Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-15
THE NEW RIVER COMMISSION.

THE NEW RIVER COMMISSION.
There is ground for hope that the Fed
eral Government will presently act affirm
atively and vigorously in treating the
Sacramento and Feather rivers, with
view to improving their navigability and
conserving the carrying capacity OF the
streams.
The promise made at Washington to the
delegation of the River Convention has
been faithfully kept, and three distin-
guished engineers have been appointed by
the Secretary of War to report whether
the rivers need improvement, and if SO, to
what extent aud what should be the action
of the Government By this appointment
the Federal authority is again committed
to the proposition that it is the duty of
the General Government to care for these
streams and prevent their degeneration.
1t is scarcely possible to think of the
examining board making any other than a
report favorable to the Government enter
ing upon the work of retaining the riv-
ers to return TO their original usefulness.
But tits the part of wisdom for the friends
of the rivers to promptly do all that can
be done properly, to secure such report.
The River Convention Executive Commit
tee, which met in this city last night,
the state River Examination Commission
and the Office of the State Engineer, possess
invaluable data officially gathered, that
should be laid before the Board OF Federal
Engineers. That body will undoubtedly
give the Convention Committee and the
State Commission hearing also, besides
making an Official examination of the
streams.
The hope may be entertained that the
new board will get to work SO early that a
report can be sent on to the War Depart
ment before the adjournment Of the present
Congress. 1t is true that there is but lit
tie time in which to do this, but fortu-
nately the Commission will prosecute its
work during period that will enable it
to observe the river at both low and high
stages of water; it will be able to avail it
self Of the experience Of Colonel Mendell
and Major Huer, the recent report of the
latter having strongly recommended that
the Government take hold of the river
work. 1t will be able to examine and use
the official surveys made during period
of six or seven years by the State Engi-
neering Department, and will have before
it the official records of the State Commits
sion for examination of the rivers. With
these aids to full knowledge of the condi-
tons, it is reasonable to hope for a report
within the next three months. If that
can be had it is possible that Congress may
be induced to appropriate money for the
beginning of the great work early in 1891
To the achievement of such a result the
people may well bring all proper inau
ences to bear. Engineering Commissions
of the Federal Government are proverbi-
ally slow of action, because the greatest
care and caution are enjoined upon them,
and they are held to strict accountability
for their recommendations The engineers
training is one of exactness and delibera-
ton in all official action, and hence they
proceed with exceeding detail and careful
ness. All this is we'll, and especially
necessary in looking into new questions
and conditions; but in this case the ques-
tions relating to the restoration of our
rivers to full navigability are old all the
surveys that have been made are of record
and the State has accumulated exhaustive
data upon the subject and put it into COM
pact and orderly form, which, if examined
by the Federal Commission will greatly
expedite its labors.
But if we cannot have report from the
new Engineering Board as early as the
first of February, one will certainly be
made prior to the assembling of the next
Congress in December of next year, so that
within eighteen months we may expect
river improvement to be ordered by legis-
lation.