Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-05
THE RIVER COMMISSION.
TITS TRIP FROM SACRAMENTO TO THE
MOUTH OF THE RIVER.
plane Discussed Methods Suggested
Reclamation-Naviga Levees
aud River Treatment.

The "River Commission" appointed un-
der an Act of the last Legislature, is now
composed of Engineers Reed, Grunsky
and Crawford. For nearly fortnight 1t
has been making trip from the head of
navigation on the Sacramento river, down
stream. It has paused at the chief points to
hear what the people had to present for
its consideration. Yesterday morning the
Commissioners lef. on the steamer Modoc,
Captain Fourstt. for trip to the mouth of
the river.
THE PURPOSE
OF creating the Commission was to have
such an examination made of the naviga-
BILE streams-the Yuba, Feather, Sacra-
mento, San Joaquin and Mokelumne-and
report thereon. as will form the basis of
an appeal by the State to the Federal
Government praying tor the proper
treatment of the rivers, to restore
pacity, and to relieve them of the obstacles
that now impede navigation and are rap
idly destroying them as drain ways and as
navigable streams. The Commission has
been engaged upon its task some months:
and will conclude its labors and file its re-
port with the Governor in October.
1t will possibly present in its report its
conclusions as to what is
PROPER TREATMENT
For the river, and the data upon which
such conclusions are based. 1t will GER
tainly report all facts relative to river con-
ditions 1t will also, in an appendix to its
report, set forth the statistics establishing
the commercial importance of the rivers,
showing the amount and character of the
produce shipments and estimates of the
prospective commerce of the country that
contributes to river traffic.
NOT MANY PEOPLE
Met the Commission as it went down the
river yesterday There came on at Walnut
Grove however Mr.. 4. ]. van Loben Fels,
engineer to the Pearson District, and rep
resenting the San Francisco Savings Union,
as well as personal interests. He expressed
himself very fully TO the Commissioners,
add his views were listened to with re-
spectful attention.
Concerning the conservation of the river
and the incident of reclamation, be ad-
vanced the idea that the State should take
hold of the matter
IN A COMPREHENSIVE MANNER.
1t should create commission that ought
to have the sale and absolute right to say
how, when and where levees for recama-
ton CT low lands should be built,
if at all. 1t should have power to
order the removal of cross levees if it
deemed it necessary; to order the opening
of sloughs necessary to be opened to inn
prove the deltas diseharge-in short, his
idea was that reclamation should be car
ried on according to definite State policy.
The Com missioDers were agreed that recla-
nation ought to be controlled by the State;
that il should besy stematic, comprehensive
and as nearly uniform as is possible, and
that il should not autagoniZe any efforts
the Federal Government may make to i'm
prove the navigation of the rivers. Com
missioner Crawford, the Secretary of the
body, said to the RECORD MON represen-
tative that thu Feather and Yuba, and in
degree the Sacrsm ento, rivers are showing
a decided disposition 10 scour out their
channels and improve their navigation.
What he thought needed now was
such artificial aid to supplement this
natural tendency IS the Government can
be prevailed upon tC give, and that should
be extended to conserve the restoration of
high navigable capacity.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.
Commissioner Reed, President of the
of the Commission, being asked what the
Commission would probably report, said,
"Our duty is to find facts. We have not
yet consulted with view of reaching con-
illusions, but shall do so at once. Weshall
consult with the Government Engineers
again. They have been very kind to US so
far, and have accorded US access to the
river data in in their offices. cannot say
what We will probably agree upon. Indi.
vidually ! have my opinions as TO what
action should be taken. Our main purpose
is to make fair, clear exhibit of the facts,
to point out the condition of the several
rivers, 70 show what processes of change
have gone on, and now affecting the
rivers, and TO present the needs of the
streams. Whether we vii suggest what
ought TO be done remains to DE determined.
COMMISSIONERS GRUNsKY
Expressed much the same views.
He contends for uniformity of treatment;
that the governmental policy should be to
levee the streams, make cut-otfs where
carrying capacity and navigation will be
conserved thereby open up closed sloughs
in the river delta, and for the flood waters
of the upper Sacramento would favor an arti-
fetal way for relief He finds difficulty in
the fact that the Federal Government does
not declare by law what are navigable
streams, and leave it to be determined as a
matter of fact. He is agreed that the me-
neglect of the Sacramento river is due to
the fact that
OFFICIAL REPORT
OF its full needs has not, until very re-
Gently, been made. His idea is that it is
the duty of the Government to treat the
river as to its levees so as to augment its
capacity to carry the waters, but that all
matters of reclamation must be taken in
hand by the people of the State. The Fed
eral Government would never NEEDLE with
reclamation, nor should it do soft would
be an unwise policy. So far as reclama-
ton has a relative interest in river con-
servation, that is the good fortune of the
landowner. 1t is impossible to levee q
river and not incidentally benefit bank
lands but of that the Federal Government
takes no account.
During the trip all the islands reclaimed,
or partly so, were pointed out, and the
maps borne by the engineers were fire.
quently consulted, and long debates en-
sued over engineering problems. To enter
into twentieth part of the detail of the
CONVERSATIONS AND DEBATES
OF the engineers during the nine hours the
REcoRD- UNION representative was with
them would occupy a dozen close.set col
umns of this journal.
IT WAS AGREED
That the proposition to make long, deep
cut through the most western rim of the
Montezuma hills to Suisun bay, to drain
the tule basin, would not accomplish what
its friends claim for it. Secretary era wford
was OF the opinion that canal from the
mouth of the Yuba into the basin east of
the Sacramento and above the American
would be wise scheme. II would make
that ares settling basin. aud finally fill it.
II was agreed that the closing of Jackson
Slough. that once led from Iseton. on the
Sacramento, To Seven Mile Slough, which,
in turn, empties into .the San Joaquin
river. was a great wrong. 1t was closed
by land owners at both ends years ago to
save building lewess along its banks. The
slough has seven fee, fsll 10 us five or six
mites, and when oasn was splendid
conduit for 'ar 'ischsrgs OF high waters %
the Sacramea'o.
c.prAIH FSUSsTr
Suggested tl-i sl:s zis ZIG svS'em If leeees
WAS wise Bs mad uusnimons c1ucar.
re.ce Pins when Sfess occurs. and a
ne~ lssee Is b,,ili 1t IS usually Constructed
in a san; citcls landHar, leaving Two
sharp V shaped enes Tor assault bv high
waters 1t Wa agreed that the nwue,s Of
bank lands should be compelled 10 ent
trees Oyerhaneine the water and l;ahi.