The record-union., 1893-01-30

inducement to Improvement, joined with
the guaranty of success, would appear.
These overtiowed valley lands may be
easily made the unriValed garden of the
western world. They may become cele-
DRAFTED as was the Lake OF Moeris and its
smiling margins, produced by the
Egyptians more than forty centuries ago,
by literally hewing down a mountain, so
tnat the Nile might pass over and fertil-
lie sneer desert, that smiles now-eYen
now. This those ancients Justly esteemed
as the greatest and most meritorious of
all their many mighty achievements.
Weighed against their benetcent use of
creative means to effect the birth of the
lovely. tood-producing province of Moeris
now known as Fayoum-they held the
majesty OF the Pyramids, the splendorS
OF once Thebes, the grandeurs of Karnac,
lightly as toys for entertainment OF kings
and babes and boys. So runs the cred
lble history of their time.
The writer is and long has been con-
vinced that tidal channel through the
Montezuma peninsula is the key to re-
clamatlon of the Sacramento-J oaquin
valley. Impartial logic in natural forces
verities the fact beyond reasonable cavil-
ling, and yet more palpable proofs de-
rived from the experience, experiments
and failures of this generation appear to
indicate that there is no other ken among
possible schemes. He repeats his own
declaration OF theory long ago written
and published, 1.-The MonteZuma penin-
sula is the grand outer barrier, the
closed and barred door that guards the
valley domain of the flood tend. That
safe and his rule is safe for centuries in
spite OF levees and ditches," and with
great respect for the undoubted value and
power OF these implements he now adds
dredgers. Yet with dredgers alone it is
probable that nearly the whole peninsula
can be severed at tide leVel and the barrier
CHIEFLY broken by their uses. That the
deep tule bottom twelve miles northeast
OF the pininsuIa is absolutely at tide level
has been known by actual and careful
official survey these last twenty-nine
years. The cut through the Montezuma
would be sure base for land reclamation
In the upper valley. Would you build a
house from the roof downward?
The Montezuma Channel, from tide
level IN the tule bottom TO tide level and
tide way in Suisun Bay, should be cor
structed by the United States alone, in
he1nterest of Sacramento River improve
ment. Appropriations for that purpose
solely would effect something tangible
and permanent to improve the river,
While TO dabble appropriations into the
river channel in dredging can never per-
manently so avail.
The latter course may serve well to
satisfy the mutual admiration of Commits
sloners lntrusted to spend the money and
report natterlng progress. They may do
tnls-honestly, too. 1t will be but an
other In the long series OF delusions and
losses.
Pardon repetition for its worth-if the
debris Is to drop from the channel of the
sacramento River its side reliefs to the
western tuIe belt below Feather River
must be reasonably relocated and the
mann war Tor rehabilitation Of that chan
neI Tor purposes Of navigation must be
carried miles away from it to the neck of
the MonteZuma to abate the delta water
dam and allow the natural descent of
water IN the river proper to thorough tide
way IN the bay OF Suisun. The battle of
the Montezuma may cost million but
IL VIII be decisive and need no repetition.
During more than forty-two years of
maturity l have habitualIy observed in
these valleys the things herein above dis
cussed. have dealt with them upon oc-
caSlon, practically, officially, critically
and IN the spirit of philosophy and patient
research, never for one moment holding
TO discovered error through pride Of
declared opinion or the fancy that con-
slstency, per Sc, carries either safety or
merit. ride no hobbies, cherish no pet
theories, but state from personal knoWl-
edge, observation and contemplation of
known laws IN physics, certain facts and
effects. Am an engineer? answer no;
and yes.
Not any possible flow of ink in any
form can protect the lowlands of these
valleys from overflow or restore their
navlgable channels. This reflection de-
clded me year ago, when it was written,
not to offer the foregoing for publication.
The perusal of a very sensible quotation
from RECORD UNION editorial, found in
our local paper, the Sacramento River
Meas, pointing to the propriesy and ne
cessity of cooperation between the State
and the United States in matters so in
separable as reclamation of lowlands in
these valleys and conservation of their
navigable channels, induces me to offer
to the RECORD UNION a feather for the
| back of this elephantine subject.
Sincerely hoping that all former follies