Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-13
RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT c0MMIs
MISSION APPOINTED.
The Executive Committee of the River
Improvement Convention
Called to Meet.

As our readers are aware, last year the
people of the valley and foothill counties
called River Improvement Convention.
which met in this city. In the purpose of
that Convention the San Francisco Board
of Trade and the San Francisco Chamber
of Commerce united and sent delegates to
the session. The Convention resolved to
send delegation TO Washington to present
the claim of the chief rivers for improve
ment and restoration, to Congress and the
proper Federal Departments. The delega-
ton, in which San Francisco was repre-
scented, also labored in Washington some
weeks, and reported that the obstacle in
the way of Congressional action was the
absence of any recommendation from the
Engineering Department of the War De-
partment that there was any need for i'm
provement of the rivers. The War De-
partment, in reply to the delegations ap.
peal. said it had made no recommendation
to Congress because the engineers in charge
of the rivers had made no report that any
thing was the matter with the rivers.
The delegation, however, secured prom
Use from the department that it would adj
wise Congress to appropriate money sutti-
Gent to have a commission of inquiry ap-
pointed to examine the Sacramento and
Feather rivers, to ascertain what, If any
thing, was needed and to report at an
early date The delegation secured like
promise from Congress and then returned
to California.
In the meantime the Executive Com
mittee of the Convention pressed the mat
ter upon the Secretary of War and Con-
gress so warmly that sum was supplied
for the purpose, and the Paine break
ordered closed, which was done. Subse-
ouently similar work was ordered done for
serious break not far from the mouth of
the Feather river.
The promise to create the Commission
and equip it with funds was kept at Wash
ington, and about the time Of the order
being made Major Huer, of the United
States Engineer Corps of the Army, sent
on his report, pointing out that the Sacra-
mento and Feather rivers need improve
ment to prevent the cessation OF naviga-
ton, and to conserve the general integrity
of those free highways. This report I'M
doubtedly gave much emphasis to the
presentation of claims the Convention
delegation had made at Washington.
few days ago DR.. Dixon, as Chairman
that the Commission of Examination had
been named by the Secretary of War, and
! that it is constituted as follows: Colonel-G
H. Mendell, United States Engineer Corps,
President of the Board, and Major Alexan-
| der Mckenzie and Captain Dan. G. King
man, both of the United States Engineer
| Corps. The President of the Board is well
known in the State, of which he is an old
resident. Major Mckenzie and Captain
Kingman have both been extensively en-
gagged in Federal examinations and works
upon Western rivers.
1t is not known Just when the Commits
sion will meet and begin its examination
of the Sacramento and Feather, incidentally
of the Yuba river, the two first named
streams being the limit of the jurisdiction
of the Commission, but it is anticipated
that Colonel Mendell will have the Board
organize at very early day and proceed to
work that Congress may be early advised.
A meeting of the Executive Committee
of the River Convention has been called, to
| be held at DIR. Dixons office, in this city,
] on Friday evening next. At this meeting
several Assembly men and Senators will be
present. at least one member of the State
River Examining Commission, the report
of which has been completed, and possibly
other engineera.. The purpose of the meet
| ing is to make the PREDATORY arrangements
to lay the data in the possession of the
! Convention and of the State concerning the
rivers, before the new Federal Com mission,
and to consider what action the Legislature
shall be solicited to take, to further the end
in view, the i'm Improvement of the rivers by
order of the Federal Government.
Incidental to this, the subject of the
| drainage of the valley basins, which is not
| a Federal matter, will be debated, and a
possible plan suggested at this or subse.
quent meetings for such drainage through
a systematic reclamation process, SO that
the cost will be borne by the acreage bene-
flied, bat so also that the whole matter OF
| district formations will be under the super
vision of State authority, that uniform and
properly related action may be had by
owners of lands in the districts to be
| drained