Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-21

efforts are still being made to hold all the
water OF the river between the established lines
OF !eVees. Tnat 1t Is impossible TO do so can
easily be demonstrated with figures if necessary
rms TACT is. however, so generally conceded to-
Gay ny az VINO are eonversant with the river
dwell upon it at this time
Living upon the banks of the stream behind
an elght-foot high embankment of earth soft
eneo by the long continued rain, with the
water of the river already four feet above the
natural bank heights, and still raising, after
days and nights OF exciting work fighting the
encrosehlng flood, the farmer knows that If his
levee breaks, he is in danger of losing the
fruits OF his labor: the break NAV occur in front
OF MS barn, and he may lose mis- cattle and
horses, his very life and the lives of his family
are IN imminent peril: Is it to be wondered
the stream. or even on his neighbors land ?
Can we wonder If he steps forth in the darkness
and crosses the tumult of waters to cut out a
dam in some high water slough on the other side
OF the river, where the flooding will at least
endanger no lives?
Yet to this must our present reclamation sys-
tenn lead. II must pitthe residents OF one bank
OF The river against the other Each land
owner tries to outdo his neighbor in the
strength of his defenses against overflow a
neYer-ending war has been inaugurated which
Will only cease when we resort to a common
sense treatment of the river
WIN a relief canal answer? No Most en-
phatlcally, No And yet a drainage canal must
IN time become an important factor of the
OF this valley. 1t is only when we copy closely
after natures own provisions for relief thar we
can hope to establish a system of drainage
Which viii be success
1t being conceded that the flood flow of the
river cannot be carried between levees in their
present position on the high bank of land close
70 the stream and the construction of high
leyees on the lower ground some distance from
the river being out of the question some nro-
vision must be made for an escape of a porfion
OF the hood from the river whenever it rises to
the danger point.
In the past, whenever the floods have come
tney nave broken the lines of levees in many
places. They have repeatedly caused whole
sale destruction OF property, and it is time that
such accidents be prevented by establishing Sc
lected points of overflow ard controlling the
outgoing waters. This must be the first step to-
ward the establishment of an improved drain
age system. Whenever a break or crevesSe 10
cuIs in levee, the fierce rush OF water causes a
rapid erosion OF the soft bank land and not in
frequently more water flows through these great
ehannels Leading from the river than is left TO
now down the q ain stream. Such changes in the
natural flow of the water may cause rapid de-
poslt of sands below the crevasse and produce
other changes which it is unnecessary to dwell
upon. None such need be feared if artificial
outlets are provided, through which only SO
much OF the water is permitted to flow as will
prevent Its surface from rising above the danger
ine. moreover, they will compel a greater
volume OF water to flow in the channel of the
nVer than now flows there, and by their aid it
may be hoped in time to compel the river to
sweep 10 the sea the sand which to-day ObStr1cts
navigation.
The water which flows through such escane
ways as above advocated viii flow into the ba-
sins upon either side of the river as at present:
put II Is seitevldent proposition that they will
SEND less water into these basins than now goes
there By preventing the water of the river
from rising above the danger line they will re-
leve the residents upon the river bank of much
anxiety, and will prevent the destruction of
much valuable property.
Win System of escape ways once properly
established, the next step toward providing
oralnage-ways for the escaping water can easily
te taken. Ihe water must be permitted to flow
through channel of sufficient capacity toward
ana into Suisun bay. Along the course of this
channel, which, as matter of course will fol-
low The lowest line of the valley west of onr
river, emban kments o. earth NAV be thrown mn
which can be extended to the high land on the
west from one side of the drainage canal and TO
tne rlver levees on its other side. The construc
lion OF such canal with feeders from each of
the 1lver escape-ways would be relatively mex
pens1ve. 1t places the floods under control 1t
can be combined with system of cross-levees
to form most excellent means of providing
winter irrigation. 1t will in no wise be inter
tered with by Cache and Putah creeks. whose
waters, as necessity requires, can be controlled
IN their flow towards the canal
Such canal can be extended up stream as
far as the lands require drainage and it need
not be confined in its use to the reception of
HOOD waters: As locality after locality estab-
fishes irrigation systems the need of a conven-
lent receptacle for the surplus water of the
canals becomes apparent. The canal in the
position indicated would be a benefit to every
region now irrigated or hereafter to be irrigated
on the west bank of Sacramento river similar
canal on the east side of the river would of.
course, confer similar benefits to that side of the
stream.
There is no difficulty in the way of controlling
the flood waters of Sacramento river when the
matter is considered simply from an engineer
ing standpoint
Those that exist are of a financial nature and
dltfCnif tn II
me that the matter of constructing the proper
drainage works should be undertaken by the
parties who are to be benefited by the improve
mentS. The return in increased business and
increased values is so vast that will not now
attempt TO calculate it. but it ought to insure
united action. United action can be secured in
one OF two ways We may call upon the Legis.
lature TO appoint competent engineer or TO
appoint Commission, who shall employ the
engineer, to define the boundaries of drainage
districts which are to be benefited by proposed
drainage works. Proper reports having been
made, the residents OF the district would have
to decide by their votes whether the district is
to be formed and who are to manage its affairs,
and they would also have to decide to issue
bonds to execute and maintain the works pro-
posed for them. According to this plan it
would be necessary for the Board of Directors
OF every district TO properly apportion the taxes
70 the Dement'S TO be derived by each part of the
district. As the value of the bonds would be
Dredlcated to greater or less extent upon the
success OF the proposed works, there certainly
"OUAOi 40 III Tue CdSe VI TecldIuaLlOD districts,
be much difficulty experienced in placing
bonds unless the payment of the same were
guaranteed by the State.
The other plan would be to form q corpora
tion, whose stock ought to be held only by those
parties who are interested in the result This
STOCK should be issued as nearly as may be to
the individuals and corporations interested in
the success of the work in proportion TO the
benefit to be derived by each. To such cor
poration might be intrusted the planning exc
cutlon and maintenance of all the works re-
and to such corporation there would have to be
guaranteed by law source OF revenue, as, for
instance, the right TO collect tolls from vessels
navigating the canals; the right to collect an
annual rate from the cities within the drainage
district, from the irrigation districts for receiv-
ing their waste water, and from individual
landowners whose lands have been reclaimed
or benefited by the company's works
Either plan involves the consideration of so
many matters of detail that it is not my purpose
to discuss them more fully at this time. l have
but to add that whenever it may be proposed to
carry out the rational system of river improve
ment above indicated no opposition from the
Government engineers need be feared, because
they could not fail to recognize the aid which
the same would be to navigation. No matter
what the financial arrangements may be which
will ultimately lead to proper control of the
mood waters of our rivers the success of the
various undertakings will ever depend upon
harmony of action among those interested, and
If may be permitted to draw a conclusion from
the experience of the past, am constrained to
believe that no action will be taken until some
wet winter, like that of 1S6l-62, reawakens the
terrors OF a general flood. C. f. GRUSsKY.
Sacramento, December 1888.