Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-22
RELIEF END RECLAMATION.
SIX COUNTIES REPRESENTA- IN
CONVENTION.
Plans for Taking Care Of the Flood
Waters Of the Sacramento
River.

ing, a convention was beiQ yesterday alter
noon at Pioneer Hall to discuss PROPOSE
tons to relieve the Sacramento river of its
food waters and improve its navigation
were present from the
counties of Colusa, Yelo, Solano, Sut,eo,
Yuba and Sacramento. San Joaquin vas
not represented, though delegates were ex-
pected. There was large attendance, end
q great deal OF interest was manifested, all
agreeing that the subject was one OF the
most important nov before the people OF
this great valley.
The meeting was called to order at
o'clock by Sparrow Smith, Chairman of
the committee, who stated the objects of
the meeting and the manner in which it
had been called. He stated that Mr.. A.
Boschke would present his proposition.
and asked that it be discussed in broad
and generous way. In justice TO Mr.
Boschke, he said that gentlemen had no
ak to grind, and was not seeking any DO
sition. He was an engineer in the employ
of the United States Government, and had
been since 1913.
F. K. Alsp nominated for Chairman of
land, who was unanimously elected. On
taking the Chair Mr.. Johnston thanked the
meeting for the honor conferred. He I'M
derstood that the meeting was a prelimi-
nary one for the purpose of else ing per-
manent organization.
G. G. Pickett was elected Secretary.
The Chairman called upon Mr. Boschke
to explain to the meeting his plan for the
relief of the river, which that gentleman
did by the aid of map. showing all The
data. His address covered the same ground
as his report to the Board of Trade, which
was published in full in the RECORD q MON
on December 12lh. He stated that it was
simply his desire to outline a general plan
to relieve the river; all the details could be
left for the engineers who would have
charge of the work. 1t was proposed to re-
Heve the river not only OF its flood wster,
but at the same time to reclaim some 800
600 acres of tule land. The expense of
building the 800 miles of levee REQUIRED
would not exceed million and a half dol
lars, and he thought the owners of the tule
lands would raise that money.
DR.. G. N. Dixon of Sacramento called
upon civil engineer c. e. Grunsky 10 give
his views.
Mr.. Grunsky addressed the meeting
briefly, referring members for his views 10
the article containing them published in
the RECORD UNION yesterday morning. and
10 report lately written by Mr.. Manson
Chief Engineer of the State Board of Har-
Dor Commissioners He said that he had
no plan to propose, but he had no doubt of
the feasibility of taking care of the food
waters. The chief difficulty was legisla-
tive and the difficulty Of barmonizing indi-
vidual interests.
T. W. Sheehan said that the proposition
cd Z
outlet for the water at the point where il
was proposed to have the relief canal empty
into the river at the junction of Cache
slough, Steamboat slough and Old river.
He asked Mr.. Grunsky if the outlet from
Rio Vista down could be widened and
deepened sufficiently to carry of the water.
Mr.. Grunsky replied that ii undoubtedly
could. There was no question about that.
" But will it be done?Y asked the Chair
man.
Mr.. Sheehan said that if that channel
could be deepened and widened so as to
carry all the water, that would end the idea
OF going through the Montezuma hills.
o. A. Loydal, George Ohleyer and Mr..
King propounded various questions to Mr..
Grunsky as to the effect Of reducing the
volume of water. The latter stated that
according to Captain Eads the more the
river was confined the greater its securing
capacity.
Mr.. Grunsky replied that Captain Eads
was right, so long as the water could be
confined. 1t was not proposed 10 have less
water running III the river. A proper
treatment of the river would result in keep
ing twice as much water in it rs there is
now, and instead of further accumula-
ton of debris, the river would be secured
out.
". S. GREENS IDEAS.
E. X. Alsip sent up to the desk the fol.
lowing letter, which was read by the Sec
rotary:
CoLUsA, December 20. 1855.
