The morning call., 1893-11-26
GOOD WATERWAYS
Urging Improvements of
Our Rivers.
Congressman Caminetti Is Engaged
in Tour of Inspection and
Gathering Statistics.

Congressman Caminatti arrived in the
city yesterday by the steamer Apache
from Sacramento. He left in the after
noon for Stockton, where he will make a
trip of inspection to the head Of navigation
on the San Joaquin River. He has just
concluded similar trip on the Sacramento
River.
His object in making these trips. be
stated. was to prepare himself to support
the recommendations of the Government
engineers for the improvement Of the
rivers. He is a member OF the River and
Harbor Committee. and wishes to famil-
iariZe himself with the requirements Of the
streams in this State.
81 learned at Washington that the en-
gineers have recommended an appropria.
tion for next year OF S345.000 for the i'm
provement of navigation ON the Sacra-
mento. My understanding is that this
covers the main river and its tributaries,
though do not know how it is proposed
tc spend the money. Last year the Sac
ramento got S150.000 / shall try to get fol-
next year the full amount recommended.
I'VE descended the river in the steamer
Dover from Red Bluff to Chico Landing.
Owing to the work done by the Govorn-
ment snagboat this year, the upper Sacra-
mentO has been greatly improved. 1t is
now free from snags. The Dover went up
to Red Bluff with cargo and drew thirty
inches of water. This was the first time
in twenty years that steamboat had
reached Red Bluff.
The Dover's voyage up the stream was
made without any material difficulty. The
river was at its lowest stage, but there was
a sufficient depth for boat Of her draught.
She had TO be warped over several OF the
rifles, but that was because of the swift
current, and not because of the lack of
depth of water.
The importance of opening the Upper
Sacramento to navigation may be judged
from the fact that the distance from Sac
ramento 10 Red Bluff by river is 225 miles.
Hitherto Macintosh Landing, point be-
low Tehama, and long way below Red
Bluff, has been regarded as the head of
navigation. But there is no longer any Sc
rious difficulty of navigation to Red Bluff
for boats drawing thirty inches, which is
enough for all practical purposes.
From Chico we went by rail to Marys-
vile. There we saw the cutoff made by
the engineers from the Yuba 10 the
Feather. This is no doubt an important
drainage imprO vement. We went up to
De Guerre Point, on the Yube. about ten
miles above Marysville, and two miles
above the site of Parks brush dam. At
this point a Government Debris Commits
sion some years ago recommended the
construction of a rock dam to prevent the
descent of debris. 1t may be possible by
means of this dam not only to arrest the
debris already IN the channel above but
also to catch debris from renewal of
hydraulic mining at various points above.
This, however, is a matter for the judg-
ment of the Debris Commission.
From the site of this dam down to the
junction of the Yuba with the Feather IL
was proposed by the engineers to form a
permanent channel, so as 10 keep the
water from washing down the widespread
deposits of debris into the Feather, from
which it might eventually reach the Sacra-
mento. The Bear River is 70 be treated in
the same way.
"rhere is steamboat service to Marys-
vile only once week, and 1 was obliged
TO postpone my trip down the Feather
River until next week. went by rail to
Sacramento, and from there came down
the river and bays to this city by the
steamer Apache. The condition of the
river. as a whole, is fairly good compared
with late years. But there is need Of a
deeper channel and Of protection to the
banks to prevent caving and outbreaks Of
the stream. A good appropriation should
be had for this river"
Mr.. Caminetti expects to return to Wash.
ingtOn about December s.