Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-21
To-DAY's CONVENTION.

PrpNeIaent- III is dual subject, but with
Its parts inseparably connected. 1t ought
to nave the most deliberate consideration,
for it is fraught with an importance second
to that Of no question that the people of
the river counties must meet.
We have these conditions to start with:
A river formerly navigable to Red Bluff
by vessels of very considerable draught,
which has been so filled up by artificial
processes that its bed in front Of this city
has been raised until low-water mark is
now fully nineteen feet above the register
Of twenty years ago only boats of light
draught are able to reach Sacramento. and
the tide has ceased to manifest itself at
this point, The river channels have been
clogged and choked until the banks no
longer retain high waters, and in very
Or mary flood nights levees give way and
the low lands on either side are flooded
through numerous crevasses. There are of
these overaowed lands probably 100000
acres, fully 100000 of which can, by a
uniform system of drainage, taking into
Its scheme the whole river system, be
brought under cultivation and made to in
crease the assessment roll by S5,000000 at
the lowest rate. They are, under reclama-
ton, of the most fruitful character, and
c2n be made to add vastly to the wealth
ard commerce of upper California, and to
the Importance of the trade of the whole
section We have river that engineers
agree cannot be made 10 carry its flood
waters, that can be relieved and restored
to greatly better navigable uses than at
present, and the bank lands of which are
the most fertile of any in all the State,
and even under present discouraging con-
ditions rate at astonishingly high values.
The Government engineers stand immova-
bly, in the way of propositions for the
United States to improve the river, make
some needed cuts to shut out loops, to
clear It's channels thoroughly, until its
flood waters are taken care of By the
people.
Now these being the conditions, what
remedies should be applied? We are not
committed to any special scheme, nor to
any definite plan of action. The lay in
terest must concede to engineering knowl-
edge great deal in this matter, and it
awaits with profound interest the result of
engineering judgment of the situation.
One plan has been outlined by an engineer
and Endorsed by others, that will be con-
sidered to-day. 1t has strong features, and
1t has already awakened some objections :;
but the latter ought not to be pushed from
any local prejudices, or any timidity as to
results. In this whole matter the people
must proceed upon a plane very much
above locality; they must be willing to lay
aside preconceived ideas for the judgment
of engineering science, and the conserva-
tism Of business wisdom. On the other
hand, it is not demanded that scientific
theory shall displace experience or prac-
teal reason, or that we should, out of
hand adopt that which the engineers adj
vance; that is to say, reason must fortify
and commend whatever is proposed.
OF one thing there ought to be no dis
pute-a reclamation system that does not
embrace in one harmonious method the
tvf,o4a cxuaop Of Io,t.lo,J, %, Ill. Il Al
river is valueless. There must be compre-
hensiveness and harmony in the scheme to
be adopted. Atpresent we have score of
small reclamation districts leveeing against
each other, with the result that the man
with the largest purse builds strongest,
and the poorer and weaker go under.
Moreover, there is no real reclamation
without drainage, and that has not vet
entered into our labors, by the digging of
SO much as a yard of drainway. Under
the law, whoever throws up a bank of
earth about bit of swamp land, at cost
OF 81 per acre, is recognized as having re-
the land, and receives back from
the State the money he has paid for it.
let all that has been done in such a case
IS TO wall out water in food seasons, and
force it upon neighboring lands. The
truth is, we viii accomplish nothing
until all the reclamation districts along
the river are consolidated, and uni
form system, operating equally upon all
is adopted. When this is done, it is claimed
by engineers that twill be possible to con-
fine overlooking waters between artificial
banks, and convey them along lowest
natural routes to a common outlet The
scheme to be discussed to-day comprehends
some such plan, but it has long been con-
and for years been advocated
by engineers. The scheme of to-day, how
ever, gees farther, and proposes to take
INFO this artificial way surplus waters of
the river in food stages that ROW pou,
through numerous crevasses and
food the adjacent lands Still another
an proposes to take out these flood water
at several selected points instead of one
upper point, and also system of cross
levees between river and drainway, by
which rainfall and any possible overflow
may be drained more rapidly by being
confined The artificial banks for the
drainway it is proposed to take out of its
bed and thus by creating a lower level
enable all the lowlands to be drained to it.
as We have said, we are not committed
to any scheme, and have referred to those
indicated with view to call the public
mind to the facts and the propositions
to oe discussed to-day. But of one thing
We are convinced, that the Federal Gov
eminent will take hold of river improve
ments only when the valley takes care Of
the flood waters, and that the valley can do
this at such charge upon lands benefited
as viii be, not only no burden, but will en-
hance their values immensely. OF course,
while the reclamation of the low lands is
OF the greatest Importance to the State,
and to upper California especially, and
viii greatly augment population, trade,
and transportation, it cannot