Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-12-07
TAPPING THE RIVER.
C. Z. Grunsky's Description of the Work
Jast Completed.

C. f. Grunsky's Description of the Work
Jast Completed.
From G. E. Grunsky, civil engineer, we
learn that the dam and masonry head-gate
recently alluded to in these columns as
being constructed under his direction for
Messrs. Moulton and Crocker, in Colusa
county, have been completed. The struct-
ures are located on the east side of the
Sacramento river, about one mile above
Princeton, in high water channel, Davis
slough, which there breaks out from the
river. The purpose of tie head gate, Mr..
Grunsky says, is TO regulate the flow of water
in the slough and to keep it under control
during the flood stages of the river 1t pre-
vents disastrous inundetions such as have
frequently occurred in the past by reason of
the great flow of water through the Gre
vases in the levee at that point, and it
makes the flow OF the slough available for
irrigation. Whenever the river rises above
the hight of its natural banks, a condition
which frequently occurs for protracted
periods in the months from November to
June, its water is hemmed in by levees
which have been constructed by reclama-
ton districts or by individual land-own-
ers to prevent inundation. at such times
there is always more or less danger that
the levee will break Consequently every
outlet through the levees which reduces the
volume of flow at points below, to the same
extent reduces the danger of breaks in the
levees. But while the water stands above
banks near the river at any time during the
months above named, it might be made to
serve useful purpose if it were properly
controlled. Orchards and vineyards could
be thoroughly irrigated with it. Alfalfa
could be submerged from one to three
times. This is not all. If water were di-
verted from the river through the depres-
sions in its banks-through the high water
sloughs-it could be made to cover vast
areas OF land lying back from the river at a
lower level than the bank lands
This condition of the river suggests a
| simple method of utilizing its food waters,
particularly those occurring late in the sea-
son, say after February, for the irrigation
of lands close by the rivera system which
is already meeting with favor, as evidenced
by the irrigation works of Major G. +.
Packer and Hon. John Boggs, near Prince
ton, and number of other irrigatOrs near
Colusa. 1t has also suggested the construc-
ton of gates placed sufficiently deep in the
ground to draw some water from the river
even after it falls below its medium stage
such gate as that just constructed for
Messrs. Moulton and Crocker.
As already stated, it has been placed in a
natural channel which has a southeast
erly course, gradually separating from the
river, and ultimately uniting with Butte
creek. 1t is proposed to utilize this slough
as canal. 1t will be deepened as occasion
requires. From it water will be diverted
for the irrigation of adjacent lands Irriga-
ton will be possible according to the stage
of the water in the river at all points along
and near Its course, commencing at its
head.
The structure for the control of the
water entering the slough consists in the
main of masonry culvert 108 feet long. 6
feet wide and 81 feet high in the clear. be-
sides wrought iron pipe feet in diameter
inclosed in masonry. Culvert and pipe lie
side by side along the bottom of the slough
which was deepened to receive them. The
eulyert rests on a concrete foundation: its
bottom is as an inverted arch and its top is
arched. 1t is built of brick laid in cement.
At the upper end of the culvert
massive masonry wall with broad
footings is set deep into a trench
cut into very firm yellow clay
and rising to hight of % feet above
the bottom of the invert, closes effectually
tue spaces between the culvert and the
slough banks upon either side. This upper
wall ends in wings 30 and 35 feet long
| respectively, extending to high ground.
Above the wall resting against it and Sc
curely bolted to it, are the tiubers between
which the gates move that will regulate
the flow of water through the culvert. At
81 feet below the upper wall is a second
wall, constructed with great care, and also
carried to high ground to the right and left
of the slough. In the same plane with this
wall the culvert and pipe are encircled
with board ring OF concrete, carried well
into the clay bed and sides of the slough.
AT the lower end of the culvert a third
wall rises to the hight of the slough banks.
1t is connected with the side walls of the
culvert, which extend down stream six feet
further, and are then turned to the right
and left for a secure connection with the
natural banks of the slough.
The entire space between the upper and
middle walls above-described has been
| filled with earth, raised 10 a greater hight
than that of the adjacent levee, of which
| the earthwork now forms a part. The space
between the middle and lower walls is
filled with earth to the hight of the natural
| ground.
In anticiuation of soon being able to
irrigate large portion Of his lands, Mr..
Moulton has during the past season been
making experiments in rice and sugar cane
cultivation, to the success of which his ex-
hibit at our recent State Fair bore testi-
| mony.