Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-06-09
THE 1mPR' Jygmgsr OF THE IEvEEs.

49, Q ObliOlbSy uPOA WV t'iVPOoC0 piano "
BE- submitted to the taxpayers on the 10Th
instant. Our readers have doubtless OBJ
served that among all these practical men
there has been but one opinion in regard
to the proposition to face the north levee
with cobble stones at an estimated expense
of 500, 600. The verdict of engineering
science is decidedly against that plan, and
as it is certainly improbable that more
authoritative expressions on the subject
can be advanced, the rational conclusion is
that SO much of the schemes of the Trus-
tees ought to be voted down. The fact is
that this notion of piling cobble stones on
the outer face of the ievees appears to be lit
tie more than an attempt to soothe the fears
of those who are contented with an appear.
ance Of security, and do not care to inquire
whether it is real or not. Now the engi-
neers all agree that these cobble stones, put
On in the way proposed, could not add any
thing to the strength of the levees. They
say also that if the levee is to be faced
with stone in the only effective way, it
will cost twice or three times as much as
the Trustees have estimated. And they
point out that there are certain real dan
gers to the levees which urgently demand
attention, but which will not be met at all
by the cobble-stone plan. It is clear that
the expenditure of 100000 upon an un-
necessary and Elusive work would be a
mere waste of the public money, and there
are SO many calls for that money for Sc.
rious and pressing purposes that the COM
munity cannot afford to squander it upon
doubtful experiments.
Il has been shown that the most serious
danger to the north levee arises from the
presence Of quicksands under it at certain
points-one beyond the Agricultural Park,
and another further out. Now these
points of weakness gauge the actual
strength of our entire levee system, on
the mathematical principle that nothing is
stronger than its weakest point. There
is, SO long as these quicksands are un-
filled, always the possibility that the cur
rent, at high water, may work in under
the levee, undermine it, and cause it to
disappear and it is clear that the only re-
suit of putting more weight on the levee,
in the form of cobble- stones, would be to
make it sink quicker under such circum-
stances. 1t has been suggested that these
quicksands may be prevented from doing
mischief by building spur-dams, or levees,
to defect the current from their vicinity.
That plan, however, is at best only pal
liative, and since the prosperity of Sacra-
mento practically depends upon the secu-
rity of the levees, We ought to be content
with nothing less than the complete re-
moval of all such sources of danger. 1t is
not enough to neutralize the quicksands.
They must be destroyed. And every dol
lar spent upon this work will be money well
expended, whereas every dollar put upon
the cobble-stone plan will, if the engineers
understand their profession, be money
thrown away.
But it will not require any large expendi-
ture to remove these quicksands. At the
most liberal estimate we presume that
$40, 600 would suffice to put in the strong
est kind of sheet piling wherever there is
any danger, or even to dig bitches down
to the bed of the quicksands, and fill them
up solidly. Whatever the cost, however,
this is work which requires to be doue,
and which ought to be done this summer,
and it is to be regretted that the Trustees
did Lot submit an estimate for it, instead
of for the extravagant and futile scheme Of
facing the levees with cobble.stones. AS
regards the proposal to raise and increase
the width of the levees, we are decidedly
of opinion that this ought to be Endorsed
by the voters. 1t may be, as some of the
engineers intimate, that the levees in
many parts are quite strong and high
enough now. But il is certain tina. since
the levees really indicate the condition of
public confidence in the future of Sacra-
mentc, they will not be high or strong
enough until they are altogether beyond
suspicion. The addition of four feet to
the levees will involve the addition of
millions to the taxable property of the
city. When it is seen and realized that
this community is determined to take no
chances whatever, but to put itself at once
and for all time beyond the risk OF flood,
real estate here will become as desirable
and be as eagerly sought as that of San
Francisco. This is why the proposed
works ought to be Endorsed and urged
forward, and the consideration appears to
us conclusive.
Whatever else is done, however, the
quichsands ought to be taken care of. 1t
will not do to say, as some have, that be-
cause they have never yet done any harm,
therefore they can be safely ignored.
There are too many millions at stake for
US to risk anything by negligence, and
this danger is far too serious to be played
with. 1t was one of these quicksands
which caused the alarm of last winter, and
that alone, groundless as it proved, was
undoubtedly mischievous in its conse-
quences, since it unsettled mems minds.
There is here no question OF spending
$780, 900. Very probably one.tenth OF
that amount would do the work. But no
matter what it costs. it ought to be done,
and it will be impossible to feel perfectly
secure, even with all the improvements pro.
posed, until it is done. There is no need
for cobblestones on the face of the levees.
A good sod of Bermuda grass will make
them firm enough for anything. But
the quicksands demand prompt treatment,
and the Trustees should take action in
regard to them at once.
DRAINAGE.
A correspondent suggests that Captain
Liernur's pneumatic system of drainage is
the one which ought to be applied to thi,
city. We have never had any doubt that