Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-22
THE RIVERS AND GENERAL INTEREST

Inc San FRANCISCO -ittd takes the same
view OF the mission of the River Conven-
ton delegation to Washington that has
been expressed by the RECORD UNION.
1t well says that the people of the Sacra-
mento valley have great and increasing
interest in the streams being kept in nav
igable condition. 1t insists that the drain
way for five hundred miles of the finest
valley on earth should be treated systemat-
lcally, to correct the errors of neglect and
the mistakes that permitted the delta of
the river to be almost closed. This delta
must be enlarged and the capacity of the
river to discharge restored, while the chan
nels must have treatment 10 enable them
to do full duty in carrying the waters dis
charged into them. The Alta says con-
corning the Commission it is hoped Con-
gress will create for the consideration of
the whole subject
This Commission is to consider a compre-
hensive plan, covering the meandered stretches
OF the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers and
when the scheme OF Improvement is decided
upon 1t Will go forward to speedy conclusion
Much money has been wasted by the Govern
ment on these rivers by a petty, painless retail
method which has done more harm than good
little dredging has been DONE and il has ccst
a good deal of money, and its effect has disap-
peared about as soon as the dredger was re-
moved. Let plan be reached that compre.
hends all the needs of the two streams and
then let the money be appropriated at once, in
lump sum, to effect it,
But our contemporary is strongest in its
well put claim that this conservation of
the rivers Ct the State is not local ques-
ton, but one that concerns all the people
and every section of the commonwealth:
The committee which undertakes to present
the case and urge action is sent on by the citI-
zens of the counties which border the rivers
and need the transportation they furnish as
wen as the protection from overflow, which is a
necessary result of improvement and defense of
the channels. But the whole State is interested
IN the subject, and no citizen should neglect to
give II what support he can. We all want more
people OF enterprise and intelligence in Califor.
MIA. We are trying our best to induce them to
come The greatest area open to them is in the
valley OF California, on either side of these
streams which at once drain and irrigate that
valley, and offer cheap transportation for It's
products. When Commission is secured and
us Work begins, the action is direct induce
ment to immigration, and immigration means
an increase in the production and wealth OF the
state We are much pleased that this move
ment is is OF purely popular origin: No one
went knocking al the State Treasury flor an ap-
preparation. The people concerned have started
IL IN mo ion. and have delegated their strongest
representatives to promote its success. The
money to send the committee is all voluntarily
contributed, and its donation indicates high
order OF public spirit in the counties that have
joined in this effort.
In past years the chief difficulty in
securing proper consideration OF the river
question has been the erroneous impress
sion that has obtained that the matter is
local; that it is not of State interest. and
that 1t not at all concerns the people of
sections outside of the great valley OF the
State. Indeed, this impression one time
so much prevailed, that it developed into
positive opposition to any recognition by
the State of any interest whatever in the
conservation of the chief section in it for
the accommodation of population, and the
development Of natural resources. OF
course all such views are narrow and sell
fish, and the doctrine that each section
must be held to the care of interests of the
State within it, is destructive of progress
and at swords points with the idea of
State building. But in California broader
and higher views now obtain, and we have
come to understand that we all have
common interest in every part and section
of the State, and that what concerns the
development of any one part concerns the
whole people.