The record-union., 1893-01-05
RIVER ooNDIrIoNsA SUGGESTION.

Governor Markham says to the Legis-
lature with all the emphasis and urgency
that it would be proper for the Executive
to manifest, that the houses should sat
once demand" of Congress to give due
attention to the deplorable condition of
the Sacramento River. We quote his
words in full:
1t has been truly said that the navieable
streams are GODS free highways opeu AT am
times to the rich and poor alike-to the raft
ana natboat as well as to the floating palace
w hlle these streams are wholly under the
control OF the Federal Government. vet your
honorable bodies should at once and emDhaf-
ically demand the attention Of Congress- 10
The great necessity of restoring the Sacra-
mento and other navigable rivers of this
oLaIe 70 their former condition as soon as it is
possible to be done.
congress annually appropriates millions of
money lor the Improvement of rivers which
90 not possess One-eighth the commercial /
importance of our streams, and compara-
lively speaking. are without merit One-1ixth
ana often more, of the entire appropriation
For rivers is applied to restoring the levees
and preserving the banks of the Mississippi
and Missouri Rivers. The navigation Of
Calllornla streams is in deplorable cOndi-
tOn and should receive immediate considera-
ton by the Federal Government
Some years ago the State appointed a
commission Of engineers to examine and
report upon the condition of the rivers.
Their report, faithful, uncolored and
explicit document, was laid before the
last Legislature, and, we believe. has
been communicated to the War Depart-
ment.
On the basis Of that report and the data
IN the office of the State Engineer, and of
the facts of the recently developed chan
mel changes, and the flood of waters now
in the valley, make such short, sharp
and emphatic appeal to Congress that it
will command attention in the present
session. Itshould be an appeal so concise.
SO strong, that it will be considered bv
every member of Congress. and so en-
phatic, with due respect, that it will re-
ceive more than the formal order to file.
Other steps might be taken by the Leg
islature-and they should be taken at
once, not month hence-that would
tend to bring about Federal action, such
as inquiry into what has been done un-
der the late appropriation, what steps
have been taken by the engineers in
charge, what reports have been called for
by the War Department and not made,
etc. The houses might, also, with entire
propriety, send a committee with en-
gineers to observe the situation at the
point where the Feather threatens to
leave its channel, and in such other di-
rections manifest activity as will tend to
move Congress to order the treatment OF
the Sacramento and its tributaries to be
undertaken and no longer delayed.
Of course it is to be the work OF
years, and of course the flood of matter
filling up the streams must be restrained
and stopped. But it is not now ques-
ton of methods or of mining-it is one OF
the absolute need for Federal treatment,
as the Government may decide. of the
chief navigable stream of the State and
the great drainway of the chief valley Of
California.
The present Legislature has an oppor.
tunlty 10 show that 1t really has the inter
ests of the people of the State at heart
and the energy and ability to deal with
great public questions. Let it send {
committee of its members to Washington
as representatives OF the great State o.
California, to appear at the bar of Con.
gress and demand that the National Gov.
ernment shall take care of its navigable
waters, which are menacing the lives and
property of our people.