Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-04
DRAINAGE CEKlL AGAIN.
A PROPOSITION TO MAKE A CHANGE
FOR THE BETTER.
Conference win be Held Between the
Supervisors and Trustees-An Eye
sore and Menace.


along the banks Of the canal to the effect
that the ditch was nuisance and q dis
ease-germ hatchery of the worst kind.
Something had 10 be done, they declared,
and that quickly. They complained par
ticularly Of the winery outside of the city
limits, which dumped its refuse matter
into the stagnsnt canal, causing stencil
that was sitting. The Supervisors referred
the matter to County Health Officer Mckee
of Elk Grove. DR.. Mckee visited the
winery and then forgot to make a report.
On Monday Of this week the complainants
kicked up such row over the matter that
the Board sent after DIR. Mckee immedi.
ately to learn the why's and wherefores.
The doctor put in an appearance yester-
day.
THE DOCTOR WAS LENIEET.
He reported that he had made pretty
thorough investigation, and had reached
the conclusion that the refuse matter from
the winery was harmless and although the
odor it gave forth was hardly suggestive of
new mown hay, it was no worse than be
found above where the refuse matter was
dumped in. He added that even if the
debris and the odor did constitute nuts.
ance, 1t would hardly be justice to embsr-
rsss so large an enterprise as the winery on
account OF it. The canal should either be
flushed regularly or covered.
When the doctor had concluded his re.
marks Chairman Ross physiognomy pro-
claimed that he was not in accord with the
suggestions offered.
Suppose" said the Chairman, "that
there was no canal there at all-what
would the winery do?"
The owners would undoubtedly have to
dig one like il, and probably over the same
course" replied the doctor. He also ven
tured the opinion that the only "kickers"
against the winery were persons living
near it who were not furnished with free
wine.
Mr.. Ross doubted this, and then branched
Oft on general dissertation on the white
elephant" as the drainage canal has been
aptly dubbed. He declared it nuisance,
an eye sore, menace 20 the health of the
city and an outrage upon those in the
country living in the pocket" south Of the
city, where the canal dumped its foul bur
den.
LOOK OUT FOR THE VIGILANCE COMMITTEE.
Supervisor Tebbets had been waiting ali
day for a chance 10 make a speech, and
here was his opportunity. He started off
d
appointed by the Chair, whose duty il will
be to confer with the City Trustees with
The view Of deVising ways and means for i'm.
proving the drainage system. He suggested
Doctor McKees plan OF covering and
flushing the canal. He said the city and
county should go hand in hand in the mat
ter. During the summer couple of the
idle ire engines could be taken to the head
OF the canal every now and then and pump
fresh water through it for couple of days,
thereby cleaning il thoroughly. 1t would
be one of the best things, he declared, that
ever happened to Sacramento.
fifth matter is overlooked much longer
continued Mr.. Tebbets, there will be an
epidemic here some day, and the people
will die off in hundreds. Those that escape
will then organize and hang the Super
visors and Trustess-and ! wouldn't blame
them for doing ii, either The two
built the canal, and now why should
they not keep it clean? People who
visit Sacramento point at the canal in
Iidicule, and ask why it is rot at
least covered over, and the people of Sacra-
meDto have no idea Of what danger they
are in for an epidemic of some kind-and
all from this foul-smelling ditch
NOT CoUNTY PROPERTY.
Chairman Ross pet hobby is that the
county has nothing to do with the canal.
and when Mr. Tebbets suggested that the
city and county 60 into the matter together,
it vas ike shaking a req flag at g bull.
Mr.. Ross vacated the chair immediately
and requested Mr.. Greer TO preside while
he talked. IT'S all very we'll, began Mr..
Ross, FOR Mr.. Tebbets to talk about the
county joining hands with the city to fix
up this dirty ditch, when be knows very
well that the city is the sole owner of ii,
and the county has nothing to do with il
whatever. It's the city's business 10 take
care OF it, and l give you al fair warning
now that as long as l ana a member Of this
Board ! VIII never cast my vote in favor of
the county giving one cent for the work"
Who built that canal?' interposed Mr..
Tebbets.
well, you say the city and county did
was the reply. But l say that no matter
who built it, the city has charge OF it now,
has had for years, and it should attend to
it. The canal is entirely within the city
limits 1t was originally intended as ben
eft to the city and not the county. Pm
not saying that the city should not have
any drainage, but | am saying that It should
look after its own affairs and not be i'm
posing upon the county. We have, ike
lot of silly boys, been voting money right
along for repairing and building bridges
across the canal, when we had no right to
do it, and the City Trustees have been
laughing IN their sleeves ut US
Mr.. Tebbets said il was apparent chat
Mr.. Ross had forgotten that all or nearly
all Of the water that runs through the
canal comes from the county in the first
plsce-frGm Burns slough. The original
course of Burns slough was through the
city, and the canal was built tor the Dur-
pose Of carrying the water around the city.
SUPPORTING ROSS ARGUMENT
Mr.. Ross thanked the Supervisor for this
last statement.
That is a correc. statement of iha case,
said he, smihngly, EVERY word of that is in
support of my argument. OF course the
canal was built TO benefit the city, aud the
city is the party who should see that il is
taken care o."
Then Mr.. Greer wanted to say something
sprop0s to the subject under discussion,
so he called Mr.. Ross back to the chair.
Mr.. Greer said he considered the matter
of great importance both 10 the city and
county. II have been hoping for years,
he said, that something would be done TO
remedy this eyil-for an evil il is-and
will do my utmost al any time to assist
when an effort is made TO effect remedy.
The canal is an eyesore and a great danger
TO residents. The stencil arising from il is
unbearable and sickness prevails all
through the neighborhood il passes through.
If this Health Officer tDr. Mckee, had
taken the pains to inquire among the peo-
pie along the line of the canal and found
out how much sickness there is, he would
have known more than is contained in his
report"
DR.. Mckee began to move about rest
lessiy, and wanted to say something, but
Mr.. Greer had the floor yet
I'll vote for Mr.. Tebbet's motion" con-
tin0ed Mr.. Greer, because I belisve the
canal belongs to the city and county both.
They both built it and they should both
take care Of it. l also believe that the CITY
Trustees should take care of the drainage
water aud debris at the lower end of the
city, and not throw it upon the people who
live in the pocket l think Nj. Tebbets'
motion is one of the best ever made on
this door. Surely conference will cost
nothing, and great deal of good might re-
suit from it,"
DR.. NIKE REPLIES.
Mr.. Ross got the floor, and made another
speech after Mr.. Greer had concluded, and
reiterated al of his objections, concluding
by declaring again that the Board had will
fully and knowingly expended money al
ready on the canal when it had no right to