Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-02-01
THE GREAT FLOOD.
Highest Water Ever Known-Breaks in the
Lower Levees-River Falling.

The great food was the main topic OF inter
est ia the city and vicinity yesterday n
rain has fallen since the previous report, bu
the waters from the upper valleys havereache'
this point, and the waters which were regard
ed as high on Sunday were exceeded yester
! day morning, when the river reached tn
/ highest point ever known, marking on tn
gauge at the foot of K street 26 feet and
/ inch. The wharf at the foot of K street wa
thronged throughout the day, as vel
as were the river banks and tn
bridge. The water came upon the railroat
track at the K-street Landing, which wa
never seen before. The wharf was also sub
merged below the bridge, and the river mad
level area from the top of the wharf OF
this side to the top of the levee on the other
The water was full of floating food wood
and the current was extremely rapid. River
captains stated that it would register eight
knots an hour. The water still invaded tbs
Pioneer Mills so that work has not yet beer
resumed there. although no damage has beer
done. At the police headquarters the water
was still higher, standing six inches deep or
the floor. and the prisoners and office are
nc ~ III SBt ecCOHu STORY.
THE CITY Levers SAFE AND SOUND.
No water whatever has come ever or
through the city levees, and the city is en-
tiTely safe. The surface water has mostly
disappeared. and from inside the city no one
would know that food was passing at the
door. In fact, so little Of it is appreciated or
realized, except when going to the river front,
that person jocularly remarked yesterday
rtsL Ill Cd =,
Law the dust in the city. The river last even
ing had fallen nearly two inches, and unless
further rains soon take place, the high water
will have passed and damages caused to levees
can be easily repaired. All the levees are
being patrolled and every precaution taken
for safety and against any possible danger.
DOWN THE RIVER.
AT an early hour yesterday morning news
was received that what had been feared more
than all else had happened, the levee had
broken below the city some three and half
miles. A representative of the RECORD
UNION started early to investigate. Going
out that heretofore beautiful drive, the River
side road, he noticed just beyond the colgate
unusual quantities of water on each side of
the road. At the crossing of the drainage
canal the water was found to be flowing up
stream-toward the city. 1t was then certain
that the lower levees had given away. Push
ing on to the Halfway House sipage was
seen oozing through the levee, and running
in streams across the road. Here tie levee
had Is inches to spare still before the waters
would overtop it. In front of the stable the
water dubbed up from a gopher hole, and a
looking man was prodding with
shovel to find "where the cussed thing led
to, but gave up the job, and the water kept
pouring through. This was fully % feet
from the levee. Back of the stable further
evidences of the work of
THE CHEERFUL GOPHER
Were seen in the swelling water rising from
another hole, and no one seemed to be
to it, taking any steps to check the
gradual undermining of the levee. At SUIT
terville the waters were first seen flowing up
the road At Poorman's house the high water
cut further advance. From there the whole
bottom could be seen gradually filling up
with water. Stock was being gathered in
and driven to the high land or to the city,
and the people were to be seen hastily col
Letting household goods and making for Sac
Farmers were striving to drive
sheep through the waters, and urging cows
and calves up the road. Some stock could
not be got out, and some sheep were swept
off and drowned. Taking to the levee prog
ress was made dry shod toward the break
which was seen in the outer levee, at the
lower end of Mesick's large field and south
west from his barn and house about a quarter
Of mile.
THE BREAK
Took place at midnight, and was 200 feet
wide. At 4 A II. a second section Of the
levee gave way about 800 feet below the first
break. The waters from these breaks swept
across to the inner or old levee, half a mile
inland, and soon carrying that weak defense,
poured in upon the bottom lands, running
both towards the pocket and the city. This
cut off all land communication with the Dole
place aad other points further down the river.
AN IMPORTANT FACT
Was elected from Mr. Mesick which should
be remembered. Where the breaks have
aiken place, the natural bank of the
liver for 800 feet either side the
breaks is % feet above low water mark.
This bank had, by reason Of willows checking
he current, been added to year by year, and
N its level, but 800 feet back, was built the
AIesick levee, that which broke, and which
was but about four and half feet high, and
at some points only three and half feet.
This same levee broke in 1873, when that at
Lovedau's ranch gave way, but while the
water poured through the latter long time,
IS it was on the very edge OF the bank, the
former ceased to carry water as soon as the
river fell to % feet, and the owners immedi-
ately built it up, and it has stood ever since
At the Lovedtll break in 1878 the river poured
over its bank into the bottom land and washed
out d great hole. At the Mesck break it
runs in on the shelf of land in front of it, and
has little fall, little wash, and the water,
even now, Is not very deep in the line of the
new current. 1t is held therefore that
AS SOON as THE RIVER RECEDEs
To % feet, there being no hole or channel
secured out on the natural bank because of
The shelf referred to, the water will cease to
pass through and the gap may be closed with
sand bags and earth. This theory being as
3umed to be correct, the break is in no wise
20 serious as that at Lovedall's in 1873, and
District No. l may be free of water inside of
fortnight. Returning up the levees bad
,0pher hole was found a mile this side the
main break, and the water could be heard
unnipg through the base of the levee. Some
fforts had been made to dig down and find it,
)ut had been abandoned. 1t was stated last
evening that work was resumed on it and
The Lovedall repaired levee was
ouud to be all standing, but soft. At the
upper end a bad gopher tunnel wss found
opened up by a ditch cut down through the
evee.
THIS GOPHER BORER
Had entered the base of the leyee on the in
ide, run his drift to the center Of the bank,
md then bored for thirty feet along the levee,
md thence toward the river. Messrs Flint
md Merkley. with strong force of men,
we're at work here, and at IL O'clock
lad effectually repaired the damage.
It was plainly evident that the whole
ire of levee is too narrow. 1t should be
vide enough to allow safe sinking of bitches
n cuttings clear through and down the cen.
;er, leaving an outer wall sufficient to sustain
he river pressure while repairs go on. Be-
ween Grundoui's, where the work last re-
erred to was done, and Y street, two places
we're found where water was coming in
through what appeared to be gopher holes
Word was sent at once to Commissioner
Merkley concerning these, also to the City
Trustees, as one was so near the Y-street
.ity levee as TO make it of interest to the
,ity to have it closed. Along Y street
evee or cross-dam, which
SHUTS SACRAMENTO OFF
From all back waters on the south, the grade
vas found to be in good order 1t is not
eve Ike the great north embankment, but is
,road, has roadway ON top, and has
lad two years growth of Bermuda
,rass on its slope. 1t is equal TO any demands
It all likely to be made on it. The drainage
anal pas es under this levee from Sixth
treet, and yesterday afternoon was closed
Ia, wall of sand tags built up around the
,rifce. Pumps are at once to be rugged, and
he city drainage will be cast out over the
evee. Further east, at Sixteenth street,
where Burns slough passes through the
Y-street levee, no barriBg Of its stream