The record-union., 1895-03-09

tees that the necessity for further and adj
dltional works was opportune. and the
BOARD, by resolution, employed j. W.
Ferris TO examine the condition of the
lands of the district. and to plan and locate
SUCH other and additional works and i'm
provements, and repairs of those already
constructed, as in his judgment were
necessary and required, in order to effect
a complete reclamation of the lands, and
to report the same, together with his esti-
mate Of the cost, to the Board of Trustees.
FERRIS REPORT.
SAN Francisco, February 25, 1895.
To the Board of Trustees of RecLdnad-
tiom District No. 9-GENTLEMEN In
conformity with the resolution of your
board, adopted at regular meeting
thereof held on the I'd day of February,
1895, appointing me as engineer, and di-
recting me to examine the condition of
the lands embraced within your district,
and to locate and plan such additional
works and improvements land repair OF
those already constructed) as in my judg-
ment are requisite and necessary TO effect
a complete reclamation OF said lands and
report the same, with my estimate of the
incidental expenses of superintendence,
repairs etc., to said board at my earliest
convenience, | desire to say that l have
made a careful examination of all the
matters confided to me, and now beg
leave to submit the following TO your
board as my report, together with my es-
innate and general plan necessary to
bring about complete reclamation of
the lands of the district:
Much work is required in and about
the reclamation works of your district,
and it may be considered under the fol-
lowing heads:
LEYEES.
In my judgment the best way to bring
the leyees up to the standard contem-
plated by me in my former verbal and
written reports to the trustees is to keep
the dredger constantly at work for the
next i've years, which, at an average
cost of 81, 900 month. will cost $50, 900.
With this expense and outlay the leyees
will then reach a width and have found
alton with uniform established hight
above f1ood-Water to make them imperyi-
GUS to sipage and impregnable as against
overflow from the flood of waters which
will be precipitated against them during
the wet or flood season.
DRAINAGE.
AS your district embraces upwards of
10000 acres of land which is inclosed
within a well-defiued levee, it is at once
patent that the natural accumulations of
rain water Is menace OF no small mo-
ment to the residents OF the district. who
are engaged in the pursuits of fruit, yege-
table and alfalfa culture. To take care of
said rain water, with what sipage will
naturally percoiate through the levees
from now until the final completion of
the works of reclamation, will require
the running of the TWO pumps now in
the district at a cost for the next five
years OF, estimate, S45, 600.
DITCHES.
| have carefully, at different times, mi
nutely examined the bitches of the district
and the system under which they have
been constructed. Those that have been
built by the steam ditching machine since
the spring OF 1898 have been, might say,
very satisfactorily constructed, but much
OF the length OF the older bitches need
deepening and widening so as to have the
general line OF tho bitches on the back or
interior lines OF the swamp land surveys
Of the front land farms OF uniform size
and width. The land OF Wee Pack needs
a ditch OF sufficient size to relieve it of the
accumulatlons OF water, and many lateral
bitches are needed. In all, | estimate
that about four miles of new bitches Will
be required at cost of $1,000
Nearly all the old bitches, by reason of
the constant growth in them of such
fungi as tule, flags, etc., need general
goOu cleaning out so as not to impede the
how of water to the pumps, and d nice
regular dressing of the sides and bottom.
1t is well known that ditch with smooth
and regular sides seems to accelerate the
flow of water, and what is needed at the
pumps is a sufficient quantity OF water tg
keep them at work IN place of closiuo