The record-union., 1893-10-25
TJLB LAND RECLAMATION.
Great Activity Among the Islanders
Down the River.
The Grand Island Peoples New
Dredger and Levee- e-Builder-Old
Methods Discarded.

Improved machinery for the construc-
ton of Ievees. excavating canals, etc, has
given a new impetus to the reclamation
from overflow and the drainage OF the
rich lands lying along the delta OF the
Sacramento and San joaquin Rivers.
Activity prevails everywhere. The resi-
dents of the various islands yet unre-
claimed. seeing the success of the dis
tricts where work has been pushed, are
organizing AMI getting into shape for
building levees. digging canals ana plac-
ing pumping works in position TO relieve
the lands Of sipage water and natural
rainfall.
Sutter Island people are active under
its new Board OF Trustees, and those on
the upper portion (which is the best part
of Andrus Island are doing likewise.
Brannan Island will be IN good shape
before the heavy rains set in, and so will
Merritt a portion OF Iwitcheu Island
will be reclaimed and there is serious
talk of starting i'll on Sherman Island,
which was the pioneer In works OF this
character.
Under the old style of levee building,
with wheel barrows and scrapers, 1t would
be impossible to reclaim some OF these
= NONS
scarcity of proper material; but with the
improved dredgers, which scoop the mud
from the bottom Of the rivers and sloughs
and dump it on the banks where re-
Quired, good levees can be built II is
simply a question or putting 1t high
enough, and giving the embankment 3
good base and slopes which the wash OF
the waters will not injure.
From parties who have just returned
from Grand Island, it is learned that the
scoop or shovel dredger which is excaVat-
ing the large canal in the interior OF the
island is a pronounced success. 1t Is
making q cut twenty-five feet VIDE and
about seven feet deep, and is advancing at
the rate of five-eighths OF mile a week.
1t takes up a cubic yard and hall at
each scoop, and works very rapidly. The
machine IS owned by the Grand Island
people, who also are owners OF the new
river dredger (clamsheu pattern), the
"Grand Island"
The machine, which was built at Stock
ton, arrived at the island last Monday
and went 10 work Immediately filling in
the depressions between the river and the
levee on the Sheehan ranch. 1t floats in
the river, and with its monstrous, clam
like bucket takes the mud from the bed
of the river and swings it on the land
wherever needed. This fine dredger will
work down toward Islet0n and along
Steam boat Slough, and VIII De kept at
work raising and widening the leyees for
years. at an expense which the landown-
ers will scarcely feel.
Another fine new pump is being put IN
place at Ryde, and next spring the Grand
Islanders will be able 10 laugh at sipage
water and rainfall.
The owners of land in the district now
feel that they are on the right track at
last, and are showing their confidence
in the levees by their deeds. Six-horse
teams are leveling the tules everywhere,
and it is probable that every acre of the
sixteen thousand will be in cultivation III
a fow months. In high water times the
new dredger VIII be ready at moments
notice 10 drop down stream to any spot
in the leVee system which may show
signs of weakness.
Tie activity on Grand Island will no
doubt be followed by the other districts,
and with the nited States Government
stepping in to assist in harnessing the
Sacramento River, there will presently
he 4 veritable boom in these lands, the
richest upon which the sun shines, and
the county will reap harvest in the way
of increased taxes on lands which with
out reclamation would be worthless.