Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-21
DOWN THE RIVER.
The Governor and Engineers Examine
the Payne Break.

lance below the town of Washington was
visited yesterday by Governor Waterman,
Colonel G. H. Mendell, of the United States
Engineering Corps, and Lieutenant Heuer,
a member of the Government Debris Com
mission. They were accompanied by en-
and river captains Roberts and Dwyer. 1t
had been the intention to make the trip by
way of the levee, on foot, but instead the
party proceeded by water on the steamer
Varuna. findings were made at frequent
intervals as the boat dropped down the
stream to point opposite the Mcgowan
ranch. These showed very uneven con-
dition of the river bed, with alternating ell
evations and hollows, which, however, are
changed from day to day, as the current
disturbs the debris constantly settling at
the bottom of the stream.
While the steamer was halted opposite
the Payne break in the Yolo levee Captain
Roberts, Mr.. Humbert and a boatman
made a trip in a small boat through
the gap, the fall of the river having
lessened the current materially within the
past week. They found u feet of water
above the original bank, where the levee
had been washed away. The width of the
feet.
The investigation showed that the chan
mel in the river was rapidly widening, and
that the highest point of the bar just be-
low the break-and about which so much
has been said-was II feet below the sur
face of the water. The situation was found
TO be rapidly assuming the condition fore
Swallowed by the RECORD UNIoN-that is,
that as the river gets lower and the water
in the tule basin reaches its level. the river
current will resume its natural course and
the sandbar caused by the diversion of the
current through the break will disappear.
This has been the result in former years
when breaks occurred in the levees, even
where the full force of the American river
was projected for months against the Yolo
bank and its waters forced across into the
tule basin just opposite the point of its
debouchment into the Sacramento.
WHAT COLONEL WENDELL SAYS.
A RECORD. UNION reporter had an inter-
view with Colonel Mendell on the subject
of his investigation of the rivers condition.
He said he found nothing alarming in it,
so far as the Payne break is concerned. If
the river should remain at its highest flood
point for months, and the tule basin
offered no obstruction to the rapid flow of
SuCn d great NOluuc VI water, dll0Wl0B
bars to form across the old channel, the
regular course of the river might be endan-
gered, but this was not the present situa-
ton The river was falling, and the tule
basins filling up, thus lessening the cur
! rent through the break. As a natural con-
sequence the temporary deposits in the
river channel were disappearing and would
continue TO disappear.
"a few days ago Mr.. Grunsky had found
| one and half to two feet of water over the
highest point of the bar, whereas said
Colonel Mendell, 'we to-day found twelve
| feet"
Reporter-"Is it proposed to close the
Payne break this winter"
Colonel Mendell-"Not that I know of"
Reporter-"Could it be accomplished
! without very great expense?"
* Colonel Mendell-"Of course it could be
| be very great. After the water falls below
the old bank of the river, however, the
i task can be much more easily accom-
plished."
Reporter-"Do you understand, Colonel,
that the unexpended appropriation for the
| improvement of the Sacramento river will
be available for the purpose of closing these
breaks at an early date?'
| Colonel Mendell-"That remains with
the Secretary of War to determine, l be-
| lieve. / shall report to him at once, by
telegraph, the results of my inquiry, and
he will probably be governed in his action
thereby"
Reporter-"As to the permanent i'm
provement of the river, has any official or
commission the power at present to do any
thing to that end?"
Colonel Mendell-"No. Congress alone
| hos oh, IF hot OFT and
be done till it takes special action thereon.
Reporter-"Have you any opinion to ad-
vance regarding the future fate of the river
or as to what is likely to be done to restore
and maintain it in good condition ?"
Colonel Mendell-"No, my suggestions
if any, will be made in my report to the
| War Department. But can say that | see
no new cause for fear regarding the river
The Payne break has not, l apprehend
caused any more serious injury than othel
breaks have in former years. They are al
iniGrlous, of course"
Lieutenant Heuer, in reply to few ques
tons asked by the reporter, said he did no
think the money formerly appropriated fol
doing certain work on the river, but which
remained unexpended, would be available
He based his belief on the fact that to hi:
knowledge, hydraulic mining had no
ceased entirely.
The engineers departed on the afternoon
train for San Francisco.
CONGRESS TAKES ACTION.
When Governor Waterman returned tc
his office, after bidding adieu to the engi
neers, he found the following telegram:
awaiting him;
WASHINGTON %. c., December Doth.
r. ". Waterman, Governor Of California: Both
branches of Congress to-day passed Joint reso
luton authorizing and directing the immediate
expenditure OF all the unexpended portion Of
appropriations for improvement of Sacramento
river. LELAND STANFORD.
WASHINGTON ID. C.), December Doth
GoUe7l0r Waterman: A joint resolution has
passed, requesting the Secretary of War to use
the appropriations for improvement of the Sac
| ramento river MARION BIGGs.
WASHINGTON ID. CO. December 10TH
Governor r. w. Waterman: The Secretary Of
War telegraphs Mendell to examine the river
The money already appropriated should be used
| Immediately. Telegraph US the result.
| THOMAS }. CLUNIR.
| A special telegram to the RECORD UNION
| from Washington last night, concerning
the Joint resolution, said:
In the House this morning McKenna secured
the adoption of joint resolution appropriating
s15) 900 for the repair of the damages on the
sacramento and Feather rivers by the flood.
When Mr.. McKenna's resolution reached the
Senate it was at once taken up and passed, re-
turned to the House and enrolled and sent to
the President for his signature.
! MR.. ALsIP's VIEWS.
EDS. RECORD UNION: l have read your
remarks about the river, and think you
have struck the keynote. 1t has always
been my Judgment that the only way to
lleyee the river would be by Government
aid, as the expense is too great for private
capital, and l agree with Mr.. Gfun' ky
and other engineers that the Sacramen O
river can never be made to carry all the
surplus water that comes down from lis