The record-union., 1893-04-12
A RIVER INVESTIGATION AT HAND.

The Senate Committee on Commerce is
issues between Santa Monica and San
Pedro harbors. Fortunately Congress
man Caminetti was watchful and pre-
vailed upon the Senate to instruct the
committee to also include in their in
vestigation California river improve
ments existing and proposed" This was
a capital achievement and the friends of
the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers
should at once take steps to place before
the committee all possible relevant facts
that will enlighten it concerning the con-
dition and the needs of the two rivers.
There is not a moment to spare, as the
committee is likely to leave for the coast
even this week. 1t is to be assumed that
the committee viii desire to go up both
streams, and there should therefore be
made immediate arrangements to that
end. 1t should be arranged that the com
mittee may be accompanied not only by
United States engineers, but by practical
business men who are fully advised COLI
corning the streams. We have all proper
respect for engineers, and especially those
of the army, nevertheless they are
proverbially slow, their education is
technical, and rarely are they informed
as to commercial conditions and needs.
We suggest that official and commercial
nf ba Wv
should at once proceed to secure small
but thoroughly representative committee
to appear before the Senate committee,
and ask leave to escort them on vista
ton to the Sacramento River from its
mouth to Red Bluff. The missionary
work that can be done by such proceed
ure will be of incalculable value. The
makeup of the committee indicates
strength, good judgment and fair play as
the rules of its action. But it must not
be forgotten that these are not even possi-
ible on a basis of misinformation, or
when there is lack of information.
The Stockton Mail, in commenting
upon the coming of the committee, says
that not much need be expected from
Sacramento, because it is fearful of losing
the railroad shops, and therefore is OPP
posed to river improvement. Our con-
temporary will please make note of the
fact that such utterance is a gratuitous
falsehood. Such reckless sheets as the
Mail delight in dealing in fanciful things,
and their sense of justice does not hinder
them in the mangling of the truth. No
city in the State has been so persistent. so
untiring, so successful in urging river
improvement, and in pressing upon Con-
gress that it is its duty to conserve the
navigability of the river, as the city of
Sacramento. Years ago it originated the
river convention, and through its efforts
the first committee ever sent on to Wash
ington to present the claims. of the river
was sent by that body. The Executive
Committee of that organization, which
has frequently met here, has had its
headquarters III this city continuously,
and its most active members are Sacra-
mentans. The entire press of the city in
and out of season has advocated river i'm
provement, protection and restoration of
navigation.
1t is not at all surprising that the Mail
cannot understand that if the railroad
companies of the State have any interest
in it, they must be prompted to favor any
and all development that will add to in
dustrial and producing population, bring
lands into cultivation, augment trade and
contribute to the general prosperity and
wealth. For under all such development
and strengthening carriers by rail will
profit. The better the condition of the
river as navigable stream, the better
for railroad traffic. Cannot the Matt get
its binders off long enough to wrestle
with these simple truths?
THE Stockton Mail says to the RECORD