Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-07-18
THE WORK CoEpLETED.
RIVER LANDS IN YoL0 WILL SOON BE
FREE FROM WATER.
How the Paine Break Was Closed-A
Great Work Well Done OBJ
stacles Encountered.

By invitation of Assemblyman J. G.
Murray, of Humboldt county. who is act
ing as Assistant Superintendent of the
Government work being done at the Paine
break, on the Yolo levee, representative
of the RECORD UNION paid that much
published spot visit yesterday.
The original purpose of Major Heuer in
applying to this purpos portion of the
funds in his possession for use on the Sac
ramento river, was not, as has been gen.
orally supposed, for the building of
water-tight levee, but to erect such water
break as would defect the current, or the
larger portion thereof, into the main chan
mel of the river, and thus scour out the
bars that had formed relow the break. To
this end contract was let to James Simp-
son, of Eureka, Humboldt county, for the
driving of two parallel rows of piles across
the crevasse, properly secured, and filling
in the inclosed space with brush mats,
weighted down with bags, to the
hight of twenty-three feet above low-water
mark.
After making the necessary soundings,
Mr.. Simpson, in order to establish the ac-
curacy of the contract survey, began work
at the end of the great crevasse with
floating pile-driver, but was compelled to
abandon that method of procedure by rea-
son of the great strength of the current
which surged through the gap, and to
transfer his operations to the shore. The
contract called for the use of piles of an
average length of thirty feet, which, it was
estimated, would furnish ample strength
against the rushing torrent; but, soon after
few were placed in position, it was found
they would not answer, and Captain Bal
lantyne, United States Inspector, who was
in charge of the work, ordered discontin-
uance until such time as the con-
tractor could procure piles sixty feet in
length, or double the length of those speci-
fed in the plans.
Another difficulty here presented it.
greatly increased the volume and
velocity of the stream. As an in
stance of the difficult nature of the
work, Mr.. Simpson explained, with sigh,
that one pile, which had taken force of
stwelve men seven hours TO place in posi-
ton. popped up out of its place and foated
off. Still, in spite of all obstacles, the great
work had nearly been completed. Major
Heuer has ordered an additional layer of
brush and bags, to render it more compact.
In the construction of this work, which
is LOO feet in length, some $50 piles have
been driven. and about 10000 bags of sand,
4.410 cords of brush mattresses and nearly
100, 900 feet of lumber employed to brace
and strengthen it.
Every portion of the detail, in addition
to the supervision of Messrs. Simpson and
Murray, has been personally inspected by
Captain Baliantyne, and this duty was
thoroughly performed, as it included the
measurement of every cord of brush, the
counting of every pile and piece of lumber
used thereon, after which it was further
inspected by Majer Heuer.
The work was not done for the purpose
of ornamentation, but with an intent to
great strength and endurance, and will af.
ford secure facing for such levee as will
have to be built back of it when the water
falls sufficiently to permit.