Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-02-04
DESIRES TO LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE.

EDS. RECORD. UNION: The Citizens Com
mittee is good thing. They meet and con-
verse freely, Interchange thoughts, ideas aud
suggestions, and in this way bring about good
results. The leyee question is one always of
interest to the citizens of Sacramento. There
| never mas teen time since we have been a
city that we have been so well protected and
secure from high waters as now. Three years
ago, when we had over twenty-six feet of
water in the Sacramento Iiver considerable
excitement prevailed throughout the city
owing to the condition of the levees. Since
thea from $50 900 to $75. coo has been ex-
pended in strengthening in hight and width
the levee from 5 ixth street to the Brighton
ridge. -Four wing dams have recently been
put in the American river east of
the railroad bridge, beyond Burns slough,
which are reported az working like a charm,
tn ming the current Of the stream from our
defenses and cutting away the opposite bank,
as was INTENDED. The Y-street ievee has
been raised and widened several feet and is
now higher than the highest water ever
known. The Sac amento leyee as far down
as Merkley's has also been raised several feet.
Work was being done on the latter line by
bl6 nhutlDS OF uitl oIlu tal1tLB jig EalltBAtl
track when the recent rain stopped it, The
great conflict between the hydraulic miners
and the fsriuers has been &c ,ided in favn
OF the latter, and officers Of the law are row
on the ground notifying the miner that he
can no longer wash 90 IN the earth into our
riyers This, in itself, is equivalent 20 L any
feet added to our leyees, as it is now clainel
that the waters ia the rivers will wash out
the channels and annually increase their car
bos
far advanced as to allay all fears Of foods
the coming season. Any one who has exam
ined our levee projections for the past %
years which is the time from which our first
trouble with the water dates, will be con-
vinced by an inspection at the present time
that we are very much better protected than
ever before. If these statements are
true, why the necessity Of raising $4,000,
or any large sum, for levee purposes? 1t
ia SO easy to vote away money. If the nece:-
sity does not exist, why submit this question
TO vote OF the people? Tnree years ago.
when all the city was up in arms as well ss
the bondholders, about the safety OF the
levaes, all hands advocated strengthening the
lsYess The bondholders said, Never mind
us, spend all your money on thu levees."
Then it was agreed to spend large amount !;
put the levees in a condition above suspi- |
cion," and afterwards spend annually from
Y
strength gradually, and keep them in
thoroughly Trustworthy condition. This has
been done confidence has been inspired, and
our people feel safe and comfortable. That
i just what we agreed to do, and have been
SO ing. Our Trustees have so reduced the
taxes, and succeeded in their litigation with
the bondhoders that at this time the outlook
.iS encouraging, hstteEipg in the extreme, and
the outlook fox the city is one of continued
prosperity. Larse and permanent buildings
are bsiug erected in the city-such in fact as
have not been built here for years Why is
it not good plan TO let well enough alone,
and try the present satisfactory working for ]
another year? The fine test of the Holly
Water Works we hsd last week, for the first
time since they were erected, is a step in the
right direction. Go GLOW, and let we'll
enough alone, is q good motto. Yours.
COMMON SENSE.
Sacramento. February .. 1884.