The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-21
SACRAMENTO RIVER.
The Federal Commission 70 Investigate Its
Condition Now at Work.

SACRAMENTO, Jan. 20.-Major Alexander
Mckenzie, Captain Daniel E. Kingman and
Major Heuer, sent out by the Federal Gov
eminent 10 consider the improvement of the
Sacramento ana Feather rivers, arrived here
to-day In the Government snag-boat Seller.
They were met at the steamer landing bv
the members OF the Sacramento Board of
Trade and committee representing the late
River Convention, and were escorted to thu
Suffer Club, where they met several more
leading citizens aud were entertained at
luncheon. he commission will go as far
up the two rivers as it possibly can. The
inspection will be confined to outlets and
taking of soundngs. They will make no sur
vey. Ihey Will be gone about one week. fer
which they will return TO Washington.
They are DESTROYS that as much informa
ton ton In the way of facts aud
is possible from Interested parties. Dr. G.
NJ. Dixon, Chairman of The Executive Com
mittee of the Sacramento River Convention
presided at the luncheon, and, after the
welcoming, the members OF the convention
called on various gentlemen present to give
lew 12ctS regarding the river, its past
glories and present decadence and the neaes-
stiles that exist for its reclamation for pur-
oseS OF navigation. responses were made
by the following gentlemen: 7. l.. Piatt
President OF the Sacramento Board OF Trade
ance OF the Sacramento and the necessity OF
keeping the river navigable to bring up and
down The products of the great valley. The
river Is absolutely necessary to gather the
frult ION the orchards and bling 1t TO the
city. In past seasons tho boats, owing to
the shoallng of the river, have been forced
TO stop below the city and transfer their
freight, neceSsItating a delay of a day and
double handling. which often ruined the
fruit Prompt action was needed to save
the river Captain A. Foster, who
las naylgated the river steady since
1919. gave some interesting informa-
lion concerning the changes produced in it
by the flow Of slickens. In 1850 the river
opposite Sacramento was as clear as crystal,
and the water front was lined with vessels
that had come round the Horn and
sailed up from San Francisco Bay. Now it
takes fiat-bottomed boat of light draught
to come up. Ex-senator Johnston referred
to the slickens from the hydraulic mines,
which had caused all the trouble, it being
swept down III Hood time to the lower river
and there forming shoals and bars which
retarded the current and caused further de-
posts, until finally there was TO current and
less than eighteen inches of water at low
stage. Addresses were also made by Major
II. Weinstock, Hon. George Ohleyer OF
Yuba City ana Senator Rose OF Colusa The
Chairman asked that the commission eXam-,
inc most carefully into the facts, and, real
izing the Importance of the matter, make
such suggestions 10 Congress as would REM
edy the impending disaster. From CONVEX
sation CLEANED from the Commissioners it
was believed they would report in favor of
the construction of a strong system of
IeveeS, similar TO those recently constructed
along the Mississippi River under the super
vision of the Federal Government The COM
mission expects to inspect the mouth of
Feather River to morrow morning.