Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-09


had threatened the city with damage suits
Mr.. Bates said he was in favor of aidins
in the improvement of the canal, but i
was useless to talk about the city anC
county going to work to try and hold bach
the Sacramento and Mokelumne rivers in
order to protect few land owners down
there.
Mr.. Johnston said the only proper outlet
for the drainage was through Snodgrss:
Slough, but not a shovelful of earth haG
ever been dug to let the drainage into
that slough. Mr.. Bassett had run the
canal into the tules down there, but did
not go within several hundred yards OF
Snodgrass Slough. The latter would afford
perfect drainage for the city if the canal
thereto was deep enough and of proper
dimensions. Mr.. Bassett was never d
friend of the canal, and his work showed
it. So long as water is allowed to flow in
its natural way the people on the low lands
would make no objection, but when water
was forced on them by artificial means then
they wo1ld kick, and keep on kicking.
The land -owners down there now had an
Injunction against the city, and could
close the canal at FreepOrt at any time, but
had not done so because they desire to give
the city chance to remedy the evil. He
said the canal must be commenced at tide
water and followed up on that level. The
people there did not object to having water
drained doWE upon them, provided there
was some way found to carry it off again.
As it nowiis, the water is thrown upon them
and allowed to remain there. He had
spent 81 100 of his own money to help take
the drainage off, but he had it still. Over
100000 had been expended the last wear in
building fine bridges to help some parts of
the county, and he believed the people on
the low lands were now entitled TO relief.
He ventured to say that three fourths of
the Sacramento lands, including the city,
now drained down into that locality. A
canal thirty to sixty feet wide should be
dug that would convey the tide-wate
right 1p TO the city, and then the ebb and
flow would handle the drainage. Besides,
q grand highway would thus be provided
that would be of more benefit than the Sac
ramento river 20 a large section of the
county. He thought that $25 OO0 would
build a good dredger, and run it from
Snodgrass slough right up to Sacramento
city.
Colonel McNasser said that a few years
ago he could run a steamboat on his land,
and had expended hundreds of dollars to
protect his land. The land is rich and fer
tile, or would be if reclaimed. He was as
sessed $3.50 an acre on land that now will
not grow spear Of grass. He agreed with
Mr.. Johnston, that a good canal to tide
water would not only relieve Sacramento
city, but open up thousands of acres of the
best land III the county, and add immensely
to the taxable wealth of the county.
Mr.. Johnston called attention to the fact
that the land in the Pearson district was
ten years ago worth about 81 an acre, but
now that ii is reclaimed, it is assessed at $50
an acre.
Trustee Mclaughlin said that Sacra-
mento city had not sent any water through
the Y-street canal since last May, and that
therefore did not contribute much toward
the nuisance complained of.
Mayor Gregory said that the Trustees
had considered the matter in its various
forms. He had conversed with many
farmers on the subject, and found that very
few of them agreed upon any definite plan
Some wanted one thing done and some an
other. Sacramento city contributes but
very little toward the quantity of water
that flows upon the low lands in the south
ern end of the county, and all this talk
about damage suits against the city does
not amount to anything. He suggested
that the people on the low lands get together,
come to some understanding as to what
they desire and appoint a committee with
full power TO consult with the Supervisors
and City Trustees as to the better course to
pursue. The City Trustees stood ready to
do all IN their power in the matter Of rem
edying the evil
Mr.. Johnston replied that the people
down his way were willing to allow the
Supervisors to act for them, in their official
capacity, and if the latter would visit the
locality affected they could readily see
what was necessary to be done Hethought
the Supervisors aud Trustees could handle
the matter themselves.
Mr.. Hull also spoke on the subject, in
dOrsing in the main the remarks of Mr..
Johnston. He held that the city required
better drainage, that there would be less
sickness in localities along the canal, if
the drainage were improved, and the TAX
able wealth of the county would be in
creased at least & million dollars.
Mr.. Coyle said that g good canal would
be great benefit to all the lands south of
the city.
Mr. Sims said he could see no objection
to the citizens of the lower end of the
county coming together and appointing a
committee to confer with the Supervisors
and Trustees in regard to the matter. 1t
might have a good effect; the Supervisors
and Trustees desired it, and it should be
done.
Supervisor Tebbets moved that the Board
instruct the County Surveyor to represent
the county in the matter, to inspect the
canal and its proposed outlet in conjunc-
ton with the City Surveyor, and to report to
the Board at as early date as possible. So
ordered
District Attorney Bruner addressed the
meeting and stated the legal propositions
involved.
PROPERTY OWNERS AGREEMENT.
The citizens met during the recess of the
Supervisors. William Johnston was chosen
to preside, and L. Greer as Secretary.
On motion of Joseph Sims, committee
of five was appointed to take charge of the
proposed regarding of the Sacramento City
drainage canal, to confer with the Board
of Supervisors and City Trustees.
The committee was named as follows:
Colonel James McNasser, Joseph Sims, a.
D. Hunt. George Hack and Mr.. Anderson.
On motion the Chairman was added to
the committee.
The following resolution, offered by Mr..
Sims, was adopted:
Resolved, I hat we, the undersigned, taxpayers
and residents on the line of the Sacramento
drainage canal, do hereby pledge ourselves to
be satisfied with such action and advice as may
be given by the committee heretofore appointed
by US to confer with the Board of Supervisors OF
Sacramento County and Trustees of Sacramento
City in the matter of reconstructing the drain
age canal from Sacramento City to Snodgrass
Slough, or in making any proposed alterations
thereto.
The resolution was signed by VIM. John
ston, c. a. Hull, Joseph Sims, Myron
Smith, James McNasser, L. NJ. Lincoln, Jas.
Coyle, Rock Hunt, George Hack, A. G.
Gourlie, - Edwards, A. B. c. Nusbaum.
WHERE WE LIVE.
a Land That Knows Not Billiards Nor
Death-Dealing Storms.
The highest and lowest Signal Service
temperature yesterday was 60 and 400
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