The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-13
HlGHLANDERS AND LOWLANDERS.
Testimony in Favor of and Against a
New District.
Shall the Submerged Pocket Lands be
Cultivated, or Kept az a Reser-
Yoir for Draina2es

Cultivated, or Kept as a Reser-
Yoir for Draina2es
The Board of Supervisors met yester-
day in special session to consider the
application of residents of the Pocket, "
below the city, for the formation of a
new reclamation district. A large num-
Der of interested parties were present.
w. NJ Sims, attorney for the opposl-
ton, stated that the regular court re-
porters were all engaged and he had
been trying to engage another, ana
asked half an hour additional time IN
order to secure one. A. ]. Bruner, Tor
the petitioners, also asked for time 10
send for his own stenographer, and on
the arrival of the two, Mr.. Sims re-
Quested that they be sworn, which was
done. 1t was evident that there was
bitter opposition to the petition, and
both sides settled themselves down to
fight it out.
The petition, which was long one,
giving a full description of the land
sought to be embraced in the proposed
district, was read at the request OF MI.
Sims.
The latter presented a communication
from Mrs. Gracia, authorizing Frank
Williams to withdraw her name from
the petition.
Mr. Bruner objected to Mr.. Sims or
anyone else outside of the proposed dis
tTict interfering in this matter. Mrs.
GIacia was not present and did not ask
to withdraw.
The Chairman instructed the clerk to
note the offer and Mr.. Burners obJec-
ton, stating that he did not know
whether or not the board could allow
Mrs. Gracia to withdraw.
County Surveyor J. c. Boyd testified
that he made the surveys OF the lana
embraced in the proposed district, ana
that they were correct. The petition
represented about 400 acres more than
two-thirds of the land proposed to be
set off. He explained, by means of a
map, the proposed boundaries. He had
known the lands intimately for five or
Siy years, and had surveyed it. The
body proposed to be set off is peculiarly
adapted for Independent reclamation on
account of its situation. He was salts
fed that the leYee, if constructed, would
not interfere with any waterways or
with the drainage of the country.
Nearly one-half of the old levee would
be in the new district. The reclamation
would be by means of a pumping plant,
and drainage was perfectly feasible. He
had been over the ground at all times of
the year.
B. w Cavanaugh wanted to know
where the levee would be and if it would
not bar the water from the plains and
flood the people outside of it, and Mr..
Boyd answered that ii would not. The
water might rise a little higher some
times, but from that fact it would run
off sooner and would prevent the back
water from the Mokelumne from COM
ing up so high. He thought it would be
a great benefit TO the rest of the present
district and would relieve it of nearly
half the sipage water from the river.
All the rest of the district would have to
contend with would be the water which
the residents of the plains have drained
down upon them by means of bitches.
He considered every acre of land in the
district to be unreclaimed land, al
though some of the river-bank land is
at present producing good crops.
Proper reclamation would, however, in
crease its capability Of production.
Hethought the expense for pumping
plant for the new district would be
about $4,000, as it comprised about
half the river levee, and the assessment
for the whole of the present district was
on the basis of $21 900 for plant.
In response to a question by Mr..
Sims, the Surveyor stated that the
natural drainage did not run into the
proposed new district, and that the
land outside of it was lower than that
inside, and the drainage was through
Schreiner's Lake. There would be
about three-eighths of a mile room out
side the levee Of the new district for
the drainage water to run off. The new
1evee might possibly raise the water
below the lake into which Willow
Slough empties six inches during a
freshet. The new levee would facilitate
the flow of water through the nineteen
foot cut at Mrs. O'Tooles place.
Thomas Lenox testified that he was
familiar with the country N question
owning 143 acres there on the river
front. His land was covered with
water last winter to within
twenty-five or thirty yards of the
river bank. His neighbors' land
was similarly covered, and on the road
to town the water was about halfway
up on his horses. He had about twelve
acres out of water, and his alfalfa crop
wac drowned out.
George Peters owns 40 acres in the
proposed new district. He had about
twenty-five acres that were not COW
cred with water last winter. He had
known the land in the district for tIlir-
ty years, and for the past two or three
years only a strip next the river has
been out of water during the winter
Last winter the children could not gel
to school until April
James O'Neill had known the land in
the district for thirty-five or forty
years. He thought the land susceptible
OF reclamation by leveeing and pump
ing. The road toward Freeport is COW
cred with water in winter. leaving a
strip along the river not covered. If
Colonel McNasser's sipage water was
not carried off by bitches, he should not
call it reclaimed. Neither he nor Nc
Nasser raised alfalfa-only alkaIi
weeds. He did not care whether the
new or the old district pumped off the
water but those in his part of the dis
trict have been trying for four years to
get pumping plant, and very strong
feeling has been manifested against it.
The residents of the district are fine
people, but the interest of many OF
them is in opposition to investing in a
pumping plant.
Mr.. O'Neill said he was satisfied the
people in the proposed districe could
never obtain any relief except through
the formation of the new district. The
hop-growers above them were all right.
and could get along without pumping
out the water, and they are therefore