Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-27
LOYAL INTELLIGENCE.
RIVERS AND HARBORS.
The Work of the Examining Commission
Manned O ut-Enrineer HaIps Ideas

The Work of the Examining Commission
Mapped Out-EDgineer Halls Ideas.
The Legislature recently passed bill en-
titled ''An Act 10 provide for the appoint
ment and operation of River Examining
Commission" 1t provides that the Gov
ernor shall appoint three Commissioners to
report upon the condition of the Sacra-
mento and San Joaquin rivers, with the
view of informing our members of Con-
gress as 10 the general appearance and esti-
mates of cost of improving these rivers and
restoring them 10 the condition in which
they were before hydraulic mining had
filed them up. The Governor has ap-
pointed Charles T. Reed. prominent man
of Knights Landing, Yolo county, who
understands these river problems and has
had all engineering education; P. August
Humbert, who is the engineer of the Fol-
som Dam and Water power Works, and
William II. Hall, State Engineer, as men,
bers of this commission.
Mr.. Hall was seen by a reporter few
days ago and asked what course the Com
mission would take.
1 consider the real purpose of the Com
mission" said he a is to cooperate ION the
part of the State more closely with the
Government engineering work, aad to as
sist the members OF Congress in getting
such special legislation as is necessary for
the proper treatment of these rivels, and
getting appropriations sufficiently large to
carry out the great works by which the ends
in view can be effected. Our rivers are
growing worse every year instead of better,
Notwithstanding the fact that hydraulic
mining has to a great extent been stopped
The appropriations made by Congress for
the improvement of these amount to little
or nothing as compared to the moneys that
should be al hand for their treatment. The
course of work laid out by the Government
engineers under these circumstances is not
such as will effect. no matter how long it is
carried out, the real end to be attained.
The present works are directed only to the
improvement of the rivers as low-water
navigation channels, and works for these
purposes do not and cannot improve the
streams as food. carrying channels. In fact,
they often DO damage. In this latter re-
spect the army engineers know very well
they cannot effect the great ends TO be at
tanned under the present policy of the Gov
eminent.
"Our members of Congress cannot be
expected to study these matters up so as to
make winning fight before the Congress
sional committees for special legislation
nuired. The State must do something with
{ view of conducting sustained fight, ses-
sion after session, before the committees
and with the members of Congress, in order
to have this subject understood and acted
upon. And the passage of this new law
providing for the appointment of an Ex-
amining Committee seems to be step in
the right direction. There will be no me-
cessi,y for any considerable expenditure of
money on the part of this Commission
under the law. The necessary surveys
have, to great extent, been made, and the
results are in the ctfice of the State Engineer
in Sacramento. II remains to put these
results in manageable and presentable form,
and to get the whole subject so in hand
that our members of Congress may
have some data, and SO that
the members Of this Commission may ap-
pear before the Congressional committees
and urge the action which is so necessary.
| suppose that the Commission will consult
with United States Engineers in San Fran
cisco, and especially with the Commission
or Board of Engineers appointed to report
upon hydraulic mining. And there will
probably be some conference or convention
with the leading men of the San Joaquin
and Sacramento valleys who are interested
in this subject, and have views that they
would desire 10 lay before the Commission.
Then the plan would be to go on to Wash
ington before the next session OF Congress
and lay the whole matter befor the author
tiles there.
The Law also eontemplates some action
upon the part of this Commission respect
Ing harbors, but l do not imagine that
anything will be done upon that subject
unless there are some special things upon
which the Commission may be instructed. y