Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-02-29
RINGING TRUTHS.
Sketch CT Remarks Made on the Levee
Question at Public Meeting.

Sketch CT Remarks Made on the Levee
Question at Public Meeting.
At the meeting of Fourth Ward Republi-
cans on Wednesday night. when the caucus,
without dissenting vote. declared for the
$4,000 special lsves tax. Judge W. 81.
Beatty was called upon, and in substance
said:
I am in favor of the motion. The only
trouble / find is that $40. 900 is not enough
The SIS. 900 special and S12, 900 regular levee
tax is too small TO do the work needed. This
city was flooded twenty-five years ago. A
generation has grown up here. Few of it
know what food is. Some msy imagine
that because we have higher levees now than
in 1852, we are safe. But they
fail to see that the capacity of
our river channels have diminished
They have been filled up and raised from Is
to 80 feet. The American practically has no
banks. At Brighton it is almost level.
know, as all who were here in 1862 know,
what fool means. came back here in
1881 and found the waters up and all the
people alarmed. For my own satisfaction
went out and over every foot of the leves
clear up to Brighton. Just beyond the cross
ing of the road at Brightoo, where the Fol-
som road from Sacramento turns, found
that the land declines and that the waters
came up to within just 16 inches of the top of
the railroad embankment. At that very time
when 16 inches more of rise would have cent
the waters over, the water at Folsom was
NOT WITHIN EIGHT FEET
As high as it was in 1862 Remember that
fact. l state it on the authority of A. p.
Catlin, vino then lived there. Suppose eight
feet more had come. what then? What then,
with the American all filed up, as it was not
in 1862? tell you the rains of 1881 were
nothing in comparison TO those of 1861. l
appeal to men who know. We have
never had such rains since. We msy
have them again. Here, let me map it out
comes down. and at the spo. 1 re-
fer to comes full head on to
the land, and is By it turned off along the
course of the east leyes. Had the eight feet
more of water come, / aver it would hsve
gone over the sixteen inches and have washed
away the embankment and turned down an
irresistible food into the city. They tell US it
would run eff toward Whisky Hill. Some of it
would; but sny man with an eye and idea for
distances and proportions can see that the
engineers are right when they say il would
have largely coms down inside the north
levee. and have swept into the city. 1t may
do SO yet. The Thirty'firss street grade
WOULD NOT STAY IT.
There is 70 way for such food TO run off.
It will sweep over by its momentum into the
city, and whelm us. With such food water
as we had in 1861, this city, unless we guard
against it in time, is certain to be overlooked.
To this effect we have the testimony of
two engineers TO that effect is the belief of
hundreds of our people whose all is here.
Against this we have the prejudicss and
wrongheadedness of people who get up and
oppose it out Of pure bullheadedness, as it
seems to me. Anyone who has read the
RECORD. UNION and the Bee debate on this
matter. who gives the matter calm Judicial
examination, must see that the RECORD.
UNION has the best and right of the PROPOSE
ton. We ought to raise our whole system of
levees, and 30 improve them as
TO INSURE OURSELVES,
And not trust to the dogmatic assertions Of
people who don't seem to know what they are
writing about, or the force and value Of eVi.
dence. Applsuse.) What does food mean?
1t means, as l have known them--it means
the absolute destruction of from 800 900 to
$500, 0O0 worth of personal property first
It means the destruction Of our beautiful,
ornamental fruit trees and gardens
1t means the upturnipg and ruin of our
streets.
1t means vast depreciation of real prop
erty values.
1t means cost of perhaps 100000 to get
hack to even present security and rebuild our
system.
It means stoppage Of trade, a world. wide
reputation for insecurity recorded against us.
Il means cessation of labor in factories.
1t means bankruptcy Of the rich and the
ruin of the poor.
1t means vast injury to the country around
us. 1t must protect itself, it is true ; bus
Sacramento has deep interest in her sur
rounding country from which she draws
trade and to which she furnishes supplies.
I believe 800, 900 judiciously spent on our
levee5 will add $500, TO our values, assess-
able and taxable and salsbls. Remember,
THE VALUE OF TOWN PROPERTY IS ITS SAL
ABLE VALUE.
That value is made by the desire of only
few to buy. Bring one hundred men here
ready to buy lots. and mark the result 1t
will give new and appreciated value to every
lot in town. Yes, just enc hundred desiring
purchasers raises all cur values. Every man
of you know this to BIZ the truth
i. S. Taylor then recounted his experiences
in the flood Of 1862 What has happened
may happen. We must guard against the
probable. You remember when driftwood
against the rsilroad bridge made dam, and
the waters piled up and swept away the
bridge Sincs then the levee has been raised
up four or five feet. But, for quarter of
mile up the north levee the water toppled
over. When the dam broke down went the
water. | am for making ourselves SO secure
that we shall not, whenever the waters rise,
have our wives urging US tn move the furni-
ture up stairs Laughter I've had that
experience. You know how it is.