The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-02-18
FACTS FOR CONGRESS.
Submitted by Messrs. DevIin and
0hIeyer of this State,
The Sacramento and San Joaquin Riv-
ers-Reasons Why Government
Should Improve Them.

River Convention before the Committee
on Rivers and Harbors of the House
Of Representatives on the 9Th instant:
To the Honorable RiUer and HdrbOr
Committee Of the House Of Representatives.
GENTLEMEN We respectfully submit
this summary of the oral presentation
made by us yesterday before your COM
lnittee of the necessity and urgency OF
the appropriations recommended by the
Board Of Engineers for the improvement
Of the navigable streams of California.
CALIFORNIA RIVERS.
In California there are two main rivers,
the Sacramento and san Joaquin. The
Sacramento flows through the great Sac
ramento Valley and the San Joaquin
through the San Joaquin Valley, and
both meet in San Francisco Bay. The
Mokelumne is navigable stream tribu-
tary to the Sacramento. Petaluma Creek
is a navigable stream emptying into the
Bay of San Francisco.
The Sacramento River at the present
time is navigable to Macintosh Landing.
distance of 30 miles. The San Joaquin
is navigable for 200 miles or more.
By Section II of the River and Harbor
Act, approved September 10, 1891, a Board
Of Engineers was appointed to consider
and report upon the future Improvement
Of the Sacramento and Feather Rivers.
This board on February 3, 1891, COM
D1Gteu us report, anu IL WAS T6l6TT6u by
The Secretary of War to the Committee
on Rivers and Harbors.
APPROPRIATION RECOMMENDED.
This board recommended the following
appropriations:
/. A permanent yearly appropriation
not to exceed S25, 600 for the improvement
and conservation of channels and banks
by use of a snagboat and crew on the
Sacramento River above the city of Sac
Eamento.
2. A specific appropriation of $275, 900
Tor removal of distractions in the lower
Sacramento, and SIS, 900 for the closure of
Jacobs Slough, on the east bank of the
sacramento above the city Of Sacramento.
3. A specific appropriation of $500, 600
for the treatment of the Yuba near and
above Marysville.
4. A specific annual expenditure of
$4,000 for improvement of the navigable
channel of the Feather River.
In the annual report of the Chief of
Engineers to the Secretary of War it is
stated ''Of these amounts the'whole of
items Nos. l, 2 and 4, and 100000 of item
;, making total of S420, 600, can be advan-
5ageoUsly expended during the fiscal
gear ending June 80, 1897
, Appendix w, page 29S9.
OTHER APPROPRIATIONS.
In addition to these specific appropria-
lions for the Sacramento and Feather
Rivers, so made by the special commits
sion constituted under the River and
Harbor Act of 1890, Major w. II. Heuer,
Corps Of Engineers, officer in charge,
recommends:
l. The appropriation of $780, $50 for the
San Joaquin River.
2. 50, 100 for Mokelumne River.
3. $4,000 for Petaluma Creek.
4. The appropriation of S420,0 for the
Sacramento and Feather Rivers, above
mentioned, is also recommended.
HYDRAULIC MINING IN CALIFORNIA.
Prior to 1912 the Sacramento River
could be navigated by ocean vessels. At
that time occurred a severe flood that
brought down into the river immense de-
Oosits, and the continuance of hydraulic
mining added material, filling the river
beds and almost destroying the naYiga-
Oility of the rivers. But hydraulic min
ng has now absolutely ceased in Califor-
MA. This kind of mining has been pro-
hibited by the courts. People VS.. Gold
Run, 66 Cal. 13S. and Woodruff VS.. North
Bloomfield, 9 Sawyer AL.
The hydraulic miners recognized that
ifhydraulic mining is ever to be resumed,
t could only be under Governmental
supervision and by the erection of works
hat will etfectually prevent any portion of
Inc debris from their mines reaching the
rlvers, and we of the valley unite with
hem in seeking this result.
Thus the causes that have led to the i'm
0airment of the Sacramento and Feather
Rivers are removed, and no longer will
operate.
ORIGINAL CAPACITY OF RIVERS.
While at low water stages there were
oars in the rivers before they were injured
Oy hydraulic mining, still they were val
liable highways of commerce.
In the report of the Board of Engineers
On the mining debris question in the
state of California, printed in House Elk.
Doc. No. 26l, Fifty-first Congress, Second
session, and also found in the report of
Chief of Engineers of the United States
Army, Appendix W., page 3017, it is
stated:
ION the other hand, it is fact that be-
tween 1850 and 1860 there was daily
inc of steamboats, plying between Marys-
Vile and Sacramento, and another line
running between Marysville and San
francisco. The boats which run in
summer were light draft boats; in
winter, or during moderately high
hat steam propellers. which came to
California through the Straits of Magel-
IAN, have steamed up to MarySville: also
hat schooner carrying 1000 feet of
lumber has sailed Hp this river to within
i've or six miles of MarySyille This
however, is not very surprising when it
S considered that in winter the river was
frequently ten feet higher than while at
It's lower water stage; that it was no un-
usual thing for 100 to $50 tons of freight
20 be received daily III Marysville, all of
which had to go by river, as the ONLY
other method Of transportation was by
wagon.
in those days boats, except during
very low water had but little detention
on the few bars or rifles. Now all this is
changed. Instead of having a few bad
shoals during low water season. there are
deep pools which were once the charac-
1erlstic OF this river are now the eXcep-
ion rather than the rule. There are now
two railroads, one on each side of the
teather River, running to Marysville.
One steamboat, owned by the same COM
Qany that owns both railroads. max es
one round trip per week, and is the only
BOAT that navigates or uses the river. The
present greatest depth of water in the
channel over the shoal places for five or
six miles below Marysville is eighteen to
twenty inches. The wafer is very muddy;
The channel is crooked and narrow. The
steamboat In descending the river comes
down stern first, and has a barge carry
ng the freight fastened to her bow. In
ascending the river the barge is towed
asbern ia the usual manner. tthe cross
2ngs, where the channel is crooked and
narrow and the current swift the steamer
IS compelled TO send lines ashore to steady
and aid her III getting up the river. 1t
frequently occurs at low-water stage that
this boat and her barge require from
twelve to twenty hours of time to get up
his thirty miles OF river"
EXTENT OF FILL IN SACRAMENTO RIVER.
In the same report, referring to the de-
posts in the bed OF the Sacramento River
Appendix w. page 30l3 it is stated:
"Iu the report of 1880, the State En-
gineer, VIM. Ham. Hall, estimated