Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-14
IRRIGATION RESERVOIRS.
Where Should They be Placed, Provided
We Were to Have Them?


We Were to Have Them?
EDS. RECORD UNION To show you that
the question of reservoirs needs inyestiga-
ton before any correct conclusions can be
drawn, let US ask any one who reads this
where he would place them? If placed in
this county, it would be necessary to fill
them from this county's rain fall. and
therefore in a place low enough to favor
the grayitation toward them from ell other
parts of the county or if the water is de-
rived by bitches from other counties. the
practicability of the construction of said
bitches would have to be considered, as
we'll as the location of the reservoirs.
At this point have to repeat what once
suggested in your paper, that the best place
to take the water from for ditch. e. for
irrigation purposes-would be near Fol-
som and here would add to what then
said, that the bed Of the American river is
too low foI the lands that surround it, and
that the point for its removal to the land
must be raised by dam, with suitable out
lets.
The American river is the natural chan
mel for the rainfall of many thousands of
acres that constitute our watershed.
Through this channel all the winters rain
finds its way to the Sacramento river and
the ocean. The winters rain must be
stored in mountain lakes and deep raviues
and thence brought to the American-river
dam or to the mouth of the bitches that
shall traverse our irrigable lands.
If these remarks shall serve to dispose OF
the prisoners before their capture, allow
me to say that the capture would not be
made unless one can see what can be done
with them. In other words, water sup
ply would not be bought or stored unless
it could be conducted within our means
and powers TO the lands where it is to be
used. l have very diligently searched for
information about the amount of water
that will be in the American river after its
power has been utilized by the Folsom
Water Power Company; and about the
right of our county. or irrigation district,
if one shall hereafter be formed, to take
this water, or what may be left of it, for
distribution upon our lands. One party
has answered that there will be but very
little water in the river below Folsom; but
another party says to get the power, or the
fall that gives the power, will necessarily
return il to the river bed.
After mature thought, / have concluded
that, so far as our lands are concerned, this
question does not play an important part
except as 10 the quantity of water that
might be taken from the stream in its
actual flow. If there were water enough
to irrigate our lands in the bed of the
stream, and especially in the season when
water is most needed for irrigation, then
no reservoirs in the canyons would have to
be built.
But if this water, though in the river-bed
in plenty cannot be diverted for irrigation
cf rrn fnt mil h
edy. | will state, however. that / believe
it can be taken for this purpose if found in
its bed. But it may be seen, as we pro-
coed, tbst water should be kept in the
stream, because ii can be made to subserve
extremely important interests there.
Allow me to say that | am approaching
s very difficult problem-i. e., to show how
a man can spend dollar and still have it
in his pocket; how We can irrigate with
the water, and still have it in lis bed wend-
ing It's way to the sea.
Even if the Folsom Water Power Com
pany does not return the water to the chan
mel, our right to take out what we have
stored in reservoir and lake from the rain.
fall of winter, and what we empty from
these stores into the channel of the river
hone must dispute.
If this privilege is not guaranteed by the
present law, it should be the strongest par.
ticular section of the amended law, ire
movable forever.
think il will be seen that there are i'm
portant investigations to be made before WI
| shall know our rights. and Just what VIZ
may and may not do. 1t will require but
line of survey, and measurement of al
| titudes, 10 decide the practicability of tax
| ing water from the American river bed. L
~ - Id Il =. I. l,-..
| because of engineering difficulties or costli
ness this decision will show the very i'm
portant truth that our water must b,
brought to our borders by bitches, o.
| bitches and pipes or fumes alone. In tina
| case we should have more expensive sur
vey, and estimates of cost, which still viii
| be small Having these we shall ente
! upon the question as to whether thes
| bitches. reservoirs, fumes, ETC., can be hes
constructed and mansged by district, o
| must be done by capitalists who stan,
| ready TO do the work, with a certainty O
| guaranteed rights.
By questions and answers we have bad
and may probably again have, the assur
ance of water in two directions, by th
capital of others, including our own.
Let me once for all say here that ther
are graver problems underlying the Who'll
question: Oi iIflSdtlon, enG that tney sOOul
be propounded at once, in order that tru
answers affecting our most vital interest
may be wrought upon and out.
Let me further say, that owners OF Lex
acre tracts OF land are not probably ''th
takers OF water that will give The require
assurance that either capital or water owr
ers require before entering upon the wor
of water introduction for irrigation pm
poses. For the introduction Of water
Ibis way guarantee must be given that