Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-04-19
RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
ENGINEER GRUNsKY VIEWS THE SIT.
UATION HOPEFULLY.
The Reason Why Congress Had MOI
Taken Earlier Action-Tardy
Government Engineers.

In the following communication Engi
neer Grunsky takes hopeful view of th,
prospects for the Improvement of the Sac
ramento river; but he also demonstrate:
that the reason Congress has made no suit
able provision for it, is because the Coy
eminent engineers in charge of the river
have made no report that anything was
needed, as it was their duty TO do. 1t seems
that the San Joaquin and other smaller
streams were not thus overlooked:
EDS. RECORD UNION: From the tone o.
your editorial this morning and that of the
San Francisco Bulletin, as republished in
your paper, apprehend that the result OF
the work of the committee recently sent tc
Washington by the Executive COMMITTEES
of the River Convention is being some.
what underyalued. The appropriations
recommended for the Sacramento river, to
be sure, are very small-insignifcan as
compared TO the importance of the river
but II is well known that the River and
Haroor committee cannot be expected to
recommend appropriations not based di.
rectly upon estimates OF the engineers in
charge of the several rivers and harbors.
The engineers estimates of money required
Tor the treatment of any river are very
rarely exceeded by the amount which the
River and Harbor Committee recommends.
Under the appropriations that will be
made, the ordinary treatment of our river
will be continued during the next wear.
and 1t is question whether a large ap-
preparation, unless expended under the
direction of q special river commission
with the view of commencing the perma-
nent improvement of the Sacramento river
and its tributaries, would have done any
good. 1t could have been expended in re-
moving snags and in dredging, without
bringing as single step nearer permanent
relief
What is wanted is plan OF works. a
comprehensive system of treatment, 10 be
so clearly defined by competent authority
That II Will, beyond the question of doubt
lead to successful solution of the naviga-
uon and drainage problems of this valley.
This is the view which was Endorsed by
the Executive Committee of the River Con.
yentloD, and eirrepresentatives in Wash
1ngton were instructed to insist. above all
things, upon the appointment of special
river commission to devise the necessary
system of treatment and plan of works.
They were to ask for this commission
even though no appropriation were placed
AT its immediate disposal.
II | read the kilograms from Washington
correctly, then they have succeeded in
securing the appointment of a special
Board Of Army Engineers for Sacramento
rlyer, and 1t is TO be hoped that before an
other year passes we will have secured
proper presentation in Washington OF the
importance of our rivers and the necessity
OF commencing to work systematically
upon them instead of at random and at
cross-purposes, as has heretofore been done
The River Convention and its Executive
Committee afford the means of remaining
IN close communication with the Army
Engineers who are placed in charge of the
examination, which we may now hope
will soon be commenced, and this Con-
Yention should, at the proper time, be in
position to again send representatives TO
Washington during the next session of
Congress, to ask that there be no delay
about making the large appropriations
which we have every reason to expect will
be recommended by the Board OF Engin-
GERS. c. E. GRuNsKY.
Sacramento, April IS, 1890.