The record-union., 1893-09-06
THE POCKET" DRAINAGE.
City Trustees and the Supervisors
Consult About 1t.
The Landowners of That Section Ask
That Some Measures be Taken
For Their Relief.

A joint meeting of the City Board of
Trustees and the Board of Supervisors
was held last night in the room of the
latter, Mayor Steinman presiding.
Colonel McNasser stated that the own
ers of land in the "pocket' had come to
see if they could get some relief from the
water that comes from the Upper Stock
ton road and from this city.
There are over 1000 acres overf1owed
there, he said, which is the richest in the
county, and if reclaimed would bring in
large revenue to both city and county.
The landowners asked relief from the
water running down from the Upper
Stockton road. Then they would get
pumps and reclaim their land, which
would be worth at least $3.50 per acre.
He, himself, had lost over SAC, 900 since
he bought his land there. The owners
could not stand many years more of loss.
The floods were running them.
Supervisor Todd asked Mr.. McNasser
If he had not already a suit pending
against the city for damages to him from
drainage water. If this is so, would not
the people on the Lower Stockton road
sue the county If the water drained down
on them7
Mr.. McNasser replied that there would
be no objection from the people if the city
would take care of its drainage. as that
would relieve them also. The water from
The east would all run down the Lower
Stockton road. One-half of it goes at
present to Sims Lake; the rest would go
there also. Mr.. Sims was present and
could speak.
MR.. SIMS VIEWS.
Joseph Sims said he was not aware
that the whole matter hinged on the
drainage of the water down the Lower
Stockton road, nor did he think il did.
More water reaches the pocket" from the
CITY than from the Lower Stockton road.
1t is very large factor in this matter.
Relief must come from the city, and
when it is granted, there will be no
objection by the property-owners below
to the water from the Upper Stockton
road being drained down into his lake.
If the City Trustees and the Board of
supervisors can devise some means of
relief. and for taking care of the water, it
should be done. He had always been an
advocate of canal from the city to tide
water. The city has right to construct
1t and the Supreme Court has decided SO.
The water, he said, is getting worse
every year. When John q. Brown was
~AoJ ShC City dSSlSL6u Ln6 DTODGftV-
owners below in constructing a canal
part OF the way, and he did not see why
1t was not completed.
he had never IN the thirty years he had
lived there seen the water run nm either
the Sacramento or the Mokelumne. Some
surveys made had proved that there was
plenty of fall.
MR.. ABBoTT's VIEWS.
a. abbott believed that the city's action
is the key to the matter,
he dld not believe that a canal will
ever be built to tide water, or. if built.
that 1t could ever be maintained. r.
would be nuisance, and too much ex-
pense 10 build it. There is not fall
enough, and 1t would be a constant ex-
pense to keep it in a serviceable condi-
ton.
He believed the city should take care of
l.S drainage ana sewerage; it is matter
0i rlghG ana justice that it should do so,
1t can do so much cheaper by pumn than
Dy canal. Much valuable land is over
moved and rendered useless in the
pocket"
A canal might benefit the people below
out he thought there would be far less
water II none came down the canal and
the city took care of it's water. and the
water was drained down the lower stock
ton road.
II the pocket" is reclaimed, an in
come of $50 per acre would be realized
from the Land. which makes S20O. 600
yearly TO come to the city and county.
and be earned and spent here 1t would
90 more 10 develop and increase our re-
sources than all the trade we can entice
here from the surrounding counties
lie realized, he said, that the CITY had
no money, but the sewage must be dis
posed OF, and 1t could dispose of the drain
age at the same time, and do it cheaplv.
The people of the pocket" were paving
neaVy ieVee taxes to keep out the water
tnat would otherwise endanger the city.
The pocket" should be reclaimed.
The water from the plains land is being
run down on land ten times as valuable.
The pocket" landowners do not ask
either the city or the county to do anv-
thing to assist them. They simply ask
them to take care of their water and not
drain it down on them.
MR.. o'NEILL's VIEWS.
James O'Neill said the lowland owners
would take care of themselves and ali the
water that properly drained down on
them, out 1t was neither right nor just
that the city should drain its water upon
them. The Supervisors should either
change the bitches that were draining the
county upon them, or close the bitches
up and give them show to reclaim their
land.
SUPERVISOR CURTIS
Agreed with Mr.. Abbott that if the water
was pumped from the city into the river
it would relieve the pocket. and if a ditch
was dug on the lower Stockton road there
would be no objection made. No White
Rock water comes down to the "pocket." {"
The water would go down Elder Creek
to Sims Lake if the ditch was changed.
Supervisor Jenkins was asked for his
opinion. He said water must go down
hill and not up. He wished the gentle
men from the pocket to have the floor
and he would listen.
CITY ENGINEER BOYD
Also came to listen. The taking of the
water down the Lower Stockton road
be said, was an easy matter. 1t could be
diverted to Elder Creek. 1t might in
crease the hight of the lakes little. but
heir area was so large it would make
little difference With the country water