The record-union., 1892-07-21
THE LEVEE QUESTION.

The matter of the treatment of the city
levees has not received the official atten-
ton that was expected, and which, we
submit, was due to the petition that was
respectfully presented by the citizens
meeting, held three weeks ago. The re-
quest for estimates by engineers was not
complied with, and not until a week ago
was the City Surveyor requested to make
estimates, and then he was limited to one
section of the levee. OF course he cannot
report for some time yet, and the meeting
to reassemble tonight will probably be
without the information it asked for.
The Trustees can possibly square their
action with conviction Of duty-we make
no assaults upon their motives-but the
REcORD-UNIoN does emphatically ar
raign their judgment as grossly in error.
They do not reflect the opinion of the
people to-day in this levee matter, so far
as their official -udgment can be ascer-
tanned. from the unexplained delay re-
ferred to, and the commitment of the
subject to the City Surveyor alone, and
that for but small section of the front
levee.
The RECoRD-UNIoN knows whereof it
speaks when it says that seven-tenths of
the property values of the city to-day, by
personal representation, is emphatically
in favor of the proposition to raise the
front leyee from above the railroad shops
to street four and five feet, and broaden
1t upon the top to sixty feet; that seven
tenths of property values is to-day in
favor of this being done, regardless of
the cost, and at once, and to that end will
favor lien upon city credit, or almost
any other means to accomplish the end.
The REcoRD-UNIoN knows whereof it
speaks when 1t says that Sacramento is
taking infinite harm to-day, and will
take much more, because this improve
ment is not made 1t is not because our
own people have fears, but because it is
an absolute necessity, and present and
pressing one, that the outside public shall
by visible evidence be convinced of the
absolute safety of the levees. AS an old
time citizen and large property-owner
puts it in communication to this paper,
''the Improvement asked for by the meet
ing, at cost of 100000, would be better
than policy of insurance underwritten
at minimum rates upon the entire valua-
nf al in fho
any and all damage or depreciation, were
such insurance possible"
1t is evident that if anything more than
patchwork is to be done this season, it
must be undertaken now; but to do so
there Dlust be some guarantee of pay
ment. Before the matter can now be
submitted to the people, and the legal
steps accomplished for creating the La
bility, the season will have passed. We
entertain the belief that there is enough
of public spirit and conviction of the
need for the work to secure the guarantee.
If so. what remains is to make such a
showing to the Trustees of the desire of
their constituents that they can feel re-
heved of responsibility, and be induced
to order the necessary steps to be taken.
The gentlemen composing the board,
will, we take it, concede the demand of
the people, if it is made in manner
clearly convincing that it is free will and
representative ola large majority of tax
payers. We can understand why they
should move cautiously and not rush
into costly Improvements without reflec-
ton; bur we submit that the time which
has elapsed since the high water of May
has been ample, and that at least there is
no reason why the sense of the people
upon this question may not be taken.
even in an informal way, and every rea-
son why, when taken, it should be COM
piled with.
This ascertainment can be by petition,
by canvass, by expression in mass meet
ings, or by vote. It is not necessary,
however, that any of these means shall