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

OrOss- -eAatninaViVn Oh Sapbaln 1ODertS con-
tinued-During the high water of 1861 and
1862 I went up the Sacramento river as far
as Coluss. AT that time there were nalevees
on the Upper Sacramento. and it overhowed
its banks from four 70 six inches in the neigh.
borhood or vicinity of Eddy's Landing. Since
the building of the levees the river has been,
during high stages, from four to five feet
above the original banks. This is the case
every high water. until the water breaks
through the "isvee. In soma instances the
levees have been cut to relieve the river.
Wilkins slough is about the same width, but
not so deep es Sycamore slough. The upper
Sycamore slough levee gave away the first
season after it was constructed That levee
was built in 1872 or 1873. I transported a
great deal of the material that was used ia
the construction of that levee. MIR. Hart
objected to the continuance of the cross ex-
animation in the manner in which Mr..
Belcher was conducting it. Mr. Belcher
stated that he proposed to show that
did affect the foods in the lower
Sacramento. Objection overruled and ex-
ception takep.] never saw the levee cut at
Knights Landing, and don't think I was
there at any time when it was cut. The
levee at the upper Sycamore slough was
broken the first year after it was built. It
was rebuilt The following year, and it has
stood ever sincs. From Jacinto, on the west
side, TO Princeton the levee has been broken
many times. The breaks last winter were
A GENERAL DECENTRALIZATION OF THE LEvEEs.
On the east bank Butte slough was leveed
several years since. While Butte slough was
damned up it raised the waters in the Sacrs.
mento and submerged the farms above the
slough. The river above the slough was
raised several feet. During this examina-
tion every question asked By Mr.. Belcher
was objected to by Attorney. General Hart
Objections were overruled, and excep-
tions taken From Knights Landing to
Cache slough large levee was built.
In early days there were no levees to speak of
between knights Landing and Sacramento
city. During those years they overhowed
the natural banks six inches to foot in
depth. The sloughs between Washington
and Knights Landing were not damned or
filed up prior to 1862. In the winter of 1867
and 1868 the water was over the banks, but
not 20 long nor 80 deep as in 1862. In 1878
levees were built from here to Fremont, on
the west side, and the east side was leveed
also. The water during that winter did ret
run over the tops Of the levees, but through
the breaks. The river was considerably
higher in 1873 and 1879. in some places, than
in 1861 and 1862. This was owing to the
levses.
THE VOLUME OF WATER
Was not SO great as in 1852 Between Sac.
ramento city and Grand Island, during the
high water of 1873 and 1879, the water was
higher than in 1862, owing to being confined
between the levees. / don't know how wide
the tule basin is between here and Davisville.
It is perhaps from six to ten miles wide, and in
some places sixteen feet deep. The fret time
I became acquainted with the Sacramento
river, so as to know anything about it, was ia
1858. The difference between low.water
mark in 1858 and low-water mark in 1881,
should judge to be seven feet. In 1856 Hay.
cock shoals were from eight to ten feet under
water. In 1881 they are from four and half
to i've feet under water. Have seen sound
ings by pole taken there thisSyear with that
result. have reference to @e channel over
those shoals. In 1886 yh had no occasion to
sound at that point, ss64 the fan that we had
plenty of depth. We could tell by the color
of the water about what its depth was.
There is one place,
JUST ABOVE IsLEToN,
In the old channel, where water is deeper
now than IN former years. There is a bar
about mile and half below Is!eton that
would not admit OF vessels drawing consider
able water passing over it. The water is
deeper over that bar now than it was in 1866
In early days, at high tide, the old channel
was easier navigated than at present. Larger
vessels could come up in 1866 than now. High
tide formerly raised about q feet In the
old channel. and now it only rises IS inches
Deep-draueht vessels were exchanged for fat
bottom or light draught ones about ten years
49, kb, ,o&
that deep-draught vessels, owing 10 the filing
up of the channel, could not be used. Ten
years ago there were two railroads connecting
Sacramento and San Francisco The upper
river boats carry freight on barges. The boats
between Sacramento and San Francisco carry
freight on themselves. never navigated tie
San Joaquin, and know nothing about that
rivers channel. The deep-draught boats
were not laid aside because lisht-draughts
could be run cheaper, but because the depth
Of the