Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-02-07
THE RIVER.
Effects of the Flood Destruction of Prop
erty Amounting to Millions
of Dollars.

Of Dollars.
The Relief Committee from the Legisla
ture, which went down the river with the
steamer Enterprise on Saturday morning. re-
turned the same evening. The trip down was
made by way of CORTLAND, thence down Old
river to Walnut Grove, between Grand and
Andrus Islands, past Lsletop, Rio Vista and
Emmaton, distance below Sacramento OF
sixty miles, and coming back by way Of
Steamboat Slough. They report the suffer
ing as having been great among the people
along the river and sloughs by reason of the
food, but they had been provided for before
their arrival by small boats from different
points, with which they were taken to the
regular steamers. They found that the lower
river country was quite well provided with
means of transportation for the removal OF
stock which was still remaining.
Assemblyman j. E. Baker Of the commit
tee states that the entire country bordering
upon the river, from Sacramento City to the
mouth OF the Sacramento river. is one vast
scene of water and desolation houses foated
away, stock drowned, orchards destroyed,
and the fruits of almost a lifetime blasted,
and the prospective tax.rOlls of Sacramento,
Yolo, SolanO, San Joaquin and Contra Costa
counties reduced many millions Of dollars.
Hundreds of the best citizens are made bank
rupt, and not only unable to resume the work
of reclamation, but many of them will have
to be aided until the water has receded. and
until they can raise crop. Many Of them
have lost their all.
No people were found exposed to imme-
1. I u,
although many houses were seen that had
been deserted and others destroyed The
committee found that the different steamboat
companies were doing allin their power tosav
the property of these people, and that they
could render no assistance by retaining
the steamer which they had chartered, and
hence they released it. Mr.. Baker says that
along the Sacramento river, upon both sides
from this city to Suisun bay, ne thinks
there is
NOT SIX ACRES OF LAND OUT OF WATER,
Including all the little garden spots in front of
houses which stand upon artificial mounds.
The little mounds in front of residences
along the river upon which there had been
bestowed a great deal of care ia planting
shrubbery and ornamental trees, are now &C.
cupied by cattle and hogs as the only place
where they can stand to keep from drowning
AZ CGUdJpE pOuiStOl ltSAtEIC6 THERE Is u
very bad break, directly in front of his house.
The water is pouring in a perfect torrent,
and strikes against the side of the mound
upon which his house is built, and rendering it
very liable to be cut away aud mis- house and
buildings destroyed. There are scarcely any
levees left from this city to Suisun Bay. At
CORTLAND there is only one hotel and store
left standing, and it is only with considerable
care that the wharf has been retained. From
CORTLAND to Walnut Grove the water was
almost unobstructed over the levees and into
the fine orchards which are now standing in
three to FIVE feet of water A DOR
ton of the buildings upon the prem
Uses of the late John V. Sharp have been.
carried away. The levees upon Andrus
and Brannan Islands are nearly all gone.
The town of IsletOn is under water, the
wharf is submerged TO a depth of two and
one-half feet and the town to depth of four
or FIVE feet. Mr. Baker thinks a heavy wind
at present, from almost any direction, would
utterly
DESTROY THE TOWN WITHIN TWELVE HOURS.
AT Zeile's Landing the wharf is the only
thing above water, and that is but Just in
sight. This was covered with teams, wagons
and farming implements belonging to Mr.
Baker and his partner. The water was run
ming rapidly through the levee underneath
the wharf, and the whole trembled under
influences of the current and was liable to go
out at any time.
At Elimination the extensive levee improve
ments made last Summer are all swept away
ana the entire island is filed level with the
tops of the levee.
Mr. Baker found. upon arriving at his
home, that three families had taken up
quarters at his house, their own homes hav-
ing been carried away or in danger. The
large warehouse at Emmaton is in a pre-
carious condition and likely to go at any
time.
All the lower part of Rio Vista is under
water. The warehouse of Johnston & Emigh
has sunk out of position, and the grain has
been removed to schooners. Upon Grand
island the levees for distance Of some seven
miles from the lower end are entirely gone,
and over all of the island except small dis
tance back of the levee at the upper end, the
water is level with the river. A body of
water from Cache slough some three miles in
width pours across Steamboat slough with a
fall of from Il to is inches, stopping the cur
rent in Steamboat slough and forcing the
water across Grand island, and then across
Old river and Andrus island, and thence
into the San Joaquin river. There is no
current in Steamboat slough except this cross
current, and it is the opinion of Mr., Baker
that this volume running across from Cache
slough over to Andrus island has caused a
backing up of the water at this city of from
two to three feet in hight. The wharf at
Walkers Landing is floating, and a portion
Of the large store and hotel is destroyed.
From that point TO this city on the west side
of the river as far as the eye can reach it is
one immense waste Of water and destruction.
Many farm-bouses have disappeared, to-
gether with other buildings, fences and trees,
! and not a square foot Of land is TO be seen
except here and there a small artificial
mound, upon which some of the houses have
been built.
CONDITION ABOVE THE CITY,
The steamer Governor Dana went up the
river about eight miles, Saturday night, to
! Cowles ranch, for eighty head Of cattle be-
! longing to Odell s. Sons, butchers Of this city,
and also brought down several horses belong
ing to Sheehan Bros.
The Cowles ranch is one of the highest or
most elevated of any along the river, but is
entirely submerged with the exception of a
small plot in front of the house and immedi
ately along portion Of the Ievee. The levee
in front of the ranch remains yet unbroben,
and the stock was driven upon the steamer