Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-21
OUR RIVERS AND HARBORS.
Purpose of the Examining Commission


Purpose of the Examining Commission-
Engineer Hall Interviewed.
The Governor yesterday signed Assembly
Bill sos, An Act to provide for the ap-
pointment of an Examining Commission
on Rivers and Harbors, defining their
powers and duties, and prescribing their
compensation" Under this law the Gov
ernor is required to appoint three COM
petent engineers, in good standing in their
profession, to be known and called the
Examining Commission of Rivers and
Harbors." to hold Office until January,
1891 This Commission is directed TO
make an examination of the condition of
the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers, to
formulate some general plan for their i'm
provement, and to make estimates on the
cost of such work, with the view of bring
ing the whole matter before Congress, and
securing from that body such large appro-
priations as will effect betterment of our
rivers as food. carrying channels.
1t was learned during the day that the
Governor had appointed State Engineer
VIM. Ham, Hall and Mr.. P A. Humbert,
civil engineer at the State dam and canal
works at Folsom, as members of this
Board, and REcoRD UNION reporter sought
out the former engineer, to interview him
on the subject of the law and what was
proposed under it.
ENGINEER HALLS VIEWS.
Mr.. Hall acknowledged that he had
heard of his appointment but he had not
received any commission as yet. He dis
claimed most emphatically having had
anything to do with or any knowledge of
the origin of the movement. he did not
know that such bill had been introduced
until it was on final passage in the Assem-
bly,, and had nothing whatever TO do in
furthering it until he was requested to
help it on final passage in the Senate. He
did then take hold and helped to get votes
for it, and finally secured its printing in
time to be signed by the legislative officers
just before adjournment
81 know said the engineer in reply to
questions, that the law is detective, and is
very broad in the possibilities of its appli-
cation, and / can only say that should
not have drawn nor presented such bill
myself-not that l think there is harm in
1t, but that operation under it is likely to
be impeded because of its defects and be-
cause those who would abuse the use them
selves of such law if they had the oppor-
tunity, will probably not be able to realize
that others will not take advantage of such
opportunity.
Speaking for myself, shall certainly not
II named on this Commission, consent to
any attempt at considerable expenditure
by it. There is no necessity for such ex-
penditure. l take it that the object is to
make showing and pull before commit
tees OF Congress to get large appropriations
made for these rivers. 1t would be useless
to get up elaborate and detail plans and
estimates, for these would have to be and
would be revised by the officers who would
have the spending OF the money. The
work OF this temporary State Commission
will have to be of general nature, based
on information already acquired, and now
in the office of the State Engineer There
is IN that office very excellent survey of
the two rivers in question. This Commits
sion should use that data as the basis of its
work. There should be some comprehen-
sive maps made to exhibit the entire val
leys on a good. large scale, and these, with
general estimates and discussion of the
problems involved and an account of the
interests at stake, should be taken to Wash
ington. There our delegation in Congress
should be enlightened as to plans, etc., and
helped to understand the whole subject, and
the Commission and the delegation should
persistently urge the matter before COM
mittees and with the individual members
of Congress, until something is done to
save these streams.
" 1t is absurd to talk of leaving this Alto
gether to our delegation in Congress, with
out the aid which some such Commission
can render. Our Government does not
improve rivers as food carrying channels
except in the single instance of the lower
Mississippi, which is under special Com
mission. The work of the United States
engineers is specially directed to the i'm
proving of low water navigation, and the
constructions and treatment of streams for
this purpose more often do harm to them
as flood carrying channels than they do
good. The Sacramento and Feather rivers
have never been improved or attempted to
be improved as flood water ways by the
general Government. Nor will they ever
be until there is special law and an ex-
ception made of them, as in the case of
the lower Mississippi.
The plans of the army engineers in
charge of the river Improvements in this
State do not contemplate the improvement
of the streams except as to low-water navi-
cation. Our delegation in Congress have
not, and cannot get, except by special en-
actment the data upon which to ask for
| large appropriations to make these rivers
| carry their floods. The army engineers
which to base such plans definitely. There
! is far more information in the State En-
gineer's office on this score than there is in
the United States Engineers office. The
United States Engineers will not and can
not go and explain these matters before
Congressman and Congressional Commit
tees, and our delegation can not be ex-
pected to study these matters up for them
selves and present them as this State Com
| mission can present them.
The passage of the special law under
which the permanent Mississippi River
| Commission is organized was secured by
Just such movement on the part of the
States from the Ohio to the Gulf as this
State has now inaugurated.
| Personally, shall hope to do good
| service in this cause in Washington, and !
believe very much good can be effected.
do not know who the other Commits
sioners are to be, but sincerely hope they
Will be not only good, strong men, but
those who will have the time TO properly
attend to the duties of the Commission.
| OF course there must be some public
discussion of the subject before any final
recommendations are made, and suppose
that the Commission will ask to meet the
leading men of the valley in convention.
or some such way. / believe there is a
| River Association in this valley. and prob
| ably it would be a good plan to have it
| meet and discuss matters with the Com
/ mission"
C1unie Opera House.