Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-18
GRAED ISLAND.
IT IS NOW ENCLOSED WITH IMPREG-
NABLE LEvEEs.
The Richest Lands of the County in a
Fair Way of Being Permanently
Reclaimed.

An examination of the new levee work
which is being done on Grand Island, on
the lower Sacramento river, shows that
along the old river, from Kercheval's place
at the head of the island to the cross levee
at the lower end, the work is practically
finished, and in very substantial manner.
The last touches are being put on the levee
along ParYin's, Figs and Hart Smiths
ranches. The levee at the wing-dam below
Walnut Grove is a good one, and we'll
thrown back at places where there is pos
sibility Of the bank washing.
The old river levees, generally speaking,
were sufficient to keep out any high water
of the past fifteen or twenty years before
the new work of this year was added, yet
all the landowners cheerfully raised their
levees to the newiy-established grade, in
order to be in uniformity with the i'm
mense levee which is being constructed
along the lower four or five miles of Steam
boat slough and also the cross levee being
built by Mr.. Ferris of Stockton, who is a
gentleman of large experience in such
works, and takes pride in building good
levees.
This is where the heaviest work is re-
quired. as all know, by bitter experience,
and it is not difficult to see that the work a t
this point is being done with view TO its
being permanent, and that it is more sub
stantial than the usual contract-work. In
deed, Mr.. Ferris is really doing it much
better than the specifications require.
While it would be desirable that the
work should be in a more forward state,
yet all the heavier parts, as, for instance,
the base, were there were cuts and excava-
tions. are finished in all the exposed places;
and although the fact is not apparent to
one unfamiliar with levee building it will
not take long to finish the levee. If the
weather remains at all favorable, Mr..
Ferris is confident that by December LIST
Grand Island will have such a levee as
will be able to resist successfully even
such a food as that of 1861. The levee
thereabouts has such width of base (some
$50 feet or more) that it seems as if it
would be impossible to burst it, and it will
be between two and three feet higher than
the last high water, eight feet wide on the
top, with a slope of one foot in three in ali
exposed places and on both sides of the
leyee.
The most backward places are a point
on Old river, at the foot of the island, and
the lower food-gate on Steamboat slough
both quite short, but of such a nature that
the material must be allowed to settle and
dry before using the dredger on them
again. However, the most difficult part is
done. The levee, from a mile or so below
Walkers Landing up to the head of the
island, may be said to be completed, with
the exception of Goldman's place, on
which the owner is now at work.
From below Hog Slough to the
foot of the island, or the cross levee-some
three miles-the heavy basework is done
as above stated, and six weeks with dredger
and horses will suffice to put on the upper
work. A force will then be kept at work
during the winter putting on the finishing
touches, smoothing the rough work, and,
las Mr.. Ferris puts it), making it look
pretty" but which does not help to keep
out the water to any extent.
There will be no pumping done this win
ter, but next year it is expected that first
class pumps will be put in, capable of
handling the natural rainfall and any
sipage that may come in.
Many tracts of tule have already been
rented, on from three to five years leases,
on good terms to the owners, and altogether
the prospects were never brighter for the
residents of the island than at the present
tim@ 1t is certain that Mr.. Ferris is put
ting up first-class levee, even better than
required by the Trustees. He has large
landed interests on the island, which per-
haps partly accounts for this, and in addi-
ton, he is gentleman who is very jealous
of his reputation as successful levee-
builder, which reputation seems to be well
deserved.