EdiciH K. ALsip-DEAR SIR: In accordance
with your request called a meeting at Cousa
to send delega es to the meeting of our Board
of Trade tomorrow. Although the matters to be
discussed are of the most vital Importance 10
the people of Colusa and the land owners of the
vicinity, there was no meeting held I shall
myself be present if possible but being i'm
doubt about it, and believing it to be the duty of
every good citizen 10 contribute his mite TO
whatever Is for the welfare of the community
III which he resides, desire to say through Won
to your Board thai there has never been a more
important matter brought TO the attention of tue
people OF the Sacralle INTO valley than the con-
trol OF the HOOD waters of the Sacramento river
me outlet system Is by no means new. u a
member OF the Legislature of 1868, in present.
ing the land bill that passed that by, suggested
that general plan of reclamation should be
| adopted by the Sta e, and that while partial
reclamation should be permitted by the land
owners, they should work to the system so that
in the end ali the work would he valuable and
system completed. then suggested the outlet
theory, but there was no available data on
which to base p an. Some member imbued
with the importance OF the matter introduced q
bill, appointing Commission composed of ]
W. Bost, Amos Mathews and myself to report
plans to the next Legislature There was no
appropriation made TO pay expenses, and the
other Two members declined TO do anything
At my own expense had surveys and maps
made on which TO base some plans and esti
mstes. The large map then made ! have pre-
sented to Mr.. Grunsky to hand to you. The re-
port was made to the Legislature in 1S6q-7O WIS
printed, and suppose copies may be found III
the ONCE OF the secretary of State. As Will be
seen by the map, an outlet canal was recon-
mended, commencing Just below the town of
Princeton, on the east side OF the river and ex-
tending down through the center of the low
lands of Colusa and Suffer counties to the river
at Grays bend, Just above the mouth of the
Feather The canal then was to extend through
me me iolo. osslp, and across narrow neck efthe
Moniezumh hills between Linda slough and
Nurse sloueh-the latter putting into Suisun
bay several miles north of the mouth of the
river.
Twenty years of subsequent observation and
study have modified my views but little
would now, perhaps, take out a canal on the
west SIDE OF the river somewhere within few
miles OF Colusa-up the river Take the waters
thai escape through Butte slough on through
the suffer basin and ser IS the river as above
and then carry canal across the tule from
ciROcltC lne ulOuti OI the American river.
All these outlets would, of course have to
be provided with Pate-ways the river
lereed, and the water liz winter be carried up TO
a danger line to make the river scour out
Otherwise there would be ba's form below each
outlet, and the carrying capacity OF the river
would be'cuTtailed and navigation impaired II
Is hardly believed necessary, however, to dis
cuss the details Of the outlet system Thst has
been diseased for he last twenty years Twill
observe, however, that The idea Of throwing the
hood waters OF the river back into the river
through Cache slough is entirely on. of the
question. In state of nature the flood waters
flow out through the Yolo basin. carrora, SO TO
speak. on the Montezuma hills. flow into across
aud up the Sacramento. causing baek-water or
check IN the current up as far as Sacramento.
l would control Cache and Putah creeks By
dams in the mountains, letting their food waters
down more gradually.
Bui. as have said the discussion of the de
tails OF the outlet sgstrn is not now so IN portant
as the question of finance. Its thoroughly prsc
teal with plenty OF money: il is impractical
without mcnev. You will remember that !
brought this same outlet question before your
Board of Trade during the sitting OF the last
asked to pt.t some thousand or more of the con
viets on the work My suggestion is ID at we get
FUNDS from three sources G the State ut
prisoners on the work. ami board them AID
guard them as she now does; let the United States
government make au appropriation ST some
~, ,.v9 iorta improvement of navigation. and
tax the land benefited forthe balance Tisssse are
some halfmillion acres OF land the tile To
when came through the swamp grant, and yasr-
maps bait "a mEeh more ether land that would
be herehted An average tax Of $40 per acre