Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-09
RELIEF IN SIGHT.
THE PROPOSED ENLARGEMENT OF THE
DRAINAGE CANAL.
County and City to Join Hands-Tide.
Water to be Brought to the
Limits of the City.

carry hence the sewage of the CITY, will
short be so enlarged and improved as to
render greater relief to the city, and to all
property owners along the line of the
canal. The ditch that is now dignifed by
the title of canal" has never afforded the
desired relief to the city, nor has it been of
any benefit to the land along its route, the
owners of which contributed toward the
cost of its construction. The matter of en-
larging and improving the canal has been
perennial subject for discussion in public
and private bodies of late years, but moth
ing has been done toward enhancing its
efficiency.
Recently the Supervisors and City Trus-
tees agreed to hold a joint meeting on the
subject, and TO invite thereto the land
owners along the canal and those in the
lower end OF the county whose interests are
affected by the drainage The meeting was
held yesterday at the room of the Board of
Supervisors, during the regular session of
that body. There were present Supervisors
Ieooets, Bates, Greer and Black, Mayor
gregory, and City Trustees Mclaughlin
and Wolf, ex-senator William Johnston.
District Attorney Bruner, James WEIGH.
Joseph Sims, Charles A. Hui. Geo. Hack,
J. McNasser, +. L. Landsborough, A. Alb
bot, r. Hunt and several others.
Chairman Tebbets stated the object of
the consultation. He said that few wears
ago, as he understood the situation, the
landowners below the CITY were willing
that the city drainage canal should be cut
through their lands with the understand.
ing that the city would have the canal
opened through to Snodgrass slough. But
1t had only been completed as far as
Blooms lake. As there was considerable
complaint made es to the condition of the
canal, II was deemed advisable TO hold
consultation with the landowners and
City Trustees with a view to arriving at
some plan of action that would grant relief
to all the parties concerned.
supervisor Greer spoke on the subject,
stating the facts as they exist. He thought
that II the drainage canal could be placed
IN proper condition and opened through to
Snodgrass slough it would increase the
assessabie property affected not less than
hall million dollars. He said that County
Surveyor Boyd had prepared report on
the subject and map by means of which
he would explain to those present the
route OF the canal, and how and where the
proposed improvement should be made.
Mr.. Boyd read his report to the meeting
and illustrated his points by means of the
map. His report was as follows:
- To the Honorable Boards Of Supervisors and CSty
1f1tsiees-GESTLEMEN: At the regular meeting
OF the Board Of Supervisors in April, 1889 a res
olutlon was introduced by L. Greer Supervisor
from the Fourth District looking forward to-
and with the distinct object in view of
draining the waters from such of the county
roads as lie westerly from the upper Stockton
road, and inclusive thereof such roads having
IN the past been subject to flooding from natu-
Ial ralhialis property adjacent thereto mum
dated road grades washed away or damaged
and travel seriously impeded
survey was then made, by order of the
board OF supervisors, 70 determine the practical
Dulty OF constructing drain ditch along the
side Of the Lower Stockton road from the
Louisiana tact to Elder creek, g distance Of
about three miles; the results of this survey are
embodied in report filed with the Clerk OF the
boara on May 10, 1889, proving in general the
feasibility and practicability OF the proposed
work, and showing an average fall of four feet
per mile To Elder creek.
Throughout the greater portion OF the distance
from tbs point to Sims lake, the natural bed
of klder creek has been enlarged, both ia width
and depth, to facilitate aud increase its carry
ing capacity.
sims lake is the natural receptacle and drain
basin of all that section of Sacramento county
from sacramento city on the north and the
Stockton roads on the east. and including the
watersheds OF willow slough and Elder creek.
II also receives and transmits to the southward
that portion OF the drainage of Sacramento city
which flows through the drainage canal.
AT the present time. the above mentioned
drainage aters from the county reads is forced
through series of road drains or bitches into
willow slough; thence westerly and nOrthery
to GuindOn lake, near Riverside thence over a
tOTtuOus and circutOus rOute-COverfng in all q
distance OF about twelve mies-to sims lake as
against hYe miles over the proposed route along
the Lower stockton road and Elder creek.
The drainage canal from Sacramento city is
constructed from the city limits, at or near Ninth
and \ streets, sOutherly 10 GuindOn Lake,
whence the drainage waters, commingling with
the waters of said lake aud the natural surface
drainage OF the watershed of Willow Slough,
are led through a second section of canal 10
sims Lake, thence to Beach's Lake through a
natural channel from 80 to so feet in width and
OF sufficient depth to completely drain Sims
Lake. Besch's Lake connects directly with
Gourley's Lake, covering in extent about 900
acres Gourleys Lake Is connected with Whit
combs Lake. across the lands of n NJ Fay by
means OF an artificial canal about 1900 feet in
length ana 70 feet in width, the bed of which
composed of soft loan and adobe mixed-is on
an average, about J. feet higher than the aver
ae bed Of Gourley's Lake, the greatest irregu-
larlties in grade being about 8 feet above the
average natural bed OF the lake.
From WhilcOmb's Lake the waters are led
through another section ofCanal, over and across
the lands OF W. 5. Jacobs and Della Bloom, 10
Blooms Lake, where perceptb!e tides work
from 5nodgrass Slough through a canal con-
Meeting with the lower end of Blooms Lake
That section of the city drainage canal from
the city to Sims Lake is, for about one-half its
entire length, grown up in brush and tule.
thereby greatly decreasing its effectiveness and
retarding 70 a large extent the natural flow in
the canal.
That section of the canal from Whitcombs to
Blooms Lake j. in length, about G, 100 feet and
il feet wide, dug TO an Indifferent grade level
at intervals for a considerable distance, and
showing finally a rise in the grade at its south
ery extremity of seven-tenths of foot.
For distance of about 4 90 feet this canal
has been dug through d-pan-which layer,
from the best information obtainlble is but
feet.
During the high stages of the foodwaters Of
the Mokelumne ana Costumes rivers, these
waters are forced through break in the leTees
near the confluence of these streams, and rush
nOrtherly and westerly over and across the
lands Of d. Clam and others in that vicinity
and food those lands to the northwaTd, and, in
one instance noted, backing the water up as far
northerly as Guindon Lake, and completely
flooding that section of the county.
The proposition of retaining county roads
has led 10 a remonstTance being filed by pro-
performers owning lands in the above named
draln-basin, they claiming a possible in
creased damage thereby, and further claim
ing that 1t is the distinct obligation of the
City of Sacramento, through its Trustees to
have this canal, as above mentioned dug TO g
grade or system of grades to tide water such
osngatlon having been imposed by decree of
the Supreme Court.
Compared to the beneficial effects to be de-
rived therefrom, the cost of grading is a mere
nominal sum. and can be borne by all parties
interested, acting jointly.
In addition to the grading of the canal as
above mentioned, it is the opinion of the land
owners adjacent to Blooms Lake, that the city
should bear proportion of the expense of clos
ing the aforementioned break at the junction OF
the Mokelumne and Costumes rivers, the bal
ance to be subscribed by the property owners.
Respectfully submitted, J. c. BOYD, C. E.,
County Surveyor.
Sacramento, Nov S, 1889.
Mr.. Johnston asked Mr.. Boyd if he was
certain that Blooms lake connected with
tide-water.
Mr.. Boyd said that such was the result OF
his Investigation, and Mr. Johnston said he
was glad to learn it, as he had lived in the
neighborhood Tor forty years and had never
known that tide-water came up there. He
added thst as a matter of fact it did not.
Cana firth or dienr,rsir,r, a.,rr,.,l 49,