Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-02-18
TIE LEvBE QUESTION.
A Crittque from stranger on the Discus
sion of Levee Matters.

sion of Levee Matters.
sojourner in Sacramento, and have TO peIma-
nent interest in your city or its environs. 1
observe the discussions relative to your levee
expenditures, and particularly that reported
Doubtless it is none Of my business, but still
venture to put in my say-so.
As l understand tie matter, committee Of
your Association Of Citizens recommended
the raising Of special amount of $40, 900 for
levee purposes. The evening paper opposes
this item. The Association meets again, con-
sideres the question, and the City Engineer
and County Surveyor make statements Of
facts and figures which had guided the com.
mittee in its deliberations.
The evening paper, in the same issue that
reports these lfs. proceedings. denies the cor.
rectness of the facts, asserts that the esti.
mates are much too high, and implies that the
engineers opinions are probably not worth
having.
1t says: We have calculated generously,
and we have placed the figures higher than
they need be. In fact, we stretch matters,
and we figure up handsome levee outlay as
follows" snd then follows figures sggregsting
$50, 900, in place of $40, 600.
In the first place, if your town Trustees
have not accurate information, in map form
on large scale, concerning the details of fact
with respect to levees, floods and adj AGENT
channels, they have neglected an indispens-
able preliminary to really intelligent action
on your questions.
1t such information exists in proper form,
your engineers have either misqueted it. or
Your contemporary is guilty of the most re-
freshing dogmatism that has come under my
notice in this State of personal assurance.
If your City Engineer and the Surveyor
have not such Information before them, they
are simply lowering what is elsewhere consid-
cred a very respectable profession. by at.
tempting definite advice on insufficient
knowledge of facts and study of them.
If it is fact that these gentlemen have al
lowed themselves to be drawn into public
discussion Of profes Jional questions merely as
citizens, while they are reported as engineers,
doubtless they are the victims Of local mis-
conception Of what constitutes civil en-.
gineer. and are obliged to come forward with
their views. like other citizens, in open meet.
ing, to avoid being considered siiff-backed or
ignorant.
If there is anything in the engineering pro-
fsssion, it is that as the result of the study
of natural science, Of physical phenomens
and of engineering experiences, the individual
becomes qualified to take up a subject of
this kind, marshal the facts, point out thsir
bearing, forecast their fleets, and plan for
desired defense.
Upon such exhibits of facts, discussions
and plsnnings and advice from such sources,
cit;z ma can intelligently determine whether
OF nos they should submit to be taxed to carry
out the work. There is no mystery about
engineering methods; but it takes tins to
become o really competent engineer, just as
it takes time to be a cool lawyer or a sue
cessful merchant.
1t does not sppsar TO me whether Messrs.
Bissett and Pierson have been called profes
sionally 20 study and advise in this case or
not. If they have not, your citizens are doing
them great injustice by pumping them for
professional opinions and your city will
eventually suffer for want OF proper guidance.
These engineers should be given proper op-
portunity to study your problems and to
bring tie data into a thoroughly digested
and indispusable form, il you want their
opinions, and they should be paid for the
service. Or else you should send abroad and
get some one in whom you have sufficient
confidence to trust with the study.
You certainly would not expect your law
yers aud your doctors to serve in parallel
cases in their profession at public meetings.
and discuss points st law or physic, for your
DEDICATION or pecuniary benefit.
II your city were going into the Supreme
Court of the State with a case involving very
much Of the valuation of your whole property
you would employ counsel and pay well for
preliminary advice as well % Tor the conduct
Of the case il Court.
In he oTezeDf AZ Wy, tav oooo
trial before the Supreme Court of Nature.
You desire to get out q perpetual injunction
against Jupiter Pluvius, restraining him from
running over your town and destroying your
property.
True, you have built your town where he
was wont to spread, but you wish the doc
trine declared that he must use his channels
without flooding your streets.
This is big case. This years proceed
ings, at the lowest estimate will cost $40 600
Many Of your citizens think the amount
should be doubled. Do you realize that the
case will be on trial at every term of the
High Water Court? Do you realize the fact
that you are all playing lawyer? Do you re-
member the saying c)ncernirg the lawyer
that conducts his own case?
To throw off the alegOry. Under these
circumstances it is not so surprising that such
dogmadc and senseless articles as tn. one
quoted from your evening contemporary
should appear.
Who is this little psper, anyhow? Great
Cesar. 'We calculate generously " Heavens
what rise in paper and pencils must have
followed or was it mental arithmetic that
was SO strained?
" In fact we stretch matters Great
guns Stand aside, something is going to
pop We figure up a handsome levee ou.-
lay" God bless US, what extravsgauce the
governments Of the world are guilty Of in
msiotsining engineering corps to study these
problems, because here in Sacramento is a
man who might do it all handsomely, for it
is quite evident that with one sweep Of his
eagle eye he has surveyed the whole situa-
ton, ascertainirg all pertinent facts, past aud
present. with single mental effort he has
estimated quantities, made out schedules,
affixed rates and determined costs with
one pluck upon his store Of knowledge he has
drawn the Key to the whole situation ; aud
with one sweeping wiggle Tor one wiggliug
sweep of his pen he has put together col
umn of engineering literature, soaring in its
ideas. profound in its wisdom, broad in its
views, massive in its truth and brilliant over
its entire facade. Selah God be praised
Sacramentans, be happy; follow this shining
light; bssk III its rays, for while the sun con-
tinues to shine you need fear no floods
STRANGER.