The record-union., 1893-01-20

OF drainage and reclamation.
Plerson of Sacramento stated that, as
he understood it, the question was
whether practicable plan to reclaim the
land could be arrived at. AS Mr.. Man
son had stated, an immense amount OF
money has been wasted. He did not think
the Government would aid in reclaim
ing the land, but would aid to keep the
river nayigable. The land must pay the
expenses of its own reclamation.
QUESTION OF EXPENSE.
Fulweiler stated that in a reclamation
scheme like the one proposed the land
would have to be condemned and owners
paid for the right of way. The State
could well afford to pay for this, and it
might be done by small tax. There are
three or four ways in which the money
might be raised. The farmer, the miner,
all were interested.
Rose of Colusa thought the first ques-
ton to be considered in connection with
the report was whether or not the prop
erty-owners were willing to contribute
the money necessary for carrying out the
work. His experience made him think
the necessary means to put the river in
shape could be procured from Congress.
In the past our great rivers have been
very much neglected by Congress.
mainly because our Representative have
not pushed the matter. He thought the
finding out of the expense of reclamation
TO landowners is the question before this
convention. What methods will we take
to secure the necessary funds?
MONEY THAT WAS WASTED.
In response to a question by Dunn OF
Placer, as to the amount Of money wasted
in the past, Engineer Manson stated that
he had traced $4,000, 900, and there was
probably more than that of which there
was no record.
The question is now, he said, are you
going to go on spending it without sys-
tenn, to the end of time, or ask the State
to aid in doing the work at once and
under system that would effect the de-
sired object.
Burroughs of Nevada said we had just
as much right to ask Congress to take
care of the rivers as 1t had to appropriate
millions through Captain Eads and others
to improve the Mississippi.
Fulweiler said the Constitution of the
State could be amended, when necessary,
and whatever bars this matter from
remedy can be removed from it.
THE RIVER INADEQUATE.
Green of Colusa said that he had been
studying the river for many years, and
had years ago satisfied himself that the
river could never carry the whole volume
of water in flood time. He was sure the
land could be reclaimed by system of
small districts, under a general system of
supervision by the State. He advocated
the employment of from 500 to 900 State
prisoners in the work, and said that in
Texas he had found out that the State re-
ceived from railroad company $50 per
month for the services OF State prisoners
in building their road. The Sacramento
River was once an arm of the
BAY OF SACRAMENTO,
AS he had discovered by investigation as
far up the river as Colusa. The ditritus
OF ages from The mountains had filled up
all but the river bed, and one day there
would be no Suisun or San Pablo Bay
nothing but stream to the ocean. Our
trouble is that we are leyeeing a gravel
carrying stream. We must find an out
let system having several outlets, and
make the river conform as nearly as pos
sible to state of nature. He thought
THE JETTY SYSTEM
Was only a temporary relief. The river
comes to ColuSa with a fall of fifteen
inches to the mile, carrying gravel along.
1t then drops down to six inches to the
mile, and narrows at knights Landing
to about $50 feet wide. We have stopped
up the sloughs, and now we must cut the
ridges to make drainage, and make out
lets where they are needed. Levees can
be built from the lower edge OF each out
let, running back, and the landowners
can thus reclaim their land. There must
be outlets up the river where the gravel
comes down, for if this is not done the
water comes up behind. The State should
lend its aid in the work.
Hutchings OF Butte thought the con-
vention was agreed that a general plan
was needed, and too much time was being
lost in stating the opinions of Individuals
Dray of Sacramento thought the small
districts would not work, but that there
should be a general district. He agreed
with Fulweiler that the work should be
carried on by the State, in conjunction
with the General Government. Last
year
1900 WAS THROWN AWAY
By the Government, as far as regards the
reclamation of the land, in repairing the
Payne break,
Green related his experience in connec-
ton with reclamation districts, and said
that property-oWnerS wanted you to pay
them for the privilege of protecting them
and give them free pass to heaven be-
sides. You cannot get landowners to
agree to one general district, You must
take into account not only conditions of
nature, but the perverse conditions OF hu-
man nature.
Rose said that 500,000 acres of the most
valuable land in the world was waiting
for reclamation. He thought bill should
be formulated for a comprehensive
scheme to reclaim it by forming into
proper districts, not taking it out of the
hands of the owners, but putting it under
the direction of engineers. He thought
only the land subject TO reclamation
SHOULD BE TAXED.
He thought that with the proper effort
Congress could be induced to restore our
rivers; it is doing it everywhere else. He
instanced the work of Geary for the i'm
provement or Humboldt River and har-
bor.
The plan must extend from the head of
the country affected to Suisun Bay. 1t
must be system as a whole and under
one management. He did not think con-
vict labor feasible; the difficulties in the
way were too great; most of the work
would be dredging, and must be done by
intelligent free labor. He believed the
best way to raise the money would be to
bond the district. The work should be
accomplished in two years.
Lubin moved that it be the sense of this
convention that system of drainage be
adopted, commencing at the source of the
trouble and ending at the ocean.
Engineer Grunsky offered a substitute
providing that the Legislative Committee
be instructed to prepare and report bill
authorizing the formation of general
drainage districts. and providing for the
planning OF the works of general benefit
by competent State authority, and pre-
scribing means for carrying out such
work, at the expense OF the property
benefited according to the benefits con-
terred.
Lubin withdrew his motion in favor of
the amendment, and it was resolved to
act on it after recess, which was taken till
l:30. -a@
The Legislative Committee elected Rose
of CoIusa President, Lubin of Sacramento
Vice President, and Dunn of Placer Sec
retary.
Afternoon Session.