Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-07-26
OF LEvEEs HERE AND NEAR BY.


OF LEvEEs HERE AND NEAR BY,
The city of Sacramento is manifesting a
disposition now to take front place in the
procession of progress. The result of the
Improvement election, the movement to
gravel and pave the streets, and the active
work now in progress in that direction, the
new sidewalks going down, the clearing
away of unsigbtly post-awnings, and a
variety of other evidences, testify to the
spirit of progress and the faith the people
have in the city. Business may not be,
probably is not, nearly so brisk as could be
wished, but it is not more sluggish in Sac
ramento than anywhere else in the State.
Whatever there is of business activity any
where has its counterpart here.
There is one matter, however, that has
not thus far this summer had much atten-
tion, and the consideration of which must
not be long delayed. All the improve
ments being made in the city are in large
measure dependent upon the security of
the levee system. 1t is now fine system,
ample in its circuit and its bases strong
and firm. 1t has been severely tested and
has proved its superb capacity. But as a
whole it is not stronger than in its weak
est part. 1t is necessary, therefore, that
the entire levee system be gone over early
this summer, and examined with the keen
est expert scrutiny. Wherever the wear
of the elements has decreased its security.
that must be remedied Wherever there
is reason to doubt the entire suficiency of
the embankment, it should be treated.
Along the line of Front street, we submit
that we want no more scenes like those of
last winter-that is to say, there must be
no more water on the top of the levee. It
will be remembered that in the high water
period the trains ran for days through a
foot or so of water for some blocks, and
while the situation was not one of special
danger, it might have been, since the peo-
pie passing on the cars had the ocular evil
dence that the river was over what ap-
peared to be the top of the levee, unaware
of the fact that back on Front street there
were several feet of higher grade. But
that condition did not prevail lower down
the stream. Below NJ street there was
more than one place where it was found
prudent to sand bag the top of the levee to
allay public alarm. 1t was then the cur
rent expression that before another winter
the Front-street leyee must be raised, and
the possibility of the river reaching lis top
be utterly removed.
II would be an admirable thing if the
levee tops on all sides could be broadened,
grayeled and converted into driveways.
This can be accomplished by doing some
thing every year in that direction, and in
few years the people viii find themselves
possessed of boulevard surrounding the
entire city, and adding much to its attract
iveness, while at the same time providing
beyond all doubt for the security of the
city from any assault by high waters. Al
ready the work of bringing Y street up to
the grade of Ninth street has been entered
upon. 1t is a good work, and meets with
unanimous approval. 1t would be bet
ter work, were it possible now, to broaden it
also. But that will come in time, and the
street be made popular drive.
The landowners below the city from Y
street to Freeport are to hold meeting
to-day to consider the question of forti-
flying their leyee system. 1t is to be hoped
that the meeting will be largely attended,
and that broad and liberal spirit will be
manifest. These people have not suffi-
cient levee. They know that as well as
any, but are apparently unwilling to con-
fess it. 1t is fact that last winter their
levee tops at times were scarcely discern
ible above the surface of the river, required
constant watehfulness and for two weeks or
more they were the sources of intense
anxiety. Yet the most valuable lands in
the State lie behind the leyees referred to.
If it took one-sixth the value of lands to
make the levees protecting them impreg-
nable and perfectly secure, would not the
remaining fye-sixths be so much more en-
joyable and profitable, remove a menace,
Danish a fear, and in the end save money
to the people? The truth is, that the
patching, the meeting of sudden rises. the
sand-baggIng, watching, patrolling and the
costly haste in dead of night to get labor
ers out TO fight back the rising waters, has
drawn from the pockets of these owners of
bottom lands enough in the last ten years
to have put their leyees high above all
possible waters, broadened them to fine
roadways, and have made their slopes ab-
solutely impregnable by floods. II is to be
hoped that the owners will abandon the
annual patching system, and instead do
thorough and final work, and put them
selves out of all possible danger, even If to