Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-02-19

animals. 1t should be wider ed by inside sd-
ditions that burrows may not be cut entirely
through. Opposite this point work should be
done to encourage the filling of the old river
channel.
9-Filled grounds of railroad shops. At
one point the levee edge is but 1 foot 10
inches above high. water msrk at the Yolo
bridge, not quite 8 feet.
1U-At Front and l street the elevation is
but q feet above high water.
11-Front street. to o. The outer edge
of the sidewalk in the food of 1881 was but
q feet above high water at J street, % at K
street, feet st l., 8 feet at NJ, % feet at n,
and 8 feet at o. The uniform hight of feet
should be secured. At least the lowest places
should be brought up to level with the
3'foOt elevations.
12-From to Y the levee is from 10 to Ii
feet on top. 1t should be 20 feet and the in
side slope to 1, instead of II to l and to l.
1S-The Ystreet levee should be made 20
feet on top and brought to uniform hight of
feet above highest known back water.
So much for the necessity, to which is to be
added that
BECAUSE WE HAVE A MASSIVE
Levee on the north, an equally as strong one
one on the south, sprecisely the reason that we
should not expose these works which have
cost so much ia the chance of destruction.
Because the RECORD UNION believes the sys-
tenn good is the reason it advocates its insur-
ance against possible disaster. The Bee
quotes largely from a local review of
the levee system made by this journal
In 1879, five years ago, extolling the levee
system. That report was made after an in
spection and an interview with Commissioner
Knox. There is not in that report solitary
line TO be amended or statement 10 be corrected
in the light of facts then had, nor at sill. save
only as to the popular belief, which was dis.
sipated by the food of 1881 and the surveys
since made, relative to probability of water
that might pas the Brighton swale, entering
the city. The RECORD UNION has the cour-
age to say that if, by any possible contortion
of the language, any idea can be drawn from
that report that there was no danger at
the Brighton "swale," it will acknowledge
the error. The policy of our contemporary
is to stick to the story of the horse sixteen
feet high"
BUT THE TRUTH Is,
Nc such inference is derivable. In that re-
port the reporter distinctly stated that meas
urements were made from the ground-not
from the 1gater Ierel Of the aqrer-and added
This must be understood throughout" A
careful reading of the report verifes its in.
tegrity, and causes the RECORD. UNION feel
ings of satisfaction at the excellence of the
work done on its local side.
But it matters very little what was thought
in 1879, when no such high water as came in
1881 was dreamed OF.
A BIT OF HISTORY.
January 90 1873, the river marked % feet
III inches, and the levee below the
city being swept away, only the united
eXertions of hundreds of citizens on tie
Rstreet grade prevented inundation from
back-wster. Then there did follow activity
indeed and levee-work with vengeance, and
in 1879 followed the hopeful review referred
to. But ON the 4th day of February, 1881,
came greater bod, and the river rose to &c
feet inches snd goodly portion of Front
street was under water, and sand bags massed
at low points only keptit out Of the low-grade
sections along Front street. Alarm prevailed
for over a week, sensational rumors startled
citizens daily, private and public meetings
were held; the profoundest fears were enter
tanned,
THE CITY WAS SADLY HURT.
Every citizen realized it, and swora by all he
loved to see that no such alarm should ever
again prevail. Il Committee of Safety was
organized; patrols were put on the levees
back water entered below the city by levee
breaks in the lower districts, aud we were Put
to vast expense to pump out the drainage
water and relieve the city from sipage II is
needless to recount at length all the trying
details Of those days.
LEADING CITIZENS MET
With the Board of Trade at It's rooms fire..
queutly, and discussed tie situation. Among
these was James McClatchy, and no man was
more earnest in urging sc:ion to be taken 10
prevent the possibility of recurrence of
such scenes. No mar gave more heartfelt
thanks than he that the terrible fear Of con.
current rise Of the Sacramento and American
rivers cid not take place; no man oitener
than he declared that If such thing came to
pass our danger could not be measured. At
some of these meetings the talk was Of
RAISING $4,000 OR 100000
The moment the waters went down, by tax
alton, too, and raise the levees entirely
around The city ard put the possibility of
inundstion as far away as human labor and
devices could. At one Of these meetings
James McClatchy, sthen senior editor and
proprietor Of the Bee, was profour dly elo-
quent in favor OF any figure soever, required
to bring the levees many feet above the then
hight and wide enough for a frea driveway
the whole circuit. Just before the conclu-
sioa of one of the wsrmest speeches made on
that proposition, and when action had been
had by resolution,
JAMES MCLATCHY
Arose and said his judgment was not to pub
lish all the debate and their fears to the
world, and, if his brother Of tie RECORD
UNION agreed with him, there should be no
detailed reportof the meeting. Tho manager
Of the RECORD UNION heartily sec nded the
proposition, and 30 it was that the world has
never known all the people fearcd and kaelo
and felt in the trying hours Of the winter of
1881 The far seeing discretion Of the then
controlling spirit Of our contemporary would
not today pursue coGrse that is calculated
to force upon The attention Of the world facts
that prudence, in 1881. dictated should be
withheld.
AT ONE OF THE MEETINGS
Referred to, in 1881, so crest was the fear Of
the citizens. that 1t was unanimously resolved
TO urge the Trustees to divide the north levee
into four sections, with a foreman 70 each,
having tv eve men in charge and , 900 sacks
Of earth at command TO distribute on the
levee from Brighton to Front street, and the
TRUSTEES adopted the suggestion.
we conclude with brief extract from
resolutions adopted at joint meeting of the
Board Of Trade and of citizens, to be sent cut
to the world, and in which James McClatchy
corcurred and gave his hearty approval
Resolred, That Uhjle ne regard the lerees If Sac
TdlnetO as perfectly secure against any fo0d lCateT
likely to come, II property cared for and protected
still 1t is the sense IF this meeting that Il Is both
polite and necessary to enter at once upon the far
nation If plans for such enlargement and improUe
D,ent Of leCee dctenSes 0,H place the city beyond
ALL POSSIBLE DANGER FROM OVERFLOW, BEYOND ALL
QUESTION or DOUBT AS TO SUCH POSSIBILITY, etc.
The report of the meeting adds: "The
meeting manifested strong determination TO
PERFECT 4 system of levees Ehich would re-
move ALL POSSIBLE apprehension from the
minds of RESIDENTS AND NON RESIDENTS.
and place the city in SIS fair light before the
world as il she were located on land so high
as to remove ALL DOUBT of her safety from
food" And in that sentiment the citiZsns
I'll. ILL.,. I....., No rk..