Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-06
90GsL
NnR RIgER.

OUR RfgER.
The Government Asked 70 Improve its
NayiSetion-rroposeG Liquidation.
A injecting of the Board Of Trade was held in
the parlors OF tie Golden Eagle Hotel at 8 p NJ
yesterday President Joseph Steffens presiding.
The Chairman stated that the object of holding
the meeting was TO induce the Legislature to
pass certain concurrent resolutions asking Con-
gress to provide for the improvement of the
navigable streams of the State.
By invitation Albert Boschke, civil engineer
was present, and had with him a working
model of new dredser to be butt uron barge
which is known as the +" Steam Stern-wheel
Dredger and Hydraulic Dirt Conveyor.'
In addressing the board. MI Boschke said
s. The present unprecedented low-water stage
of the Sacramento river and the very doubtful
occurrence OF further rainfall of sufficient mag
nitude to cause the rivers to rise and scour the
existing and How-forming bars will probably
lead to an entire cessation of river navigation
for the transportation of freights upon the Sac
ramento and Feather rivels during tn. next
season. If. in your opinion, measures should
be taken to prevent such serious Inconvenience
to trade and additional cost of freights, re-
spectfully offer my services, TO advise and con-
suit with YOU, and to suggest practical remedies
" The distinctions to navigation consi of
number of bars with a depth OF water upon
them insufficient to allow our press mt steamers
and loaded barges to rass them. The work to
deepen them To the required depth is not for
mldable nor expensive ii we had suitable
dredging machinery to do the work with
There is sufficient money left from the last
river and harbor appropriation 10 pay for the
deepening of the ubstructing bars; we have
dredging machinery that can dig and pump the
dredged material to the nearest river bank at a
price not exceeding ten cents per cubic yard, at
profit. The nect ssily to resort to dredging
the bars now, and especially this coming season.
lays in the following two recognized facts:
i. The former remedies employed by me for
q number of years to assist navigation on these
rivers were building of wing dams, or by using
the United States snagboat Seller to deepen the
bars by scrapiDg or washing with the steamers
wheel. Either of these metnods necesstaied to
have strong current to scour or to carry off
the looSened gravel and sand to deep water be-
low the bars. In the coming season we cannot
expect TO have any stIo.g currents in the river
to serve either process
80. At present there is not a suitable dredging
machine in existence that could be proiitably
employed on this work. The peculiar require
ments in this case are: Cheapness and rapidity
OF the work TO be done; special adapted con
struction OF the dredge. that can with safety,
without breakage, work among the frequent
snags the dredRe -bucketS encounter, and next,
the indispensable combination of the dreGige
and hydraulic dirt-conveyor to deliver the
dredged dirt ashore by means Of pipes
My experience of twenty five years in build
ing and operating all kinds of dredging ma
ehinery in the Government service does enable
me to build dredge-pl INT which viii meet all
the requirements.
Yearly since 1850 Congress has made appro-
pristions for dredging the bars OF the Hudson
river between Albany and New YoTf and if we
had effective dredgi & machinery available for
the improvement OF the sacramento river, that
can work pTefitably ior ten cents per cubic yard,
we might reasonably expect that at least part
OF the Government appropriations would be ex-
pended in deepening the bars of the Sacramento
and Feather rivers. which annually give SO
much trouble.
u invite you to inspeet the designs and
models of an improved dredge-pant, which
would, il quit Immediately, secure the mercan-
lille community of Sacramento against the pos
sibifs 10 be cut of from river transportation of
freight for the next season entirely or at least
subjected to much delay
Captain Dwyer. President of the San Joaquin
line of steamers, said in his opinion there would
be but little water ia the river next season.
There is no snow to speak of in the mountains
and the river to day only marks eight feet
which is unusually low for this season of the
year. Should snow now fall in the mountains,
1t will be wet and soft and melt rapidly When
the snow falls early in the winters and packs
and fleeZes Tor months it lasts much longer.
