Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-02-20
THE TAPPING OF THE RIVER.

by self-insurance.
|
THE TAPPING OF THE RIVER.
In another column we print letter
from Will S. Green on the proposed
CoIusa irrigating canal. We requested
Mr.. Green to express himself as the en-
gineer of the company proposing to cut
the canal. He is a gentleman of journal
istic experience and broad intelligence, and
citizen whose integrity is not to be ques-
toned. What he says he measures care
fully, and therefore every word he pens
may bs taken as the exact belief the writer
entertains. 1t will be observed that Mr..
Green admits his company cannot divert a
navigable stream without violating the
rights of riparian owners; that it cannot
J take from navigable stream water to
such an extent as to impair its integrity.
He AYERS that his company does not pro-
pose to take water from the Sacramento in
such quantities as at all to affect its navi-
gability. We believe the gentlemen Of
the company are sincere in this. 1t there.
| fore narrows the whole matter down to
this question, &" Who IS 10 jUdge Of the
amount that may be taken 0thom impair
ment Of the capacity Of the rirer to keep
ITSELF nacga5le" Obviously those whose
interest resides in the taking, should not
be judges. The people of the lower river
will not probably raise the question of the
right to tap navigable streamat all, against
their Colusa friends. They have the sue,
cess of the agriculturists of Colusa at
heart they are not wholly selfish; they
VIII not willingly throw any obstacle in
the way of tie thorough development of
the north country and west side under a
system of irrigation but they cannot con.
| sent to their own interests being jeop-
ardized, and our Colusa friends will there
fore recognize the entire reasonableness of
the question raised.
Mr.. Green says that the matter can be
easily tested by placing marks below the
mouth of the canal after it ia constructed
and note the measurements with the gates
when closed and when open. the engi.
neer will pardon us for criticising the pro-
position as disingenuous, for not only is
the volume of the water factor of i'm
portsnce to be considered, but the veloci-
ty, the carrying capacity, and we are sadly
misinstrucsed in hydraulics if the proposed
canal does not concern these well-known
laws
l. Velocity ia increased by the depth Of
the stream and the decliration on which it
runs to a certain linit-that is to say, I'M
til the resistance which increases with the
velocity becomes equal to the acceleration.
, Whenever a volume of water is treat
ed so as to enlarge or contract the water
way, the change is accompanied by pro.
portional loss or gain of impulsion.
5. Whenever the etflux is increased the
momentum or moving force must be also
increased to preserve the integrity of the
original velocity.
I. While the set marks might show no
material diminution of volume, any re-
duction of velocity must be reinforced by
the moving force, or else the FRACTIONAL ca
pacity of the stream will be impaired.
If Mr.. Green's company may take
ont 10000 inches of water half
mile below Redding, what is there
to prevent another company taking out
300, 900 inches two miles below ReddiDg?
II this business proves to be profitable
one, as is anticipated, what is there to
prevent Mr.. Green's company enlargiDg
the capacity of its canal and doubling its
drain upon the river? These questions
naturally supplement themselves by an
other: What will be the effect upon
the navigability of the river and its car
rying capacity" Upon these inquiries
hinges a matter of the gravest Importance,
for it must be taken as beyond dispute that
for no purposes whatever must the nav
liability Of the Sacramento river be threat
ened. It has been sadly injured by by.
draulic mining its bed is choked by the
debris washed from these mines the clear
anoe Of its channels must be had, and in
that work we look to the securing capacity
of the river as the greatest aid that ca.
pacity depends upon the volume of the
water and its confinement to the channels;
to the Strengthening of the river at at least
one point, and to the flow of all the clear
water possible in the stream. Our Colusa
friends will therefore see the necessity, be.
fore going on with their work, of efectu-
ally establishing what they claim, that the
taking olt of water in a canal 60 feet wide
and seven feet deep with possible future
enlargement in view will not seriously
affect the navigability Of the Sacramento
river We sincerely trust that they will
be able to do so, and thus dispel the fears
here entertained