Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-04-24
THE RIVER COMMISSION


The committee sent by the River Conven-
ton to Washington is elsewhere published
Mr.. Rose recites the labors of the commit
tee, and concludes that while not all was
accomplished that the people hoped for, a
long step in advance was made in securing
the recommendation that survey and ex-
animation be made, with view to ascer-
tain what work ought to be done upon the
river. He believes that the result will be,
that the Federal Government will under
take the complete reclamation of the Sac
ramento and Feather rivers The River
and Harbor Committee has agreed to
recommend to Congress that special Com
mission from the United States army
corps of engineers shall be raised to make,
this summer complete examination of
the rivers. Such work has never been
done by the United States, and while it is
true that data sufficient has been gathered,
it has all been taken by State engineers.
The Engineering Commission is to report
to Congress plan of operations and esti-
mates for the work that it may find neces-
sary in order to restore the rivers to as
near their original navigable condition as
is feasible. The expenses of the Board are
provided for, and there is nothing to do,
therefore, but to appoint it so soon as the
bill passes Congress that the River and
Harbor Committee will present with their
report.
Mr.. Rose is strongly impressed with the
necessity of maintaining the present organ
ization of the friends of the rivers, and
that the late Convention should be recon-
vened SO soon as the bill becomes a law, as
it certainly will, in his opinion. That
Convention may, he thinks, provide for
the exercise of legitimate influences to Sc
cure from the Engineering Commission
the best possible results OF course, the
people can present before that body, if it
Is DESTROYS to receive it, evidence of the
original capacity of the rivers, the changes
that have taken place in them, the effect
of the overfows and the closing of the
deltas, and concerning the volume of the
deposition in the channels of mining
detritus and debris, that will prove of
value to the committee and expedite its
labor.
Nj. Rose acknowledges for the COM
mittee the most courteous treatment by
the California delegation in Congress and
by the Government officials He believes
that but for the presence of the committee
in Washington and the representations
made by it to the officials, and the River
and Harbor Committee, so much as has
been achieved would not have been ac-
eomplished this season. The telegraphed
petition by the Executive Committee sent
on by It's Chairman, DR.. Dixon, recently.
relative to the Paine break, he declares
came at an opportune moment, as it had
the effect of fortifying the assertion made
by the committee, that the War Depart
ment was working at arms length in the
treatment of the rivers. The Secretary of
War assured the committee that the treat
ment. of the Paine crevasse should have
his immediate attention. The fact that
last Saturday bid, the lowest made, for
work upon the break was ent on to Wash
ington by Major Huer, iustifes the hope,
therefore, that the War Department will
in very few days make the necessary
order for work upon the break to begin.
All this is very gratifying to learn. The
suggestion Of the Committeeman that
the present river organization be main
tanned. and that the body be reconvened
so soon as the bill for the examination of
the rivers passes and is signed, is good
one and should be adopted by the Ex-
ecutive Committee. When that Conven-
ton is again in session, however, care
must be taken to SO order it, that no unwise
or hasty expressions are made likely to
antagonize the engineers, or to lead them
10 repel the offer of assistance, If II shall
be deemed proper to make such tender
The Convention cannot afford to inter-
vene in the matter without first obtaining
the consent of the Commission, and it is a
matter of doubt whether it will desire or
accept any such aid. Army Engineers are
proverbially jealous of any interference,
and usually prefer to work independently
of civilians. The whole subject must
therefore be handled with the utmost dis
cretion.