Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-07
CAPTAIN JOHN H. ROBERTS,

Sworn am engaged in steamboating, and
have been in this occupation since 1866, and
have been woodworking since 1853. Have
navigated the Sacramento and Feather riy-
ers. Have nsvigated the Sacramento from
Mcintosh to lis mouth. Mcintosh is on
line with tue north boundary of Colusa
county, From 1853 to 1857 [ was engaged
rs yigating the Sacramento river between
Sacramento and Knights Landing My first
trip to theupper Sacramento was in the year
1854. From 1854 to 1856 I averaged going to
the head navigable water of the Sacramento
three times month. l first came to the State
in 1850 and settled in Nevada county. The
Sacramento in 1866 was deep, navigable
stream. At that time the river was muddy
The Sacramento river in 1851 was clear
stream and remained so until 1864, when it
began to get muddy. The water in 1854 be-
gan to have reddish or sl;ckens color. The
Sacramento river from this city to Fremont.
when first knew it, was clear and navigabIe,
There were two bars that shoaled sometimes,
One of these bars, Russian Crossing, was
about 10 miles above Sacramento, and FIRE.
mont Bar was 90 miles above. The balance
of the river was from II to 20 feet deep. The
river from Sacramento. was deep and clear,
Hogs Back. These shoals were covered in
low water with feet at low tide, and
II feet at high tide. In those days
sea-going vessels and propellers navi-
gated between Sacramento and San Francisco.
The Goliah, Senator and New World were
sea-goiDg vessels. The Martin White, Viii
son G. Hunt. Hartford, Confdsncs and
others were large vessels, and drew consider
able water. TIE Sacramento river
BEGAN FILLING UP
In 1868. The Haycock shoals and Steam
bolt slough began to shoal up with sand, and
it became necessary to take off all the boats
of the class have mentioned and put on the
river 10 their place light-draft fat-bottom
boats. From that time continuously the
river seems to be gradually filling up with
sand and slickens. Steamboat slough until
about ten years ago was navigated at all times
by the largest steamers. The slough was
deep and much shorter cut than through the
channel of the old river. Here witness gave
minute description of the river between
Sacramento and its mouth. Explained the
difficul les of navigation caused BY the debris
deposits, and described the natare and ouaI.
ity of the deposits Steamer San JOAQUIN
No. draws four feet of water. San JOAQUIN
No. 1, three and half feet. do not think
it wonId be safe for either of those boats to
undertake to pass down through Steamboat
slough in lis present condition. There is, I
Judge, deposit In the Sacramento river
between
FREMONT AND RIO VISTA
That has an average depth throughout the en-
tire distance OF II feet. There is more sand in
the deposits in the upper portion of the river
than 10 the lower. A large deposit of
sand and slickens has been found In Suisun
bay, from ten to twenty feet deep.
TIE large vessels men6oned drew from to
Ii feet of water and fonnd no difficulty In
navigating the river in early times at low
water. It would be impossible for them to
do so now. The high water below Sacra-
mento city not only covers the old banks, bu.
ovsrtops the highest levees. High water in
creases- the securing capacity of the river.
When I first saw the river the aver
age depth of the original banks from
their top to the surface of low water, be-
tween Sacramento city and Steamboat
slough, was on an average of Is feet. At
the present time they will not average over
feet in hight. It takes considerable less rain
to make high water now than formerly. In