure crop. There is upon all this land at the
present time but oae vegetable garden With the
Exception of that one piece, and few isolated
pots there is no land in this section that can be
cultivated to vegetables. There are probably sixty
cres in hops We have had several breaks in our
evees but at the present time they are all repaired
these breaks cannot be repaired during high water
The water coming through the breaks st my place
lows east and empties into the tules. This water
lso backs up to the city OF Sacramento. Prior to
SIS am not familiar as 70 what was the value OF
he land. In 1877 my land and similar adjoining
and was valued at from 500 to 500 per acre.
old some of my land in 1877 for $3.50 per acre Was
fered $3.50 for more, and
$500 PER ACRE
For the whole place. Last year offered nv place
or $50 per acre. but could not find purchaser
The Fern break is abOut quarter Of a mile below
ny place. OF the farms contained in Levee District
No. about twenty contain ever 100 acres but the
majority OF them are less than ferty in extent
md some less than twenty acres. This district
extends from Sacramento city to Freeport. The
freaks at my place, and also that at Ferns occurred
4 February this year. They set the water back
gainst the Ystreet leYee to depth Of from two to
en- feet, and covered the Riverside road until the |
after part Of April II covered the road for three
four days after the break was closed. The debris
eposited on our land from that br ak was a arse
'iite graz sand, destitute Of any material that |
-culd produce vegetation. A large amount Of the |
and deposits has been carted away to fiji in Low, |
laces BY the break OF 1873 wothirds Of the |
hole cemetery was under water. Last winter very
tile OF the occupied portion OF the cemetery was
undated.
Cross examination (by A. P. Catlin)-I bought |
lis farm that occupy in 1875 or 1876 In the fall
1877 went upon the farm and STAYED until the
flowing fai. have never lived there since. |
as in Virginia City for some time praetieing law
II. Poorman ran the farm my partner for great
any years. I was in Virginia City in 1864, 1866
I'D 1856. The cross-leves az
sUTrEavILLE
as first 1u 1t in 1853 or 1854 That leyee EXTENDED
ON the river TO sutterville. My place is situated
Bout mile below where that ievee was located.
iiS teVee was intended bOth IS q street and d pro-
.ction against back water | don't think that the
wee was ever broken. That levee still remains
I'd is used as road The Cause OF the depreciation
value of the land is mostly the damage done b,
page. With the bottom of the river in its present
lnditiun, could not levee against foo equal |
extent to that Of 1852 In what is called the
ecket, juet above Freeport there is n large extent
tule. | sold ten acres of my place for $3.50 per
re. \ limited deposit of sediment is advantageous
the soil. do nos know whether large deposit
he or rot ia |
the hop fields but | do not know their extent |
be low land of the cemetery has been frequently
-erlowed
Redirect examination Ito Mr.. Cadwaladerl-
1odgates in the Old sutterviile levee were placed
the tule channel. This tule channel lies next to
le high red land. The land on which live is
lrt Of the Sutter grant l was one of the pro-
-ietors of the town Of Sutteryille
CAPTAIN THOMAS DwYER
xorn-I have been navigating the Sacramen5 20
yer between this point and San Francisco contin-
Dusy since 1868. The river between the mouth of
lie American and Collinsvilie has filed up on an
'erage from twelve to sixteen feet. This filing up
the channel hes interfered with navigation TO a
-eat extent. Boats that formerly run on the river
I'd drew considerable water could not in the pres
1t condition OF the channel, come to this city at
/. Ships drawing nine feet Of water in early DAYS
me to Sacramento. The tide is now felt only as
r as Haycock shoals. There is tide visible at
liz city at present. have been Captain OF the San
1aquin steamers, Nos l and 2. Suisun Bav has
led up to depth OF twenty feet. The color Of the
aterisl is light and the deposit OF a sandy nature
Cross examination (by Mr. Cattn) II have been and
n now engaged as Captain and pilot en- San Joa-
iin, No. 2. There were some sholls when first
cyan 10 navigate the river. At that time was
lot on San joaquin, No. l. That vessel drew
1out four feet OF water. said the river had filed
an average of from twelve to sixteen feet. Ia
'me of the deep places It has filed up to depth of
Senty feet. | used to shchor IN Suisun Bay, east
Seal Islands, in lS6S. Since that time this place
as filed up about twenty feet.
JOHN H. CARROLL,
was one of the owners of large Touring
i'll about mile anoye the town of Folsom. 1t
as 100 feet square, five stories high, stood forty
70 feet above the river contained nine run Of
one had capacity of 400 barrels Of flour per day,
I'd cost $4,000. The waters of the food Of 1852
sc at this point TO hight OF sixty feet The drift
mber brought down from the mountains Knocked
OWN, and the. floods carried away the mil. The
1rrs were carried Ter long distance and depos-
ed on bar below.
B. y. BuGBgY
have lived at Folsom for the last twenty
ears From 1856 to 1859 lived in sight of Negro
ar Mining ceased, except few mining with
,ckers, ten years ago. Big Guch Bar was ex-
austed fifteen years ago. Main Flat Bar was
orked out more than eight years ago. [Tne wit
ess narsd the different bars along the river below
olson, describing them generally, and gave the |
ates when mining ceased at the different locations
hese samples of rock and sand collected at Negrs
ar, Horseshoe Bar, and just below the Branch |
tate Prison. The specimens o. washed stone |
rought in here is the character of the surface Of
le lower end ef Negro Bar. The sand specimens
-e portions Of the upper part Of Negro Bar
hese are from the new deposit on Negro Bar.
Here witness offered four specimens Of sand, and |
lie same was put in evidenced Chris. Lawscn's
line is near Folsom. have frequently seen the
ump CT that mine. l mined only about ten