Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-14

been more than SIX inches of levee to pro-
tect the bank lands. Opposite to Riverside
House, some five miles down river, the
second break was found at the same point
where the levee gave way few years ago.
This breach was about forty feet wide. o.
posite the Lovdal ranch another breach
was found, some eighty feet wide. But
ON THE SACRAMENTO SIDE
All the levees were unbroken. Bu. the
narrow escape they had was clearly real
lied by all who viewed them from the
steamers deck. Sandbsgs in the lower
parts indicated where the weak places had
developed, and how hard had been the
struggle 10 save the entertainments. A
good deal OF water-from rainfall and high
land and city drainage, was seen back of
the bottom lands, and this increased every
mile, growing broader and broader, until at
Beach's the lake of that name had lost its
identity, and long, broad reach of water
extended down river as far as the eve
could see. But this viii soon run off.
and so far as could be seen no damage has
been done by it. From Beach's down 10
CORTLAND on the Sacramento side the view
was about the same.
on THE WEST SIDE,
Helf mile below Buchanan & Carrsgher's
ranch, three small breaks in the levee were
found, through which the river waters
poured steadily, eating away the soft leyees
and widening the breaches. When the
Lisbon district was reached, its levees were
found intact, strong and well cared for.
Only in one or two places had it been found
necessary to put in sandbsgs. The whole
leVee front OF this splendid tract of 5000
acres OF land IS now green with springing
growth. If the back Ievees of this district
stand the wash of the basin waters, as it is
believed they will, the proof will be posi-.
tive that good leyee building on the Sacra-
mento side will enable the entire bottom
land population 10 sleep in peace in the
midst Of storms, instead Of patrolling the
leyees and fighting for an inch OF earth 10
hang salvation on.
Aud, by the way, while the Lisbon dis
rict was so secure. the evidences remain of
THE CLOSE SHAVE
Freeport, on our side, had. For at one
point tiers of sandbags set into the levee
the defense that kept the waters
out. At Ciarksburg the wharf had been
flooded, and coating of slickens showed
how long the water had stood upon the |
planking. The fall of water there Thurs.
day night was fifteen inches. We should |
have said that at the lower end of the Lis |
bon district the steam shovel Or dredger |
was found at work raising still higher the |
cross levee running from the river to the |
back levee, suggesting that such a machine !
worked in the right season could raise and |
broaden the levees down nearly to Rich |
land as well as not, and economically, if |
only the people resolve upon it.
Senator Johnston place was found IN |
harmed, and that there had been no seri- |
oUs assault upon it, nor indeed from that |
point down, had the people been threat |
ened as were those above.
The Pierson District and Randall Island |
were found in fine condition, with less of |
sipage and drainage water in the center |
than was expected.
Opposite to Courtland Merritt Island was |
found to be safe and sound, with however, |
sipage and rain water in the |
center.
Suffer Island was seen to be all right, |
also, with water by sipage and drainage on |
the lower part only.
GRAND ISLAND
Was unframed, and all along Old river the |
water had not assailed the leyees to at all |
alarm the people or call for unusual con- |
Germ or exertion. Indeed, at Walnut |
Grove it was said the river had not reached |
the 1881 record by two feet.
From Walnut Grove down TO Tyler |
Island great deal of water was seen in the |
basin back of the bank land, suggesting |
that there might have been break on the |
river. But inquiry developed |
that there had been no mishap, and that |
the water was that of precipitation and |
also, that Brannsn, Tyler and |
Andrus islands were SAFE and had been in |
no particular danger.
The Locke d Lavenson reclamation was |
in splendid condition, and delight to the |
eye, with its green fields and finely-Worked |
surface and splendid levee system.
At the lower end of Grand Island men |
were found at work upon the new cross |
levee running over to Steamboat slough, |
and that is expected to protect the island |
from the assault of Cache slough when the |
waters of the great tule basins of Solano |
and Goio pour through it and across Steam |
boat slough. 1t is believed this discharge |
will now pass below the cross levee.
Far away to the west the steamdredger
could be seen at work upon the uncom-
pleted levee along Steamboat Slough. If |
such dredgers were used 6y sill reclamation
and kept at work reasonably from |
time to time raising and broadening levees,
in five years time every district on the
river in which Sacramento has any interest
MONiu SS mp ieSuaote, 81 4fi a. AOOuo ore
The district just below the city could
thus protect itself at half the cost of haul
ing sediment. Even in this city there
ought to be a steam-shovel TOR levee work,
and for excavating matter for street i'm
etc.
In the ride of yesterday two of these
dredging and lifting machines were seen at
work levee building, and their value and
is not oyerestimated. From the
lower end of Grand Island to Benicia the
ride was uneventful, except for the pleas
ant companionship of group of agreeable
and well-informed people.
The RECORD UNIONS thanks are due to
Captain Ferris and the officers of the
Apache for special facilities afforded its
and courtesies shown them.
The Dennery stock.