Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-05-01
THE REDEMPTION OF THE RIVER.

1t is one day stated that the needed appro-
priation for the improvement of the Sacra-
mento river will not be advised by the
House committee. and on the next that it
Will Probably the most we can ex-
pect will be twenty-five per cent of the
amount of the engineers estimates, or
about $4,000, for extracting snags But,
as exhaustive of this neglect, we are told
that the unexpended appropriation of two
years ago is available, or about $4,000
That win do something, but even that sum
cannot be applied except under direction
Of the Secretary Of War, and as he does
not approve the recommendations Of the
engineer as 90 the application to be made of
The sum, nor himself set on foot inquiry in
The direction of other methods, there is
every probability that nothing at all in
the way of improving river navigation will
be done this year. 1t is unfortunate, in
deed, that public interests should thus be
sacrificed to the timidity of political
campaign with heavy river and harbor
bill. Once in four years the country must
suffer for lack of necessary attention, that
party may exhibit an economic balance
sheet. Instead of legislating for the best
interests of the people, political power
must be kept in view, and only that done
that contributes to its enjoyment by parti-
sans. 1t is precisely such motives as these
that disgrace the political system, and
make public concern mere football
for ambition. 4 great public interest must
suffer that politicians may advance their
ends; that is the rule of action at this
time and in the case in hand, since it is
admitted that the work demanded for the
Sacramento river must be performed, and
that if it is not done speedily the cost of
retaining the river will be fourfold,
while the loss to the people of California
by impeded navigation will be almost in
calculable.
The San Francisco Cal recently re-
marked that our rivers should be pre-
served at whatever expense" but the
Government will scarcely spend money to
impound debris while the work of making
new debris is going on" This is no new
thing to state, and while il has some force,
it is, after all, an insufficient excuse The
fact is that while the valley people are do
ing their utmost to legally stop the contri-
button of new debris" the Government
could well employ its engineers and means
in river improvement that must be done ir-
respective of the hydraulic mining ques-
ton. The dispositions already in the
streams and below the influence Of by
draulic mining, the shoals, the emissions in
banks, etc, must be cared for, and the
ability of the river to clear itself stimu-
lated and its possible diversion from its
present channel prevented OF course the
pouring of mining debris into the river
and its tributaries must cease, but
we can not perceive the wisdom of
the policy that refuses to do
anything whatever toward preventing
the destruction of navigation, because the
causes are not at once wholly removed.
The active assistance of the Government
IL Strengthening the stream, reforming its
banks rectifying its channel and removing
bars in the lower stream should, instead of |
giving license to hydraulic mining, greatly |
encourage the riparian jewellers to secure
the specdier stoppage of the work of fouling