The record-union., 1893-08-24
WhRRING RECLAIMERS.
HighIanders and LowIanders Before
the Supervisors.
Some OF the ''Pocket'' Landowners
Want Pumping Plant, While
Others Oppose 1t.

At yesterdays session of the Board of
Supervisors there was large gathering
of landowners from the reclamation dis
trict just south of the city and embracing
the bottom and some of the high lands
adjacent to the river between here and
Freeport.
The occasion of the assemblage was the
promised hearing to be given to the rival
factions in the district-namely, the high
landers and lowlanders. The latter, who
are called progressionists, want to have
certain surveys made in the district with
view to draining off the water that
causes so much annoyance to residents
on the bottom lands near the river and
putting in pumping plant that would
dispose of the surplus water and render
the land susceptible of cultivation.
The uplanders have exhibited consid-
erable opposition to the plans of the
others and have resisted the payment of
assessments levied by the Trustees, and
have been demanding the election OF
new board.
These matters having come up before
the Supervisors, and there being so much
contention between the landowners, the
board fixed yesterday as the time for Civ
ing full hearing to all parties interested.
A NEW DISTRICT TO BE FORMED.
Before taking up the matter referred to
the Supervisors considered the petition
of Sperry Dye and others for the forma-
ton of reclamation district in the vicin-
ity OF Snodgrass. Tyler and Georgiana
Sloughs.
j. w. Armstrong appeared as counsel
for the petitioners and explained their
object and minor matters connected
Herewith. There was no opposition, he
said, from interested parties.
On motion OF Supervisor jenkins the
prayer of the petitioners was granted.
THE BATTLE OPENS.
Chairman Morrison then announced
that the chief business of the session-the
hearing of matters concerning Reclama-
ton District No. 535-was then in order,
and the warriors might take off their
coats.
Albert NJ. johnson presented petition
signed by Messrs. J. I. Hack, ii. =.
Peterson and others, reciting that, as the
terms of the present Trustees are about
to expire, an election for three Trustees
be called for October 1st, at Oak Hall.
This petition, Mr.. Johnson said, was only
incidental to the chief business to be con-
sidered.
on motion of Supervisor Curtis the
prayer of the petitioners was granted,
and the following officers of election ap-
pointed: Inspector, G. Il. Brockway;
Judges, c. c. Taft and A. Koch.
The next matter considered was the
application of certain residents for the
appointment of three Commissioners to
assess the property of the district for
reclamation purposes.
Mr.. Armstrong said that, inasmuch as
the landowners he represented had en-
tered no opposition to the petition for the
election of new Trustees, the highlanderS
should be equally fair and not object to
the appointment of Commissioners. The
district now has an Indebtedness caused
by the inequality of assessments levied
by the old Commissioners, which dis
crepancies were not discovered by the
Trustees and Engineer until too late to
remedy the evil.
PARTIALLY REMEDIED.
The Trustees had, however, remedied
matters as far as possible, and reduced
the deficiency to S3,474. The sum of
50, ,464 will be required to repair the levees
and place them in a safe condition, and
he wished to assure the highlanders that
all they would be called upon for would
be their pro rata of that sum.
No land not benefited by pumping
would be asked, nor would il be liable,
for any part OF the cost of pumping out
drainage water. Only the lands required
to be relieved by pumping could be
taxed for such expense.
of the courts to show that such was the
law of the case. 1t would be for the Com
missioners to determine, he said, what
land would be benefited by pumping.
Land on which water did not stand would
not of course, be liable for any expense
pumping, 1t would be absurd to assert
otherwise.
Mr.. Armstrong then read a petition
from certain landowners near the river.
reciting that they were subject to great
damage by drainage and sewage from
Sacramento City, sipage from the river
and stating that relief must be had by
the raising of a reasonable sum of money
tabout S50,O00) by assessments levied on
the land of the district
The signers of the petition, Mr.. Arm
strong said, were owners of lowlauds,
and they did not ask nor expect the high
landers to stand any portion of the ex-
pense of the proposed pumping.
THE DIRECTORS.
Albert NJ. Johnson, representing the
contesting landowners, or highlanders.
appeared in opposition to the application
OF the lowlanders for the appointment of
Commissioners to levy an assessment on
the lands of the district. He held that il
was the duty of the Supervisors to stand
between the Trustees of the district and
the people and see that no injustice was
done the latter. The board should not
delegate TO Commissioners the work of
assessing lands for the expense of drain
age, because the highlanders could not
depend on the promises made that no in
justice would be done them.
IL this were done the district would
doubtless find itself involved in numer-
GUS law suits. The highland owners do
not want to be taxed for reclaiming GER
tain lowlands, and they were here to ap-
peal to the Supervisors not to appoint
Commissioners at this time, but to them
selves guard the interests of the contest
ants. At all events, the matter should be
put off until after the new Trustees shall
be elected, as the latter might decide on a
different course OF action.
IT MEANS MORE INACTIVITY.
Mr.. Armstrong replied that it would be
absured 10 put off action in this matter.
TO do so would mean the loss of another
year-another season of inactivity. 1t
was monstrous to ask these people to sub-
NIT 10 being submerged in water for an
other year. and yet required to pay high
taxes on land that cannot be cultivated
The proper thing to do, he said, would
be to 20 ahead with the proposed i'm
movement, despite the opposition of
few silurians and opponents of progress
sion. The expenditure OF $50, 900 would
give employment to great many labor
ers these hard times, would bring under
cultivation thousands of acres OF land
that is now worthless, and thus bring
more money TO the county in the way OF
taxes.
At this iuncture the board took recess
until o'clock.
on reassem bling in the afternoon Judge
Armstrong resumed his argument.
THE JUDGE TALKS AGAIN.
In the afternoon Judge Armstrong re-