Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-09-10
TEE FREEPoRT LEVEE AND THE CUES
TON OF DRAINAGE.


-e -
TEE FREEPoRF LEvEE AND THE CUES
TON OF DRAINAGE.
Should the Supreme Court sustain the
constitutionality of the Drainage Act, the
Drainage Commissioners have declared
their intention of charging and repairing
the leyee to Freeport. The line of that
levee is located in accordance with the gen.
eral plans for correcting and maintaining
the channel of the Sacramento river. 1t
is, therefore, in accord with economy to
preserve that line already built by raising
and Strengthening it. Should that meas.
ure fail we have reason to believe that the
city of Sacramento will not again extend
aid to that work. The RECORD UNION
has always been an advocate of
maintaining that defense against
foods from the south, and does not
now see any reason for changing its opinion
as to the wisdom of such course. 1t is,
however, becoming plain to everyone that
nothing will be done to strengthen the
Freeport levee unless the Drainage Com.
missioners do it, and it is therefore the part
of wisdom on the part of the city to pre-.
pare at once for all the contingencies which
may arise In the first place, the Y-street
levee should be strengthened and raised.
In the second place, the preparations for
pumping should be made before the rains
set in. Sufficient buildings should
be erected and pumps and en-
CINE should be set up. The
diversion OF Burns slough from it's former
course through the city will reduce the
volume of water to be handled by the
pumps at least two-thirds. If the pumps
are ready and are set to work before water
accumulates in the lower portion of the city,
its rise can be controlled easily and from
the first, SO that the city can be kept dry
and no part of it suffer any inconvenience
from inundation. Heretofore nothing has
been done before some fifty blocks
had been submerged by surface
water, and then in mud and
rain pumps and engines had to be set,
fuel hauled, and after preparations requir-
ing week or two to complete them the
water has been reduced by an inch or two
day. This year let us be ready to begin
with the first note OF warning and be mas
ters of the situation from the first. The
property in the southern portion of the
city is entitled to a perfect protection from
inundation. Heretofore the city has con-
tented itself by keeping down the water
after it had inflicted untold injury. The
Freeport line is being practically aban.
doned by the property ownera in the
country below. The season is now so far
advanced as to render it highly improba-
BILE that anything will be done this year.
The entire situation is the equivalent of
due notice to the city of Sacramento that
the lower district will again be flooded.
The attention OF the City Trustees, and of
the public generally, is called to the situa-
ton. The rise of water in the lower part
of the city can be prevented altogether if
preparations are made now. The interests
involved demand this wise precaution.
The value of the property to be destroyed
and the rights of the citizens injured, are
worthy OF this insurance. This appeal is ad.
dressed especially to the people living in
the southern limits of the city. If they will
join together in an urgent demand for the
adequate protection to which they are en-
titled, arrangements will be made to avert
disaster. If they are Indifferent the old
story will be repeated. Pumps will not be
set to work until after the damage is done.
That part of the city can be kept dry from
the first with just as little cost as will be
required to keep the flood down when once
it has arisen. The point is to prevent its
rising at all. 1t is little worth while to
discuss now what ought to have been
done. To say that the city ought
to have extended aid to District
No. l; that the people of that district
ought to have rebuilt their own levees;
that the work ought to have commenced
sooner, does not meet the arguments of the
case. The fact remains that what ought
to have been done has not been done, and
will not be done. The practical question
is to be prepared for the emergency, and,
from the very first, keep the water down.
This can be done, and the City Trustees
will subserve the best interests of the whole
people by preparing for the worst now.