The morning call., 1891-02-20

" = oLAA-Nb4OAj 1CDs Is ut ItDOIL OF
the Army Board appointed TO make pre-
Iiminary examination of the Sacramento and
Feather rivers, Ca ifornia, came from the
Public Printer to day. 1t is of unusual in
teTest and VIII attract general attention
throughout the entire State. II is given
below in full:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
NAsHINGToN, d. c.,
February 10, 1891.
ST-l have the honor 10 transmit herewith in
compliance with the provisions OF 5 elton II OF
- the River and Haybor Act, approved September
IL, 1890 letter from The Chief of Engineers,
dated the Ion inst. submitting the report of The
Board OF Engineers constituted 10 consider and
rel oTt upon the future improvement OF Sacra-
mentO and Feather rivers California Very re-
stectIuilyi REDFIELD PROCTOR,
Secretary OF War.
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENT
ATIYES.
IMPORT or Board Of Engineers to consider the
Sacramento and Feather rjUsrs, California,
1rith rielg to their future improvement
SAN FRANCISCO Cali. Feb 3, 1891.
Gsuerdl-The Board OF Engineer Officers con-
sti uLed by Paragraph 8, Special Orders No. 66,
n adQuarteis Corps OF Engineers, september
so. 1890, TO consider Tie Sacramento and
Feather rivers, California, with a view to their
future Improvement, under Section II Of The
River ana HafbOr ACT of September 10, 1890
met at san Francisco CAL on January 10, 1891
aud renamed in session nineteen Gays. During
It's session The board las made a personal exam
1natlOb OF the Sacramento River from Its mouth
10 the present head of low wafer navigation at
McInIosh's Landing, of the Feather River from
Mary syIlle 10 its mouth, aud OF the Auba River
from DaguerTe Point to Its junction with the
. Z eRtHer Practical navisators and others Inter
esIed in the improvement OF tue Sacramento aud
Feather rivers have appeared before the Board
aud presented their views orally and in writing.
Having considered all available Information re-
laiins to The rivers IN question and the interests
Involved IN their Improvement, the board has the
honor 10 submit the following report:
REPORT.
c. mill p day
full CAPACITY only when the food waters shall be
controlled and be made TO pass In great part or
~ whole between It's banks. Al present the con-
benefits that may be claimed TO navigation to re-
suit from a system of river control they cannot
be realized on the Sacramento River short OF a
period Of years. In The meantime each low
water season brings difficulties 10 navigation
which can be removed Or ameloTated by proper
attention. Tie movement OF The wheat harvest
takes place durlng the low stage Of water, thai
tie greatest demand Tor transportation comes
when The naiuT2l conditions are Least favorable
fslleI TO be adequate needs be prompt. Price;
are affected by existing conditions. A good river
makes freightlng cheap, whether II be done on
Tie river or on competing railroads. The cost OF
transportation on lie water determines the price
For three reasons low-water navigation needs
all practicable attention and encouragement
and IN what follows II Is Intended 10 point out
"hat IS now done year by year for low-waJel
navigation and 10 Indicate farther degree &c
which Improvements may be carried.
Formerly nav gallon extended from the mouth
az The river to Red Bluff distance Of 215 miles;
but since the advent Of railroads boats have mol
found il commercially profitable to 20 above Nc
lnIosh, which is about forty miles below Red
Bun. Tie fall OF the river ia the upper reach is
ieet e inches to the mile. The frequency OF
rapids the shallOwness of many OF them in low
Stages, make navigation difficult aud costly.
II - practicable 10 overcome these difficulties
by locks ana Dams, and 10 make easy slack
water rayigatlon- The great cost Of this kind OF
Improvement seems to be out OF all proportion TO
lie Oeuefitto result, and any Improvement short
OF mis- Is unsatisfactory The Ia gr
great
While there may be occasional navigation
above, we must regard Mcintosh as the usual
head OF navigation. In this portion of the river
The fall Is conslderable, although decidedly less
than in The Red Bluff division.
The distance from Mcintosh to the mouth Il
go miles. Navigation Is Convenient over thC
whole rlyer In good stages OF water. which as
-~,fule prevail from December 10 July. The low
stage is Included between the months OF July anC
December, and during the interval navigation /,
always less convenient and often much embar
,Tassed.
During the period practicable drafts for YES.
sels IN lne lower 60 miles OF the river, or as fa
as the city Of Sacramento. Is In favorable years
8 10 feel. When the quantity OF water flowing
In tie river becomes reduced below its ordinary
summer condition. as happens To what are called
dry seasons, or seasons OF minimum rainfall, The
practicable Graft Becomes as little as feel.
Obsiructlons TO navigation In this stretch OF
river are found 10 exist at Newton, Ironhouse,
, ShOal, Ida Island, HeacOcks and SuIlerve. All
all other POINTS there Is sufficient depth for the
class OF boats which ply upon the river. These
DOdls draw when iuliy loaded feet.
II Is The opinion OF the board that propeI
system Of channel Improvement applied at these
points must result In obtaining about Z feet OF
waller al low stages. which Is regarded as sum-
clent TO meet all present requirements Of navga-
ton.
. Navigation above Sacramento City is con.
Quoted BY barges towed by light-draft steam.
boats.
The distance from Sacramento City to Colusa
is 100 miles. Over the stretch of rivr IL is gen
orally practicable at low water 20 float baTges
drawing 312 10 feet Of water. Tue latter drafi
is sufficient for cargo ofl000 tons carried upon
~ the largest type Of barge IN use. Except In years
Of minimum rainfall, II Is quite practicable TO
snaintain derrlI for baTges drawing feet In
years Of exceptionally low water depth may not
be fully maintained: but even then, aid by the
snag-bOat Will result In maintaining a close ap-
Proclamation thereto Navigation with feet
draft this part of the river VIII, II is thought
be satisfactory to all interests concerned. In
order 10 Detter insure this result, IL Is recon-
mended that Jacobs Slough on the east side OF
the river above Sacramento, he closed 10 the
height OF tile natural bank, the estimate for
Which Is $4,000.
From tie mouth TO Cousa, 166 miles, the
slope OF the river bed Is moderate. and 10 this
interval there are no rapids worthy Of note, so
thai navigation may be considered as easy.
But near Cousa we find ia ascending the river
marked sieeDeniDg Of slope, and consequent
rapidly OF current, shown 10 ripples or rapids,
Which become more and more frequent, flowing
over grayeiiy bars In channels Of diminlsh he'd
oept . over these ripples II is no longer pos.
SIDE 70 carry In low water barges drawing feet
OF water. Practically drafts at low stage are re-
ouced 10 leet, aud as We ascend still higher
luItnef reduction taxes place, until near the
bead OF navigation no drafts greater than "a TO
30 Inches are now maintained during low
stages.
III ihs'part OF the river the alignment of the
QbHnnel winch below Is stable between firm