Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-08

formerly did. We make fourteen stoppages
between San Francisco and Sacramento.
When the Chrysopolis was running. she only
had three or four stopping places on the en-
tire route The Nevada was lost in 1862.
The S. M. Whippls ran as an opposition
steamer for some time.
Re-direct ito MIR. Cadwalader)- Nc
vada went ashore oa the east bank of the
river, just below the Steamboat slough. She
filled with sand to such an extent that che
could not be raised. She was a large side
wheel steamer.
J. B. GREEN
Sworn-My occupation is that of fruit rails
ing and general farming. l came to Califor-
MIA in December, 1S49, and settled on Mer-
ritt's Island. where | now reside. When |
first beheld the Sacramento river in 1S49, it
was deep clear stream with high bluff banks.
The depth of the river at low water at my
place was twenty-five feet. The depth Of the
river was pretty much the same above and
below for some distance. The banks were
uniformly bluff from there to Sacramento
city. Below my place the banks of the river
were not so prominent l measured the depth
of the river two years ago at the same point,
at the same stage of water that did in 1852,
and fouod the river had retained its uniform
level bottom but had raised eleven feet. The
river at the same point had also widened
about 100 feet. The natural soil at my place
was a dark loan. have noticed that large
bars Of sand have formed in the river,
between my farm and Sacramento city For
the first ten years of my residence on Mer-
ritt's Island I noticed very little change in
the river channel. find by actual measure
ment that the river channel has during the
past two years filed up to the extent of
eighteen inches. These deposits have come
gradually, and latterly they have very much
increased. For the first fifteen years there
was but little filling noticed in the
river. At an early date the river was
navigated by very large class of steamers
and other vessels. I navigated the river for
about three feet of water. About quarter
of mile below my place there is bar
formed to the hight of the banks. At that
point the water in 1850 was thirty-three feet
deep. Have made measurements at the
wharf at
RANDALL's ISLANDS
At various times. Steamboat slough is about
four miles below my place. The slough is
quite crooked and about half as wide as the
old river. The current in Steamboat slough
was much more rapid than that in
the river. have seen ocean steamers navi-
eating this slough. at this tire I estimate
tie slough to be filed up at least one. half.
The slough in its present condition is not
navigatsd Hensley's slough is flied with
sand aud sediment Nest of the filing in
this slough is slickeEs Merritt Island is
about eighteen miles by land and twenty-five
by water from Sacramento city. 1t is eight
and three-quarter miles long. It lies on the
west side Of the river.
Cross examination tby A. P. Catlin)-Sut-
ter slough bounds the island on the south,
Il. L IL 4 L
is east of Randall Islaud. A levee was built
across Hensley's slough about eight years ago.
The water did pass through Hensley's slough
in early times Beaver slough put out from
Hsnsley's slough, and emptied into the tule.
The tule was generally filled by the plains
water and the backing up of the Moquelumne.
Randall Island lies east of Merritt, and
contains about four hundred acres AT
this point the witness was shown a map and
asked to locate certain islands and sloughs
I navigated the river two seasons in q small
sloop. between Sacramento City and my farm.
This vessel was small, carried only about ten
tons. used it in transporting the products
of my farm to the Sacramento market. I
mean by
OCEAN STEAMERS
Those vessels that came to California around
the Horn. The first important deposits ia
Hensley's slough were made there in 1860
Prior to that time schooners and steamers
navigated this slough. It was not so wide as
Steamboat slough, but had a great depth of
water. The frat shoaling and forming of
bars that 1 observed was in the years 1859 or
1860. Small levees were constructed in 1862
Redirect examination Ito Mr.. Hart)-Be-
fore the leveeing across Hensley's slough. the
slough had filed up with sand to depth OF
2S feet. In the summer season the slough
was dry. Hensleys slough in 1852 was 20
feet at low water. The filling continued clear
through the slough. The slough is two miles
in length.
JOHN sHAFFR.
Sworn. Direct examination (to Mr.. Cad
walader)- live on Brannan Island,
about forty miles from Sacramento
city. My house is about half a mile
mile from the mouth cf Steamboat slough
The island contains about 5000 acres. The
steamer Nevada was sunk about three
fourths of mile from my place. I settled
on Brannan Island in 1865 Prior to 1862
we cultivated that island without levees We
raised vegetables generally, and the sell pro-
duced abundant crops Since 1861, from my
place down to below RIO Vista, there has
been great changes in the river bed. It has
filed up nearly one-half; that is. one-haIf of
the original carrying capacity of the river has
been destroyed. In 1866 | sounded the river
in front of my house, during the month of |
October, and found sixteen feet OF water. |
This year | find at the same point only six |
feet. The fill opposite my place consists most |
ly Of heavy gray sand, and is from ten !
to twelve feet deep TIE native soil is very |
dark. 1t is very much the same as the soil |
along the banks near this city. In 1872 saw
the steamer Capital grounded in front of my |
place. She remained on the shoal an hour or |
so. The raising of the bed of the river chan
mel has had bad effect on the drainage of !
the island. It has also had the effect to de- |
stroy our orchards. The elevation of the |
water drives the alkalis contained in the soil |
to the surface, and renders the land less pro.
ductive The foods of 1881 destroyed our |
levees; they remain SO, and the island is |
mostly under water at this time.