Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-07-12
ruE NAVIGATION OF The SACRAMENTO.

Congressman Rosecrans has addressed a
letter to the Secretary OF War, in which
he urges him to use the governmental ap.
preparation for the improvement of the
navigation of the Sacramento river, in the
erection of works to prevent the debris
deposits already in the tributaries of the
river from entering the stream. He says
that he is authorized by General Wright
to say that if this is not done, no matter
what disposition is made OF the hydraulic
mining question, the deposits will choke
and destroy the river. 1t does not appear
OF what he bases his hope OF securing a
reconsideration of the refusal OF the Score
tary to consent to such works being con-
structed. Those who assume to know are
strongly of the opinion that the appropria.
ton will not be used as requested. It
would be interesting to know what sugges-
tions were contained in the letter of the
Mayor Of Marysville referred to by Mr..
Rosecrsns. But aside from all other mat
ters treated, the letter revives the import.
ant question of the improvement of the
navigation Of the Sacramento. That it is
prime necessity is without question.
That something must be done for it socn is
scarcely debatable. Even at ordinary
water stages, and without further deposits
in the stream, the current is divided, and,
with the water but little higher, is di.
verted through numerous breaks in the
westerly banks above this city and below
Knights Landing. That these reduce the
carrying capacity OF the river, and proper
tionately increase the rapidity of it's fill, is
fact known to all well.informed valley
residents. That in this fact there is
menace to the ravigability of the river,
worthy of the earnest attention OF the
Federal Government, goes without saying.
Il ia firmly held by many citizens familiar
with the habits of the river and it's his
tory, that it is within the early possibili-
ties for the moat of the stream to
leave it's present channel at some one
of several points above Sacramento,
and take a new, broad and unnavigable
course through the tule lands on the west.
Ii that should occur, we would have Davis
vile leveeing against the new river, end It
is not pleasant to contemplate what, in
that case, would be the effect, CONNER.
cially and otherwise, upon this city. nor
what the consequences of this diversion of
its chief waterway would be to the State.
The matter, then, of training the river in
its course and generally improving its nav
igation, is one of vital and present I'M
portance. Another rainy season should
not be permitted to approach without the
eituation being carefully studied, and the
attention of the Government being ur.
gently directed to the subject. No one
can forecast the date OF flood season or
forsee the combination of circumstances
and forces under which the stream may
wear out q permanent exit through It's
westerly bank, since at several pointa this
season 1t lowed through unchecked, with
the water at but fourteen or fifteen feet, and
the bank land but from 200 to 400 feet in
thickness. That the valley lands must be
preserved from destruction no one will
deny, but equally the river must be pre-.
vented from diversion and trained in it's
old course. The valley residents have as
great an interest in the preservation of the
nsvigability of the stream 10 its present
channel as they have in the lands they
occupy. The people along the Mississippi
are moving now for a combined effort to
induce the Federal Government to prevent
diversion of the Mississippi river and
creyasses along its banks, that its naviga-
tion may be preserved. With greater pro.
priety the people along the Sacramento
should not allow the summer to pass with.
out the imperative necessity of retaining
the Sacramento river within its banks
being seriously considered and practical
steps taken to invoke the aid of the Gov
eminent to that end.