Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-02-18
OUR LEvEE DEPEEsEs
The Work Necessary, with Estimates Of
Cost, to Place Them Beyond all Perad-
venture

! mute description OF the IeVeej seCtion ny seC-
ton, with the work necessary to be done to
make it all of a uniform and sufficient
strength; also, giving approximate estimates
of the cost of the work needed. The follow
ing are the chief points of this portion of his
address
Section 1-In this section is included that
portion of the levee system easterly from
Brighton Junction. Here it is found that the
east levee after running out on the compare
I lively level plain, suddenly terminates by
dropping in hight about seven feet to near
the level of the plain that just beyond this
| point the high water Of 1881 lacked less than
one foot Of sufficient elevation to pass over
! the plains beyond the end OF the levee; that
if the food of 1881 had reached one foot.
higher, the food waters of the American
would have entered the city from that direc'
! ton, and that during the flood OF lS6l-2 the
water did flow over the plains st that point
in considerable volume. Further, that the
| channel of the American river opposite has
since 1862 become nearly filed with sand and
gravel, while the bottom banks bordering it
| have been raised in their general level from
one to three feet from the same source. 1t
| is therefore recommended to extend the levee
some 6 600 feet, so as TO connect with high
| land at old Brighton. The approximate cost
! of the same for a levee ii feet wide on top,
with good slopes and planting with Bermuda
grass, is $4,000.
Section 2-This section is described as ex.
tending from Brighton junction to Burns
slough, 3 distance of about 10, 900 feet. The
! leyee he=e has hight of to feet above
| high-water mark has q top width varying
| from TO ii feet; side slopes Of II TO l and
TO a distance through at high-water line of
| 40 to 30 feet. 1t Is also long distance from
the river, and is built on the bed rock of the
/ plains. Two things are recommended to be
| done. Oae is to make the levee all of a uni
! form width of not less than II feet on top,
with proper slopes; the other, to cover the
| outer slope with material suited to the growth
of Bermuda grass It was observed that
/ here the material OF which the lsvee is con-
sIuc.ed is Of such a nature as TO become
/ very soft and easily washed when thoroughly
wet, and is of such a character that Bermuda
/ grass (rhe best possible protection to the
| outer slope Of a levee) will not grow in it,
and that 10 sod of apy kind has formed
| since the levee was constructed. This Sec
| ton of the levee is 50 located that with
heavy north winds during high water in the
American il would be considerably exposed to
the action of the waves. The work recou-
mended would cost about 81, 800.
Section is described extending from
Burns slough to the American river railroad
/ bridge, distance of about 5000 feet. The
| width Of the leves on top is Is to 20 feet :;
| inner slope, TO l; outer slope, or to ;
/ hight above high-water mark, II 70 feet;
| distance through at high-water mark, 80 to
| 60 feet The only work needed here is to
cover the outer slope of the levee with river
| sediment, in which to plant Bermuda grass ;
| this is deemed ecessary because the leyee
/ here is considerably exposed to the wash Of
! waves and currents, The cost of the work is
| estimated at 81, 800.
! Section 4-The American river immedi-
/ sicily opposite section is denoted by Mr..
/ Bassett as section T. This is the point where
| the river has been gradually eucroaching
| upon the Land lying between it and the levee,
/ and at the nearest point hiss reached to with
/ n about 600 feet. However, works have
/ Just been completed here which are operating
success fully, and, it is expected, will turn the
| river back to It's old channel, and avert
/ further danger from that source. l. Is only
| needed to make some repsirs next season, and
/ plant B .rmuda grass TO assist in holding such
| bars as may form on this side Of the river,
| about aud below the works. Five hundred
| dollars IS considered sufficient for the work
/ TO be done here.
! Section 5-The north levee from the
Am. rican river railroad bridge to Sixteenth
s.seet, distance of about 5000 feet. The
lavee on this section has width of IA feet on
| top, with slopes of II to l and 2 to l. The
elevation Of the top above high-water mark
Is st the railroad bridge s to feet, and at
Sixteenth street, ) feet; distance through at
| high-vater liue, 80 to 50 feet. There Is q
/ railroad track on top. with well-gravelled
road-bed, and the outer slope of the levee
/ is set t. Bermuda grass. Two things
are considered unfavorsble-one is, its
narrow width compared to the interests at
stake behind it; the other the fact that it is
considerably infested with burrcwing ami
mails such IS gophers and squirrels, and, the
/ levee being no wider, there is danger that
| holes burrowed in from cue side will meet
/ those from the other and form channels
! through which the water could find its way,
| and eulargiug as the flow continued, possibly
! effectiHg breach before discovered or meas
ures could be taken to prevent it. By hav-
| ing the levee considerable wider there Juld
be much less danger of such burrows meet
ing. 1t is therefore recommended that this
/ section of the levee be widened, by adding
material on the inside sufficient to make its
strength at least equal to that OF the strongest
sections above and below. The cost is APP
/ proximately estimated at $4,000.
/ Section 6-The American river immedi-
ately opposite section ,. Here is located the
/ CUT f. made number Of years ago, for turn
/ ing the currents away from the levee and
preventing lis undermining. This work
/ operated successfully, and the river now runs
| at a considerable distance from the levee, the
/ old channel having become nearly obliterated.
But during high water in the American
| considerable portion of the water follows the
old channel and tends to prevent its being en-
tirely filled, and checks the starting up of
/ brushwood, as at other PLACES. During the
past two years the river bed has b,en cleared
10 some extent of the deposits due to n.y.
] Nd ha v1yata Ia 4
snd lowers the elevation Of its present chan
nj, the tendency is towards the deepening Of
the old CHANEL as we'll From the direction
( the currents axe taking it is possible for this
! process Of sluiciug to go on until consider
able portion Of the old channel has been
cleared out, and a strong current re-estab-
lished against the north levee near Twenty
third street. 1t is therefore recommended
that such work shall be done 90 will prevent
it, and, if possible, cause the old channel to
become entirely filed, and so grown over with
brush as to effectuslly prevent its ever being
reopened. The probable cost of the work is
placed at about 81 600.
Section The north levee from Sixteenth
street down TO Seventh street, and connecting
with the filed grounds at the Central Pacific
/ Railroad shops. Here the levee Is Of more
than ample width. At Sixteenth street it is
FIVE feet above high-water mark and at Sew
!
levee is planted TO Bermuda grass. No fur
Their work is considered necessary on this sec
ton,
Section S-The filed grounds on which the
railroad shops and depot stand, extending
from Seventh and - streets TO Front and
Streets. The width of levee here is repre-
sented by the entire area of the high grade
Of the railroad grounds Following the ex-
terror track passing outside of the round
house.. and the elevations above high water
are: About the line Of Sixth street, 8
feet 4: back Of the roundhouse. 3 feet: 500
feet further along. foot 10 inches st the
Yolo bridge. nearly 8 feet; and at street,
on the east line of Front street, p feet. 1t
is recommended that the exterior rim Of the
high grade on which the railroad shops and
depot are located BIS raised so as to present a
uniform level of not less than four feet above
the highest water yet known, for the entire
distance. The cost of this work is not esti'
mated, no plan having been determined upon
for doing it.
Section 9-The river front, from to %
streets. Here the width of the levee is
equivalent to the entire distance from the
hulkheads on the east line of Front street &c
the river bank The line Of greatest eleva
. I ton that can he demanded on is the outer