The record-union., 1893-01-20
TO RELIEVE THE RIVER.
Farmers and Engineers Discuss the
Matter at Length.
The Legislature to be Asked to Assist
by Observation-Disclosures Session
Called for the 2Sth.

Called for the 2Sth.
Previous to the.meeting of the Drainage
and Reclamation Committee yesterday
morning the Executive Committee held
a meeting and elected DIR. G. NJ. Dixon
Chairman and w. d. Lawton Secretary
of that committee.
When the convention was called to
order number of new faces were noted,
showing that interest in its work is in
creasing. A look over the assemblage
would also convince an observer that it
was representative assembly of the best
class of men fitted to grapple with a
problem of such magnitude. 1t certainly
comprised a larger number of brainy
men than conventions usually contain,
and the debates showed many original
thinkers among them, who had not only
plans to propose, but arguments to back
them.
The first business done was to add DIR.
Dixon of Sacramento and Will S. Green
OF Colusa to the Legislative Committee.
THE ENGINEERS REPORT.
The report of the engineers was called
u
which was as follows:
THE fact is well known to the civil
engineers who are familiar with the
rivers of Sacramento Valley, that these
rivers in their present condition do not
afford sufficient flood drainage capacity,
and that levee building and bank protec-
ton alone will not prevent the annually
recurring disasters nor afford reasonable
protection to valley lands.
has 10 report that aside from the works
required to accomplish local protection,
other works of general benefit are neces-
sary to facilitate and hasten flood dis
charge to the bay. and to control the
surplus water which must be prevented
from inundating valley lands.
The treatment of rivers on this line
means that the tiood-carrying capacity of
the natural courses must be increased to
the utmost limit, and that works to ac-
complish this end must be supplemented
by drainage channels of sufficient capac-
ty to control and remove the surplus
waters.
THE works required are of two-fold
character: ~ Those that can be COM
pleted within definite periods of time,
and ~ those whose construction must
extend through several years. Those of
the latter class are principally works that
may be designed to correct river align
ment and to deepen river channels.
These two classes of works must be
made the basis of systematic river treat
ment, and without endeavoring to antici-
pate what particular system of works
may be finally approved, our knowledge
OF the situation justifes the opinion that
aside from the works of channel treat
ment, which will cover many years, the
property benefited should be prepared to
incur, within period of five years, an
expenditure of eight to ten millions of
dollars for works of general benefit and
it is our opinion that this expenditure is
justified and advisable, and will afford
reasonable protection to all lands of the
Sacramento Valley.
The benefits conferred by the expendi-
ture of such a sum of money will extend
to about 100000 acres of land, and to the
cities and towns within the benefited
district. But the benefits conferred
thereby will be of varying degree, rang
ing from complete reclamation to mere
reduction of danger during flood period.
sc. L. GRUNsKY,
"MARsDEN MANSON,
81. G. PIERSoN,
Committee"
PAPER BY MR.. MANSON.
Engineer Manson then read the follow
ing paper:
Nv
be done in a disjointed, systemless man
ner as in the past, or shall every portion
done be part of a general system designed
to drain the whole valley?
''The gross appropriations by Congress
since the State was admitted has been less
than $3.50, 200, while the citizens of the State
have spent Sl4,000,000 which can be
traced, and the source of this vast sum is
known. How much more has been spent
by individuals who have kept no record
OF their expenditures l do not know, but
ii aggregates as many millions more, or
about 30,000,000.
Added to this vast sum is the loss of
labor, crops, stock, fences, houses even
in the light OF these facts we should not
fritter away our time as to how to induce
Congress TO dole out another pittance,
but we should bend every energy to de-
wise and place before the people of this
valley the most thorough, complete and
efficient system which the skill of man
can devise, and every dollar, every DAVIS
labor should go toward building this
work.
when Congress makes its little ap-
preparations great care is taken to select
trained and skilled men to direct toward
one object-the betterment of navigation
every dime ofthe sum. Yet we, spend
ing twenty or thirty times this amount,
running risks a hundred-fold greater.
have no system-no method. The only
object being to get our levees higher than
our neighbours, and to flood him rather
than be flooded.
Never in the course of quarter of q
century have the Trustees of various
leVee districts. spending in the aggregate
millions of dollars (and let me say here
that no trust has been more unselfishly
and honestly administered than the trus-
teeShlps of some of these districts)-never
have these levee district Trustees met and
ad dvised as to the best way of passing
Hood waters to their outlet
This must be changed. System and
method must mark every step, otherwise
disaster aud loss will be repeated and
desolated lands and ruined rivers left to
your children's children"
Shall the work to be done in this con-
vention." added Mr.. Manson, sbe done
in systemless, disjointed manner, as in
the past, or shall it be reduced to we'll
defined system?" He said that never in
any case had work been done and money
expended more honestly than by the
Trustees of these levee districts. bnt il
had been done without system. Tho
trouble has been that there have been too
many surveys. We can only prenara q
system that will be successful by a care
full and intelligent study of the VARYING
conditions Of floods. This has never
been made; it is the study of years. Ha
instanced the reclamation and control of
the river Rhine, and stated that the Sac
ramento River could be reclaimed as
well, We have period of flood. and a
river convention is called; we have a
period OF low water, and then the matter
is dropped.
THREE COMMISSIONS NEEDED.
Fulweiler of Placer stated that illness.
both in his own case and that of his
family, debarred him from taking as
active part as he wished. We have the