Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-08
A PRACTICAL REVIEW.
What was Sworn to In the Gold Run Case
The Whole Levee Debate Reviewed and

iuo " Aolc kefee ueDatS Reviewed and
Analysed by Practical Man.
EDS. RECORD UNION have carefully fol.
lowed this levee debate. 1 have sifsed all
the testimony, read all sides, and made up
my mind as TO the facts and having all my
life acted in thst way relative to all public
matters, permit me TO call my fellow citizens
attention to the present result.
At the beginning of the discussion the OF
ponents of the measure denied "the necessi-
ty as whole. take it that is proven by
the surveys and opinions of experts. But
the opponents specifically denied the necessi-
ty Of work being done anywhere on the north
levee, because of its great elevation above
nigh water; now they condemn the specifics
items presented by the Board of Trustees be-
eau e no provision is made for raising it still
higher, saying that the proper way to
strengthen it is by Tightening it they would
make 1t as thin as a board, no matter what
its hight; with them its base and slopes
count for nothing.
AFTER RANTING AROUND
About no provision being made for raising
the levee, they silently ignore the low swale
beyond Brighton Junction. where it IS neces-
sary to raise the levee, and where it is pro.
! posed to do so, and where there is actual dan.
| ger OF the hlod water entering the city in
case Of higher water than in 1881, and which
would occur in 1884 il we get equal rainfall
| with Los Angeles. They know full well that
it would do so, not having dared to accept
MIR. Basse5t's challenge 10 establish the con.
| traIy at his expense. And yet, after failing
| to come to time on the challenge, they pro
coed to talk SIS though the test had been
made, and the decision had been in their ia.
vor. Subhmity Of cheek Do they not
know that in the Gold r IN trial where
| frequently attended George CGd3oalader caliea
as d igitHeSS tRiS same Mr. BdSSeH, aud made
Point by Mr. Bassett there testifying, I'm.
| der oath, TO the same condition of affairs a,
| the Brighton swaIe as he stated in the report
| printed By you? Ii Bassett swore to a lie,
he should be indicted for perjury. l take il
that he told the truth, because he swore to it.
because Cadwalader brought it out, and be.
cause Bsssett has chsllenge up 60 prove il
by re-turvey. Certainly Bsssett when or
the stand two years ago, could not have hac
in view the frightening the people.
THE FRONT STREET LEvEE.
But let me look OF the course Of the oppo
nents ss to Front street. Il pass with but
word as beneath consideration the idea tina
the railroad shops are outside the need O
levee protection, or that the Trustees are such
fools as to do work on the Sixth.ssreet grade
The opponents ia the start were sure tht
front leyee was nowhere less than s. fee
shove high water. When challenged By thu
engineer to prove the truth of their ssser
tons, they completely swallow themselves b.
accepting his figures, but persisted in main
tanning that it is splendid legec etcn then
When Engineers Pierson and Bassett repor
the hight OF certain VIGOROUSLY low point
along Front street, they solemsly assert tina
they have measured rut" or depres
sion" at the foot Of the leyse, and intim ut
that because certain improvements, as th
water works and railroad shops are outside o
the line Of the levees Of many years ego
therefore
THEY SHOULD BE ABANDONED
To overhow. AT last. when confronted wit
the unwritten testimony Of Their 01ga tnfalltjl
lgitReSS William Kuox, and his assertions a
20 the danger the CITY would be in from
flood like that of 1862. they adroitly turi
themselves inside out, and claim the rewar
for having pointed it out, and condemn every
one who fails TO agree with them. The,
ssssil the Citizens Association and City E1
gineer for failing to add to the estimate tn
cost OF such work IS they
THEMSELVES DECLARED UNNECESSARY
A rev Gays previously, and where they ne
ured out splendid levee, even at the en-
giueers figures. They are mad at the eu
giaeer for not turning everything up5id
down on Front street on his own rep71si
billy. They think that somehoy
he should have made a shrewd CUES
as to how much it would cost to raise tn
railroad tracks, the freight depots and steam
boat landings how much it would cost to re
pave the street throughout its entire length
and how much it would cost to raise tn
stores, warehouses ard other buildings to
higher grade. They think that he SHOULD
have borrowed some Of their cheek, and as
sumed the position Of arbitrator, decide hov
much of the cost of the work should be born
by the property owners, how much by tn
railroad company and how much by the city
They know full well that nearly if not quit
all the work named above would have to o.
done. and yet accuse the City Engineer o
the most unexsmplsd Inconsistency they evel
heard Of because ne does not assume all tn
functions of government and proceed TO d.
the whole business himself.
I