The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-15
MORE FUNDS NEEDED
Report on California Rivers
and HarborS.
Improvements Under Way That Are CalCu-
lated to Benefit Commerce.
Plans Submitted for Future Operations and
Estimates Made of Their
Probable Cost.


Special Dispatches to THE MORNING CALL.
WASHINGTON, July 14-The reports of
the engineer officers in charge of the river
and harbor improvements in California for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1880, have
been received at the War Department.
Major W. II. Huer reports as follows: "For
the Improvement of the San Joaquin River,
Stockton and Mormon sloughs since 1887,
when the project for their improvement was
adopted, to secure and maintain channel
four feet in depth by 100 feet in width to
Stockton and four feet in depth by 100 feet
in width to Miller's warehouse, S1S3, 750 has
been appropriated by Congress, of which
$50, $50 A has been expended. But little
work has been done the past season,
owing to the lack of funds. 1t is reported
that the submerged dam at Paradise Cut,
which was built in December, 1888, has been
washed out by the freshet Of the past few
months, which freshet was the largest ever
known. If this dam is washed out it will
cost $4,000 TO replace it. 1t is recommend
ed that dam be constructed at Lairds
Slough, near Grayson, at a cost of $3.50.
The report also renews previous recon-
mendatiOns for cut-offs at Twenty-one-mile
Slough and Head Reach, to cost $4,000.
Annual dredging will be required in Stock
ton Slough to enable steamboats, to reach
Stockton.
APPROPRIATIONS RECOMMENDED.
The report recommends that the follow
ing amounts be appropriated for the next
year: To maintain 9-foot channel by dredg-
ing to Stockton, S24, 600; Dams at Paradise
cut and Lairds Slough. 500, 750; one cutoff
at Head Reach, $685. snaggng and wing
dams, $4,000; total, S122, 750 For the in
provement of Mokelumne River Since CON-
mencing this Improvement in 1884, $4,000
has been appropriated, of which all but
$500 80 has been expended-nothing has
been done during the last Year, it is
recommended that $1,000 be appropriated
for the next year, as it can be proftably
expended. But one steamer runs on this
river and it has no trouble to carry all the
freight offered.
SACRAMENTO AND FEATHER RIVERS.
For the Improvement of the Sacramento
and Feather rivers, since commencing
this work in 1884, the appropriations made
by Congress aggregate S465 900. Between
July 1st and the latter part of August,
1889, the snag-boat was at work between
Sacramento and Butte City, and removed
705 snags and 20 overhanging trees.
The report then In detail covers the high
water of December last, and the work done
toward remedying damage done to the
levees, etc, and especial mention is made
regarding the creyasse made just below Sac
ramento. James Simpson was given the
contract for repairing this, and the report
says that on June 21st the work was COM
pleted in a satisfactory manner. A survey
of portions Of the lower river is 10 be made
soon, and an estimate and projects will be
submitted. 1t is also rec0mme nded that the
Board of Engineers examine and report on
the condition of the river and submit plans
for its Improvement On July 1st Major
Huer had So, 1874 90 available, and he re.
commends an appropriation of $4,000 for
the next fiscal year. Unless otherwise di-
rected by Congress he proposes to use all
future appropriations for continuing snag-
ging, building wing dams and scraping bars.
PETALUMA CREEK.
For improving Petaluma Creek up to
date Congress has appropriated So, 600 to
straighten and maintain this channel, of
which all but S2016 46 has been expended.
The report states that the chan mel can only
be maintained by occasional dredging. 1t
is estimated that 1t will cost $50, 600 more to
obtain and maintain channel OF four to
five feet in depth. and $1,000 to dradge it
every five years. The report states that
the commerce on this creek is large enough
to warrant this expenditure, and an appro-
priation of $4,000 is recommended.
HUMBOLDT BAR.
Oyvipu 70 nd hoH bar
slow progress was made in the improve
ment of Humboldt Harbor and bar during
the past year; but the work was advanced
as rapidly as possible. The works suffered
but little damage from storms during the
year. OF the S262,0C0 appropriated nearly
all has been expended on contracts made to
cover it. Assistant Engineer W. P. Smith
has been in charge Of the work. 1t is es-
timated that it will cost S337, 500 to COM
plete the low jetty as projected, and Major
Huer recommends that it be appropriated,
as it can be protitably expended during the
year ending June 80, 1892.
REDWOOD HARBoR.
Lieutenant Colonel w. Ii. ii. Benyard
reports on the works under his charge as
follows: For the improvement of Red
wood Harbor no work has been done since
August last. as the funds are exhausted.
OF the $1,000 appropriated to secure a
channel in Redwood Creek 60O0 feet long,
80 feet wide and 3 feet deep at low tide,
S15,397 10 has been expended, and over
$1,000 cubic yards of material removed by
dredger. The report states that no i'm
proVement OF permanent character can be
secured here, and frequent dredging will
have to be res0rtej to to maintain a navi-
gable channel. No estimates are made and
no appropriation is recommended; but If
any is made it will be expended in main
tanning channel.
SAN LUIS oBISPo.
t. Inv If ME Ohie,n
Harbor during the past year, tho gap in the
breakwater, between Point San Luis and
Whalers Island, was closed, and commence
ment made upon the portion outside of
Whalers Island. OF the SIS, 600 appropri-
ated all but $3.50 had been expended by Oc-
tober last and the work stopped. 1t is es-
timated that it will require $3.50, coo to conf
plete the existing work, and that S125, GOO
can be expended during the year ending
June 80, 1892. This latter amount is ur-
gently recommended.
WILMINGTON HARBoR.
In 1871 work was begun on Wilmington
Harbor, when the depth at low tide at the
entrance was but one foot. Now a uniform
depth of twe,ve feet has been secured.
The operations during tho past year
we're confined TO repairing damages and
dredging the channel. Tie total
amount appropriated for The work was
$50, GOO, OF which all but S77, ,925- 60 ess
has been expsndse OF ceesatt.r.s.eeiIssd coy t. :. for.
1t Is estimate ff5is fgcfl can be COM
pleted with -. 40 more, and that amount
IS recommended to be appropriated. A
de2th a. sixteen feet viii then have been
secured anu the jettY extended and raised.
WORK AT SAN DIEGO.
The improvement Of San Diego Harbor
began in 1876, and has been mainly devoted
to preventing San Diego River from filling
this harbor up with deposits. OF the SS2,-
600 appropriated for this work all but about
S3l has been expended. This part of the
work has been successfully carried out 1t
| is now proposed to construct jetty on
Bunnga Shoals in the harbor and dredg-
| ing the middle ground just within the har-
| Dor entrance, and thus increase the depth
| of the outer bar from q to 26 feet. 1t Is
| estimated that 1894. 400 will be required for
| this project, and Sl50,000 can be profitably
expended during the next fiscal year. An
| appropriation oil the latter amount is recon-