Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-11
THE MENACE TO THE RIVER.

1t is stated by citizens who claim to
have made examinations that in the
Paine break, on the Yolo shore, below this
city, there is now channel leading out of
the river, through the break, two feet lower
than low-water mark, and through which
the river is pouring into the basin. This,
If fact, is fraught with immense i'm
portanoe. 1t means in plain English that
if something is not done to close that arti-
hcial channel, or to check the flow at
least, that when low water is reached the
navigation of the Sacramento river will
cease 1t means more than that. If the
break were closed now, or in a few weeks,
SO as to throw the volume of the river into
Its original channel, the securing of the
stream would greatly improve the naviga-
bility of the river; the small farmers on
the lowlands who have been flooded out
could still this season get good crop of
vegetables, alfalfa and like produce, and
the whole of which is related to the trade
of this city and of San Francisco.
Three months ago Congress, by special
resolution, released $4,000 of the river
appropriation, and directed the resident en-
gineers to proceed to work with that sum
upon the break. They advertised for the
placing of mattresses to prevent further cut
ting. Bids were submitted which the en-
gineers deemed too high, and they there
fore reported to Washington for further
orders. There the matter rests. Ninety
days have elapsed, and really nothing has
been done. If the break were closed, or
even paltially closed, within the next four
or five weeks the gain to the sufferers on
low land would amount to hundreds of
thousands of dollars, and the river would
carry vastly greater volume of water
than 1t is now charged with below the
break, and thus greatly improve itself.
1t has been argued, we are informed,
that the current in the break is too power
full to permit of operations in it. On the
other hand, it is said that parties stand
ready to demonstrate that this is error and
that barges can be so secured that work
can be prosecuted from them. At any
late, there is feeling that the neglect of
the break until low water is reached will
result in such bars forming as will require
an immense sum and long time to re-
move, and will put an end to navigation
for the season of 1890 if not for two years.
1t is assumed that were the channel in the
break closed, or the flow through it even
checked, the greater volume of water
sent down stream would do securing of i'm
mense value and really save the Govern
ment money.
Government engineers work exasperat-
ingly slow, so slow that indeed the fear is
entertained by many well advised people
that they do not care to work at all upon the
river, and are Indifferent to It's case.
This is probably unjust judgment, but GER
tainly the matter is one of great import
ance to the entire valley and scarcely less
to the whole State, and the irritation of
the people may therefore be excused. The
hope of securing River Commission from
Congress is, we fear, faint. 1t seems i'm
possible to convince the Eastern Congress
men Of the Importance of the Sacramento
river, and while they are willing to have
as much indeed as S250,000 expended on
the river the present year, they wish to
commit the work to Army engineers
who in the past have not had the conf
dence of the people, in so far as ability to
cope with the river problem is concerned.
1t is related that at one of the recent ses-
sions of the Congressional committee hav-
ing the matter in charge, member asked
one of the California delegates sent on by
the River Convention, if the Sacrmento
was as large or as important stream as
the Potomac. His astonishment was great
when it was demonstrated that the Sacra-
mento is really greater stream than the
Susquehanna and the Potomac combined;
that it drains larger area of country, and
is navigable a greater distance than the
combined navigable mileage and drainage
of the two rivers named.
But if it is true that at this time,
as is asserted by those who have ex-
amined the situation, that there is chan
mel in the Paine break through which a
strong current is pouring out of the river
hal ha nf
mark, it is fact that should cause i'm
mediate representations to be made at
headquarters at Washington, accompany
ing a petition for instant examination, and
the application of such remedies as the
best engineering science can devise. II,
however, the matter, after such representa-
tion, is referred back to the army officers,
the impression will be renewed that little
of practical value will be speedily done.
And We reflect only the common Judgment
of the river communities in that express
sion. The integrity of these army en-
gineers is not impugned, but since their
judgment appears to be diametrically OPP
posed to that of hydraulic engineers and ex-
perienced observers of the natural history
of the river for thirty and forty years,
and is opposed to the testimony of all the
river pilots and naEigators, it is submitted
that there is reason for the demand for a
river commission, which the present agits
tion may aid us in securing.
A DECAYING INDUSTRY.
1t appears that the woolen' manufactor-
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