Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-18
RIVER CONVENTION.
IT ADOPTS A STRONG AND SENSIBLE
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS.
A Body of Representative CITIZENSHIP
Discussions to Mar Its De-
nberations.


the counties interested in the improve
ment of the Sacramento river take some
action locking to relief by Congress, met in
Firemen's Hall in this city yesterday. 1t
was quite largely attended, and the dele
gates seemed bent on earnest work. The
Convention was called to.order at o'clock
P. u. by P. E Plat, President Of the Board
of Trade of Sacramento. In opening the
Convection Mr. Plat said;
Gentlemen Of the ConvtnttoR: The business
which has called you together to-day IS OF very
great importance 10 California ana the racine
coast the two largest rivers IN the state are IN
very bad condition; thei' beds are rapidly ILL
ing up, their banks overlooking and their use
fitness as EaiuTsl highways for navigation be-
ing greatly impaired and apparently about to
be destroyed. some OF their important trlou-
taries are il g no less deplorab-e condition.
There is only one source to which we can go
for relief only one power that is able to restore
our rivers to their former condition and protect
them in the future. Many of you have conflict
ing views: possibly conflicting interests, but
upon some points I am sure you are all sgTeed,
and on some matters your interests are all
We may not all De equally wise as to how this
subject should be treated what methods should
be adopted, what plans should be followed out
but there are some Things which we all know
equally vel, and it is to consider these that you
are brought together to-day.
In the frat place, we all know that these grand
natural highways OF commerce are OF vital IN,
portance to our state, the life coast and the
United States; we all know that originally,
when California entered the Union. these rivers
for a long distance were nayigabe and deep
enough TO allow large ocean-going vessels to
ascend them. I'VE know at the present time
only the smallest, hat-bottomed vessels can
make use of them; we are equally well informed
as 10 the fact that the responsibility rests upon
the General Government, and that it alone is
compe ent to deal with the question and restore
these rivers.
l take 1t that the only business that should
absorb our attention to-day is that of presenting
this matter to the Congress Of the United States
in the most forctble manner possible II Is IN
necessary for US 70 discuss, as 1t seems TO me,
any of the various plans which able engineers
might present TO us it is unnecessary for us to
speculate upon the causes that have operated
TO fill the rivers, or to suggest methods tor their
improvement. All this must necessarily be left
to the Government.
In calling this meeting, the Sacramento Board
of Trade are confident that you will consider
calmly without sectional feeling and with the
sole end in view of getting that relief which is
so imperadvely demanded.
Mr.. Platt announced that the first bust
ness in order was the election of perma-
nent Chairman and Secretary.
Mr.. Alsip, of Sacramento, nominated
Mr.. Plat, and there being no other nomi-
nations, Mr.. Plat was unanimously elected
For Secretary, Mr.. 0strom, of Yuba
nominated VIM. 6. Ellis, Jr.. of Marys-
vile.
Mr.. Ellis was elected unanimously.
The following delegates responded to
their names:
San Joaquin-R C. Sargent, E. E. Tuck
er, H. J. Corcoran and S D. Ferris.
Solano-E. E. Leake, James Millar, Peter
Tins, r. S. Egbert and 7. P Emigh.
Yolo-Dr. E. VI. Dixon, Thomas Dwyer
David MCGOWAN, L. B. Adams and F. s.
Sprague.
w. BoWyer, W. S. Green and George F.
Packers.
Yuba-J. H. Jewett, D. A. ostrom, Ed.
ward Woodward, W. P. Ellis, Jr. and c. E.
Knight
s1tter-C. P. Berry, T. B. Hull, A. H.
Wilbur, Geo. Ohleyer, B. F. Walton.
Sacramento county-Wm. Johnston, Ell
wood Bruner, E. B. Willis F. F. Tebbets
and c. K. McClatchy.
State at Large-Governor Waterman.
City Board of Trade of Sacramento-E.
K. Alsip, Mayor Gregory, P. E. Plat, VIM.
Ingram, Jr., H. Weinstock and Sparrow
Smith
Tehama-E P. Kimball, W. T Matthews,
L. L. Mccoy, W. Stairley and B. V. Crum-
rime.
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
Arthur r. Briggs, w. T. Y. Schenk, Rob-
ert Montpelier, L. L. Baker and NJ Man
son.
Butte. H. Porter.
Mr.. Alsip moved that committee of one
from each county and one from the San
Francisco Chamber Of Commerce, be ap.
pointed on resolutions, to retire at once and
report to the Convention any resolutions
to be submitted TO them. without debate.
Mr.. Bruner, OF Sacramento offered 10
amend as follows:
Resolued. That a Committee on Resolutions be
appointed, to consist of one member from each
authorized delegation occupying seats in this
Convention, each member TO be selected by such
delegation, to which committee shall be re-
ferred all resolutions presented to this Conyen-
tion without debates
Mr.. Alsip accepted the amendment, and
it was adopted.
On motion, a recess of ten minutes was
taken to enable delegations to select their
members of the committee.
The following committee was reported
Sacramento county-ElBood Bruner.
Sacramento Board of Trade-EsK. Alsip.
Y ba-John 81. Jewett.
Sutter-George 0hleysr.
Tehama-W. Stairley.
Colusa-A H Rose.
Butte-C. II. Porter.
Chamber of Comme:ca ofSan Francisco
w. T. Y. Schenk.
San Josquin-H. ]. Coreoran.
Solano-James Millar.
Yolo-G. NJ Dixon.
The Chair ruled that all resolutions
should be be handed to the Secretary and
then submitted to the committee.
The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
submitted the memorial recently adopted
by that body and forwarded to Congress.
This memorial wss published in these col
umns at the time
Resolutions were submitted and read
from Suffer, Sacramento and Yolo counties,
and from the Board of Trade of Sacram snto
city, and referred to the committee. They
were all much of the same general charac-
ter-reciting the injuries done TO the chief
rivers of the Sacramento valley, and petit
tioniug Congress to restore them to their
natural conditions.
a gentleman, who said be was not dele
gate, asked to have the Mokelumne river
included among those TO be improved.
Mr.. Schenk, of San Francisco, moved
that Marsden Manson, Engineer of the
Harbcr Commission. be requested to sub
NIT q paper he had prepared to the Com
mittee on Resolutions.
This was amended so that Mr.. Manson
be added to the committee and adopted,
and that Mr.. Manson's paper be read at
that time to the Convention. Carried.
Mr.. Manson then read TO the Convention
his paper, accompanied by maps. It was
devoted TO the matter Of showing the i'm
portance of the Sacramento river for navi-
gable and commercial purposes. He
claimed that Congress had been 0erelict IN
its duty of maintaining the river in proper
condition. The importance Of the occasion
rendered it necessary that the people should
themselves take up the subject and lay it
before Congress, instead Of waiting for the
slow action of the War Department. They
have q right to be heard in Congress, and
to demand that that body shall take action
In the matter, instead of going there as sup
plcsnts. Applause
Mr. OstIom moved to take recess until
SPIN.