The record-union., 1893-08-24
PR0GRESU STEADY MARCH.
The City's Levees to Be Put in First
Class Condition at Once.
Over Forty Thousand Dollars Worth
of Work to Be Done on Them
Before Winter.

Before Winter.
Considerable levee work is to be done
before winter and there will be lots of
work for those who need it from now on.
The City Trustees held special meet
ing yesterday and conferred with the
committee from the Citizens Levee Asso-
citation regarding the proposed work.
Committeeman w. a. Briggs, f. r. Dray
and J. 0. Coleman were present, and also
J. C. Pierson, the well-known civil en-
gineer.
DR.. Briggs spoke briefly, saying that
since Mondays session of the board the
committee had considered the matter of
selling levee bonds. He said Senator
Dray would make an oral report on the
matter.
MONEY FOR A GOOD START.
Mr.. Dray stepped forward and said that
the committee had called on the Bonded
Debt Commissioners, and the latter had
agreed to tako So, 900 OF the bonds, and
possibly they would take S, 200 or SO, 900
more, ii it were found that they could not
be disposed Of elsewhere. ut is now for
the Board of Trustees to decide" he said.
what they can do with that amount of
money at their command. 1t is for them
to see what the work will cost. and then
act accordingly"
Mayor Steinman said that the contracts
were already out for riprapping, building
a wharf and bulkhead, and other work
which would eat up what amount the
city now possessed. The board had gone
ahead with improvements without wait
ing for suggestions from the association.
lie says the Trustees already have as
surances of S25, 900 or $50, 600 more, and
what the board would like to know is ::
What does the association want done?
W hat work does it think is required on
the Ystreet levee?
Senator Dray said the association had
considerable data prepared with the orig
lnal plans. He did not remember ex-
actly what these plans We're, but they
provided for substantial levee and a
high one. The Senator thought most of
this work could be done this fall with the
money that would be available.
WHAT Is TO BE DONE.
Engineer Pierson told the board that he
and City Engineer Boyd had examined
the levee recently and agreed as to what
would be necessary. The levee was to
commence at the river and slope back to
Front street, where it would be at high
water mark. 1t would not be necessary
to have the levee higher than high-wat
AAASAA n a. bAllo HOAllI DGCduSt d DIGdk De-
low it could not bring the water up to
what would be high water at Front
street The Y-street levee proper, how
ever, should be raised. a break below it
would cause quite raise.
"Do you think the levee is high enough
now east OF Eleventh street?' asked Mr..
Conklin.
mo, do not" replied Mr.. Pierson.
Continuing, he said he thought the en-
tire IeVee should be brought to q level
with Thirty-hrst and \ streets. 1t should
be raised three feet east Of tho cemetery.
Mr.. Conklin wanted to know next if
Mr.. PiersOn thought the levee had suf-
ficlent base at the present time to stand
the raise he suggested. Mr.. Pierson said
it was not and would have to be widened.
NORTH AND EAST LEvEEs.
Then there was some talk about the
north and east levees. J. Q. Coleman ex-
planned that the associations plans were
to have strong levee on the north and
east to Brighton. In that case the Thirty
first-street levee would not be recon
structed. There was considerable oppo-
sition to it. as it would really be cross
lovee, and these species OF levees were
not wanted by the people.
Senator Dray explained further regard
ing the north leVee. He said if ever there
was break between Thirty-first and b
streets and Brighton the water was
bound 70 60 through the city, following
the path Of old Burns slough. Even il
the Thirty y-tirst-street levee was recon-
structed it could not withstand the water
unless it was faced with stone Ex-
Trustee Knox bad told him that this
levee was as good as ever.
City Engineer Boyd came into the
chamber at this juncture, and the Mayor
asked him for an opinion as to what
should be done with the money available.
Mr. RnVH GQI6 tho al
looking alter, the Y-street levee wanted
raising, and the junction at Front and y
certainly required attention. MIR. Boyd
said he would get his estimates ready so
that the board could advertise for bids
right away.
WAITED TO GIVE PEOPLE WORK.
Mayor Steinman didn't like the idea of
advertising for bids. HI said he did not
see why the Trustees could not 90 ahead
with the work aud give employment to
the men OF this city. The contractors
were liable to ring in outsiders on the
work.
The Mayor was informed by MIR. Boyd
and the other Trustees that it would be
necessary under the law to advertise for
bids. Whenever it was proposed to ex-
pend more than 81 200 bids would have to
be called for.
The Mayor would not be convinced.
however, that it was necessary to adver-
tise for bids. He had examined the
charter thoroughly, he said. and had been
unable to find any such law. Every cent
of the money on hand was needed for
the levees, and he did not want to see it
paid out for advertising and the like. He
believed the people would be benefited
more if the board should have the work
done by the day. The money would also
stay at home then, as only Sacramentans
would be employed.
WILL GO RIGHT TO WORK.
After some further talk, City Engineer
Boyd was instructed to report TO the
board next Monday an estimate of the
cost OF raising the Ystreet levee from the
river to Tenth street. This will be the
first work done. When il is completed
operations will be continued eastward.
Some filling is necessary on Thirty
first street, between r and Y, and the
Street commissioner was instructed to
have the work done at once.
The board then adjourned.