Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-02-25
AN OPEN LETTER FROM CITY EN-
GINEER BAssETF TO W. P. KNOX.
Full Concurrence and Enforcement by
James c. Pierson, County surveyor and
CiviI Enpfueer

Full Concurrence and Enforcement by
James c. Pierson, County surveyor and
Civil Engineer.
SACRAMENTO, Cal. February "a, 1884.
VIM. F. Knox, ESQ, Sacramento, CAL
Dear Sir: see by an interview printed in
the Bee of Saturday last that you differ with
me to some extent as to the utility of certain
work which I have recommended to be done.
From April. 1873, to April, 1880. you and
myself were intimately associated together in
such levee work az vas being done, and re-
peatedly talked over the subject of levee pro-
lection, relative to such work as still remained
to be done to insure perfect safety to our city.
Some OF the work that you deemed essential
has since been done, and part remains un-
done. Soma of that which remains undone
is included in the recommendations stated in
my address to the Citizens Association, and
which row, as 1 sse by your interview of
Saturday, you think does not need to be
done, as you have included nothing for the
cost of doing such work in your estimate.
Do you not know that you have repeatedly
stated that all our levees, including the north
and east levses, should be set to Bermuda
grass their entire length?
Do you not know that on that section OF the
leyee from the American river railroad bridge
to Brighton, Bermuda grass will not grow,
owing to the character of the soil. and that
the only way in which it can be made to grow
is by facing the levee with material suited
to such growth?
Do you not know that you have repeatedly
made the remark to me and others that the
Y 4 {
Burns slough to Brighton is OF such a char.
scter that It would "mire a blanket?'
Doyou not know that the preparation of the
levee for the growth of Bermuda grass and
the planting OF the same have not been done
since you went out of Office, and that unless
some special funds for doing the work are
raised it will remain undone, and the levee
continue to be exposed at those points, with.
cut protection
Do you not know thst in case of heavy
north wind in conjunction with very high
water in the American, that section of
evee which is 80 soft snd wet that it would
"mire blanket would be in danger of be-
ing rapidly cut out by the combined action of
the waves and current?
According to your own statement a Ber-
muda grass facing is of great benefit to
levee. and yet my estimate is only for provid-
ing such protection upon 16 900 feet in length
Of the levee, and by including nothing in
your estimate for IL you say to us, Do not
do it.
Now concerning the hight of the water in
the food of 1S67-S. Eueig one knows that 6el0U
the American river railroad bridge, the food
hight was not nearly so great as in 1861 and
1862 either in Center township or abreast of
Sacramento city. You ought to know, as
you do know, that the high water at the
bridge was caused by the dam built by the
railroad company in the shape of an embank-
ment grade for its track (where the present
trestle leading to this bridge is), and that the
influence of that grade in damming back the
waters did not of necessity extend TO Folsom.
You know, or you ought to know, that the
influence of that dam did not extend so fer
up the river IS Brighton to the extent of
causing at Brighton higher Water than that Of
1861 and 1862. In the immediate vicinity of
the dam it did cause higher water, until the
embankment gave way, than in 1861 and
1862, and for considerable distance above.
But Brighton is located three miles from where
the so.called dsmmiDg took place, and on
ground considerable higher than the top of
the railroad grade that formed the crest of
the dam of 1867 and 1868 Therefore, no one
rho examines the situation critically aoW sag
(GS think no one ercept yourself does say
.itOVA
1867 and 1865 1CdS in excess Of that of 1861
and 1862.
Concerning the question as to where the
waters would flow if the food hight should
exceed that of 1881 by one foot and run out
over the country beyond the end of our levee,
l will extend to You the came CHALLENGE
that 1 did to the Bee, and which it neither
published nor accepted, viz: The selection of
a competent engineer to independently deter
mine the facts, and he who is wrong shall pay
the bill.
I do not claim that all the water that
might come out of the American at that
point would flow into our city from the east,
hut thst a portion, and that, too, a re1y con-
siderable portion, would, and would cause
damage vastly in excess of what it will cost
to prevent it; while such portion as would
pass to the east Of the hospital snd enter the
basin Immediately bslow the city by way of
Willow slough, would undoubtedly give us
higher back water than has ever yet been
known against the Y or R.street levees.
You should not forget, dear sir, that it is
possible for floods to come upon us from the
American and Sacramento, which shall az
coed even the great flood of 1861 aud 1862,
and that the least ire should do is to prouide
for such emergencies. Respectfully, yours,
l.. f. BAssETT, City Engineer.
SACRAMENTO, February "a, 1884.
have been requested, not By Mr.. Bassett
to read the foregoing letter and express an
opinion thereon. The views expressed by
Mr.. Bsssett in his recommendations for levee
improvements and his views expressed in the
above letter fully meet my approval and I
heartily concur therein. J. G. PIERsoN,
County Surveyor and Civil Engineer.