Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-26
SCIENCE VERSUS ~commoN.sEnsE."

to say that it ignores all the researches
and conclusions of science IN the premises,
and talks as though there existed no means
of ascertaining anything about it authori-
tatively. and as if the haphazard guesses
of those who had never studied the sub. |
ject were entitled to Just the same respect |
and consideration as the cautious and we'll |
grounded views Of the engineers who have
spent years in its investigation. Our con-
temporary has in this peculiar mode Of IN
quiry stumbled upon what it evidently re-
CARDS as very intelligent theory of tidal
action upon the sedimentary deposits of
the rivers. 1t remarks "No one will
"question but (sic) the plans Of en-
''giueers can increase the velocity and
" carrying capacity of the streams leading
into the bay But it has not been shown
'how these improved channels and iu-
creased currents are to be continued
Through the sixty miles of tide-water
"between the point where the incoming
90 tide meets the river streams and the
"Pacifc Ocean. Here the Gail gives a
fresh proof of its singular neglect of the
available authorities on the subject. That
which it so unhappily alleges "has not
''been shown, has, as matter of fact,
been shown. The engineers who were
intrusted with the debris problem did not,
as the Call seems to think, forget to ex-
anime into the relation of the tides to the
subject. On the contrary, they investi
gated that matter fully, and had cur con-
temporary studied their reports, as it was
in duty bound to DO before undertaking a
discussion Of this kind, it would have dis
covered that its notion in regard to the
action OF the tide upon the sediment
is neither more nor less than what is
called "mare's nest.
Captain Eads, in his report to Governor
Perkins, thus deals with the subject Of the
Calls groundless apprehensions Gas
90 large areas of shoals, which are now more
81 or less exposed at low water. must, as a
result of the correction of the river,
necessarily be built up to very nearly
''the hight of the natural banks by the de.
"posits which will be received from the
shallow channels, and as many deep pools
" existing below the sand-bars in the mar
ROW parts OF the river will be filed with
80 the bar material removed, there is no &C.
'casion to fear that the rectifcation of the
river will materially increase the amount
''of deposit occurring in the bays in the
slower part of the river. In the slow
process of nature, uncontrolled by art,
"Suisun Bay would gradually be reduced
I" to the width of the river proper, and the
ebay of San Francisco would, in turn,
undergo similar change. But it should
'be remembered that it is the maximum
"tides and floods which determine the
magnitude of sedimentary channels.
&c Hence the rapid drainage Of the raUeg,
"Jy increasing tie force Of the floods, soW
''promote the discharge Of the sediment
''snto tie ocean. for Il ,oN aid the tidal
"octioa in keeping 1t suspended sHtd tie
''greater part Of It Is finally discharged
"Here. The sediment left in the water
"after the construction of the proposed
''works for arresting the mining detritus,
twill settle much more slowly than that
(which now flows down, and must make
the injury to the bays very slow and
remote occurrence"
The same distinguished engineer in an
other part OF his report says that the
onward and outward flow of the tides
twill create aad maintain a channel in
proportion to the maximum volume and
slope of the ebb tide passing through the
g channel. And as the depth
"and width of the river channel Increase,
!" the tidal water will enter with less fric-
90 tional resistance, and the volume of the
"ebb will be proportionately greater.
Therefore, as the improvement of the
clover part of the river channel pro-
| crosses, the force of the tidal action will
"increase, and aid in maintaining such
capacity as the combined influence of
the river floods and tidal action, under
ga better system of drainage, will create.
The Call will perceive from these citations
that the engineers did not forget all about
the action of the tides, as it supposed, but
that they investigated that subject quite
thoroughly. Our esteemed contemporary
will also, we trust, observe that when
common-sense is opposed to science, it
is very apt to be wrong, particularly when
the word is used to designate ignorant
guessing at matters which cannot be un-
derstood without patient study and ex-
pertinent.
We could multiply references to the re-
ports OF the engineers on this subject, for
they have discussed it quite fully, though
they did not arrive at the conclusions which
cur contemporary has reached by ignoring
all aids to an intelligent judgment. The
fact is that the purpose OF the engineers was
to devise scheme which should remove
the dangers and evils growing out of hy-
drauhc mining. without creating any new
dangers and evils. They never thought it
permissible to relieve the Sacramento val
ley at the sacrifice of the harbor of San
Francisco. They sought to benefit the
whole State, and as they were engaged in
complicated and extensive undertaking
they took care to leave none of the factors
unexamined. The Cal, having started
with the crude idea that there was nothing
in the engineering plans but system of
brush dams, is gradually learning that
it has great deal more to learn. 1t must
not, however, venture too boldly TO set its
peculiar common-sense conjectures
against scientific conclusions, and if its real
purpose is to enlighten its readers it will
certainly have to devote itself to self.in-
struction as preliminary. To those who
have conscientiously informed themselves
on the debris question it is not necessary to
say that if the engineering plans had been
carried out fully, the problem would have
been solved in the most certain and salts
IL I