Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-24
THE RIVER AND THE ENGINEERS.

There is a disposition among the army
engineers to whom the treatment of the
Sacramento river is committed, to do no
considerable work in fortifyiug the
banks Of the stream. 1t has long been I'M
derstood that these engineers do not be-
ieye in levee systems, because for one thing
incidentally they reclaim lands. Yet,
they all insist that if anything is done in
the way of treating the river it should be
comprehensive and systematic. Here is
one army engineer for instance, quoted by
the Examiner as saying that the navigation
of the Sacramento river is a matter of
small Importance any how. The people
tbink differently; but if the navigability of
the stream be put out of consideration, the
importance of the stream as drain-way is
sufficient TO demand its conservation by the
Government, and that it may be given its
full securing capacity, and that its surplus
food waters may be carried of by artificial
drain-ways, and that it be restrained from
doing damage to agricultural lands.
We are told that the army engineers are
opposed 20 any other work being done
upon the stream than such as viii preserve
Its natural banks from injury, the removal
of the snass that annually gather in the
several reaches, and here and there little
dredging to remove suddenly formed bars
1t is accepted among scientific men that
the army engineer is not of necessity the
fttest of engineers to have in charge the
proper treatment of rivers. Such work
calls for fitness that involves special train
ing. We do not have much faith, there
fore, that the river will be thoroughly
examiaed or treated so long as
the policy of the army engineers
guides the Government. And this is said
in no disrespect to such gentlemen. They
are PROFESSIONALLY conscientious in their
conclusions and honest in the policy they
are understood to advise. But it so hap
pens that men equally as eminent in en-
gineering science, and more competent by
reason Of special training, radically differ
with them as to what should be done for
the river. The people also Immediately
interested do not accept tue doctrine that
the navigation Of the river is of small i'm
portance. 1t is of the highest importance
in the development of the country, the
settling of vacant land, the increase of de-
sirable population, the prosperity of towns
and cities, the augmentation of the taxa
bic wealth of the State and the general
business of the Sacramento valley It is Of
the utmost Importance to every interest
in the State that the stream should not
flood the low lands and periodically do
millions Of dollars of damage to agri-
cultural interests. We trust that the
river convention will be called, and that
right soon, and that the people who have
Interests at stake and the good of the
State at heart, will express themselves
emphatieally in the matter of river re-
straint and restoration.
That whatever the Government may be
induced to do will rebound to the interests
of lard reclamation is but incident to the
prime purpose. No one wants the Gov
eminent to reclaim the lands of private
owners; no one has or will ask that the
Federal Government expend dollar in
reclamation of swamp lands. The Gov
eminent can never afford to commit itself
to any such policy. Yet it has improved,
corrected and restrained and relieved the
Mississippi, the Ohio, Delaware and
May other streams, and the incidental re-
sult has been to enhance the value of bank
lan3s. Bat no one has for that reason OBJ
iec.ed 10 river work that has been done.
in fac,, the Government cannot engage in
any work of harbor construction, river
improvement, drainway enlargement,
shore protection, erection Of public build
ings or any other great work without Civ
ing higher values to private possessions
within The influence of such work. If the
Government is to withhold its hand from
ali public schemes that win result Incl
Oculstt4f VI ulieCtlI ~ INC bSHoHt VI pr
vate interests, it viii never expend an
other dollar in public works.
Since The foregoing was written, the Sac
rauento Board of Trade has held a meet
ing, aad resolutions have been introduced
looking to the convening Of the Conyen-
ton yesterday suggested by the RECORD
UNION and above referred to. The resolu
tiols, which appear in another column in
full, have been laid over until next Thurs
day, when it Is the intention to have a
large meeting of the Board and full dis
cus-ion Of the matter. 1t is to be hoped
tha. every member of the Board viii be
preseu, at that meeting. and that all other
matters will be laid aside aud all other
engagements for the hour be vacated in
favor of the consideration of this i'm
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