Last season considers bic trouble was encoun-
tered in navigating the river. and from present
appearances it will be much more difficult the
coming season. If = suitable dredging machine
could be obtained that would clean out tie bars
and confne the water 10 narrower channels
there would be no trouble There is but little
current, and where the water spreacs out
over wide bar it soon shoals. Up
70 the present time all the Government
has done ior tbs Sacramento river has been to
build few wing dams and take out the snags.
He was in favor CT asking the Government TO
pat in a dredging boat and preserve to the
people this natural highway of commerce. re
did not know whether j. was the rault 81 our
members IN Congress or what it IVES. bu. ne
knew that tae PEOPLE Of the States of Oregon
and Washington received much larger appro-
priatioE from Congress 10 improve their rivers
aud harbors, and they did not need it half so
much.
III speaking ot the bars in the river the Cap
tain said they shi ted from place to place every
season, and yon cannot tell where they viii be
next season. He Spprehends trouble at Clarks-
burg. the Chieory lapch Sutterville, Hiseocks.
Just below the city. and III fact opposite the
city. Il the snow supply does not hold ont,
navieatiOn next summer will have to stop at
Clarksburg.
Captain Foster, who has charge of the rail
road line of steamers which ply between this
city and San Francisco, said he did hot think
navigation would entirely stop next season, but
it would eerts inly be worse than last year. and
that was bad enough. For fous months the
Apache and Modoc could not be brought 10 to
their wharf with1u having portion of their
cargo taken of at the bar below the city. This
necessitated so much handling of the freight
that it maternity affected the profit on river
traflic-so much so that the company was be-
coming disguised with its lire OF boats He
thought the plan suggested by Mr.. Boschke
good one and agreed with the statements made
by Captain Dryer. Congress should do some
thing for the relief of this people Every time
food comes down the American river il sends
more DEBRIS down in front of thi City in twenty
four hours than all the dredgers T.. the State
could remove in months.
Alter some further discussion. engaged in by
the Chairman. Sparrow Smith. l.. /. Lewis ana
engineer BaSsett, the Glowing resolutions were
unanimously adopted:
To the S.aaie and assembly Of The SAFE OF Cali
Jorgid WHEREAS, The merchants OF the city OF
Sacramento are DESTROYS of having action taEen
by the Federal Government towards removing
the obstacles which at the present time greatly
injuTe, and which in the near future viii en-
tireiy impede transportation and navigation
upon the sacramento and Feather rivers; and
whereas, You have become apprise1 of the great
evil which will inevitably result from this bar
rier TO commerce If some action is not taken by
the Federal Government, by having introduced
a resolution. known Ms Senate Concurrent Reso-
luton No. IL, asking our Senators and Repre-
seutat!ves in Congress 70 ask Tor and endeAyor
20 obtain an appropriation OF S2,0eo,0O0 10 be
expended IN the restoration of the navigation
Of the Sacramento and Feather rivers there
fore be it
RESOLVED. That the Sacramento Board of Trade
most respectfully asks that the resolution
known as Senate Concurrent Resolution No IL
iseet your approval and receive your sanction,
anu that you iase immediate action upon the
same, MS il is of the utmost importance 10 the
entire state that this action be had.
bone III open board this 9Th day OF March,
1883.
10 Tic Ssa1te and assemble Of he STATE Of Cdifo-
Rid. WHEREAS. There exists at the present time
large tracts OF lands known as swamp aud over
osycS; ramos On o. ere east ssfs ssst sAsiss ef
the Sacramento aud Feather rivers which we
deem could with proper legislation. be re-
claimed ard which are OF a most valuable ma
ture II proper lessslall0A De anScted. whereas
the Sacramento and Feather rivers sre beeom-
inc unnsvigabie from the deposits of sand and
dirt In them and In times OF heavy rains and
large foods unable tocarry OF the surplus waters
sent into ,Aem by such rains and foods, and
hence cause great dsnsge. IL is therefore
,ss' ". That the Sacramento Board of Trade
requests that immediate action be
ffgs regard TO tie matter. and that proper
legislation be rad at ouoe to promote such
zeclGm6slon for the restoration and careof the
said Sacramento aud Feather rivers.
Police Court.