The record-union., 1895-02-14
\ GOLDEN DAY.
IN COMMITTEE.
No Action Taken. But the BIZ VIII be
Nithdrawn.

No Action Taken. But the Bill VIII be
Withdrawn.
The joint Committee on Swamp and
Overlooked Land met in the Senate
Chamber last night to listen to arguments
for and against the passage of Senator
Harris reclamation bill. Long before the
hour appointed for the meeting the cham
Der was we'll filed with those interested.
1t was nearly o'clock before Commits
sioner of Public Works Rose took the
floor to tell why the bill had been drawn
and introduced. When the movement
embodied in the bill was first proposed,
he said, the people Of Sacramento were
the first TO !udOrse it. They recognized
the necessity OF some such district as the
bill provided for. He mad been ordered
to make extensive surveys and report
upon the matter, and the result of his
investigation is the present bill. He
thought the movement was just as neces-
sary now as at any past time. There are
now, he declared, 100000 acres of land
under water in the valley which is prac-
ticaily worthless, which, if properly
drained, would be worth anywhere from
$50 to SO an acre.
He understood that strong opposition
to the bill was being uncovered, and as
the measure seemed to come from the
eastern side OF the river he had provided
an amendment or properly two amend
ments, 10 exclude all lands east OF the
Sacramento River and Steam boat Slough.
and leaving out the lower islands said TO
nave been reclaimed at the lower end
II the committee cared to consider the
proposed amendments he was sure they
would greatly simplify matters and still
leave in the proposed district 35O, 900 acres
Of overflow LAND. The acreage covered
in the bill IS about $50. 900.
In, tn
Aram, Commissioner Rose said that
controlling or combining the waters within
the banks Of the river was part of the
proposed system.
Would not this system simply mean
that the upper basin should be drained
into the lower" queried Senator Aram.
1T would not" returned Mr.. Rose
He then proceeded to give the probable
effects OF the system.
Major w. y. Gett rose and read the res
oluJion passed by the mass meeting held
at Pioneer Hall In the afternoon. which
instructs the representatives Of Sacra-
mentO County to work for the defeat of
the bill. He stated that the present out
| let for the waters Of the Sacramento VAL
ley was the Sacramento River, and that
not one thing had been suggested in the
/ bill by which to enlarge the outlet. or
mouth OF the river. 1t was a problem
which any schOOlboy would understand
from thOusandg gallon cask flowing into
/ a siXty-gaiIOn Cask that had a one-inch
pipe Tor an outlet The people Of Sacra-
mento condemned the bill, and turning
TO Mr. Rose, Major Gett said:
do you believe the bill, with the con-
domination OF the people of Sacramento
/ County, should become a law ?''
Mr.. Rose said lie had already formu-
/ lated an amendment to leave out Sacra-
mentO County.
Senator Aram asked Mr.. Rose if Yuba
County had not been left out of the
scheme because the people were opposed
10 the measure.
The Commissioner was sure that such
was not the case.
Senator Aram then wished to know if
the proposed amendment was not drawn
/ because OF the opposition of the people of
/ Sacramento, Butte and Suffer.
Mr.. Rose was obliged to admit that
/ such was the case.
j This conIab brought G. p. Hurst Of
/ olo County to his ieet. He objected to
the amendment proposed by the Conn
( missioner because, though it reduced the
acreage Uvo,OOJ, there was no suggestion
! OF reduction of expense
/ Neither was he in exact symDathv with
/ Sacramentans who were willing that Yolo
4 County might go into the business and if
/ 1t managed TO come out without heinz
absolutely bankrupt, then Sacramento
/ county might Try IL. lie declared The
/ bill, if passed. would be an outrage unon
ninety nine out OF every hundred citi-
zens of oio County who were swami
/ land owners. Many Of those owners had
told him that they would give up their
land before they would pay the first
/ assessment, and 1t had been suggested to
him to ask the Commissioner If he could
lind five men in Yolo County who de-
manded the passage of the bill.
EX-ASSem DIymaD Adams of Yolo COR
roborated the statements made by Mr..
Hurst.
Major Gett said the people he repre-
scented were not half so much bothered
| by high water as they were by the Com
missioner OF Public Works, and that
/ their prayer was, Lord, save us from
our friends"
Elk Assemblyman Jacobs Of Yolo stated
that he was about one-third swamp land
farmer ana the other third Missourian.
lie had had good deal of water before
Mr.. Rose went To work above him, and
the amount had been increasing every
year since. Every man present except