The record-union., 1891-04-29
THE CITY'S BULWARKS.
They are Inspected by the Trustees
and Citizens.
Generally In Good Condition. but
Capable of Improvement In
Some Places.

special train, consisting of an engine
and passenger coach, was placed at the
disposal of the City Trustees and dele
cation of citizens yesterday afternoon by
Superintendent j. b. Wright for the pur-
pose of enabling them to inspect the
north and west levees of this city. The
party consisted of Mayor Comstock,
Trustee Mclaughlin, Assistant Division
superintendent Z. G. Jones, p. e. Plat.
Frank Miller, Major II. Weinstock, Z.
A. Crouch, B. L. Steinman, l.. B. Adams
and two press reporters.
The party first visited the American
River bridge, just this side of which the
east leyee joins the north one. 1t was
readily seen that the embankments were
IN excellent condition, and quite strong
enough to stand eight or nine feet more
water than they were required TO last
winter, before any uneasineSS need be
felt by the people of this city, as to the
danger OF break at that point. In time
Of high water, however, the gophers are
dangerous.
After short stop the party was carried
back TO the city and taken to Front and
X streets. The train was unable to pro-
ceed further on account of several freight
ears being on the track, and the inspect
y
as far as street. The rip-rap work was
found to have been done in d thorough
aud substantial manner, and where the
levee has been faced with the, granite
blocks there is practically no danger of
washing from tho current The flooring
of the ~harves and lumber sheds had
been tern up to permit Of the granite be-
ing placed underneath on the slope of the
bank, and the weakest place in the levee.
on w street, where the current strikes
the bank sharply, has been rendered inn
pregnablc against the force Of water. IN
this particular place one OF the best pieces
of rip -rapping that can be seen anyW here
was done.
The committee agreed that the work
had been well done, but it was the unani-
nous opinion that the entire leyee should
be faced by riprapping with granite.
j. Z. Picrson, the engineer who did the
work, joined the party and gave his views
as to what should be done to render the
city sale from floods on all sides. He
thought the north and east leveeS were
strong enough, but he believed both the
! \ and Front street embankments should
be raised four feet.
The street leyee, where it joins the
river levee, is at present about five feet
! lower than the latter Mr., PiersOn re-
commended that it be raised to level
with the west levee, and faced on the out
side for distance Of few hundred feet
with granite, so that in case the front
levee should break just south of Y street
the current would not wash away the
city's protecting levee on the south.
Messrs. Miller, Weinstock and Stein
mann expressed views similar to those of
Mr.. Pierson. They agreed that the Y
street levee ought to be made higher, and
! also the river levee, and thought that the
city should do the work gradually, even
if it required three or four years time to
accomplish it.
1t was decided to prepare report of the
inspection, together with recommends
tions, and submit them to the City Trus-
tees. 1t was thought that if the levee tax
Tor the next three years was made ID cents
| instead Of 10 cents enough money would
be raised TO enable the Trustees to put the
levees in good condition.
Before returning to town the party
were escorted by Mr.. Steinman through
the works Of the Electric Light Company
and the Capital Gas Company.