The record-union., 1895-03-05

perlls to navigation extend through so
long portion of the river, and are so
great. that the navigation of this part of
the river is impracticable the present
time.
sacramento River has, however. by
legislative enactment, been declared
public way to the mouth OF Middle Greek
tseVeral miles above Anderson), in
Shasta County. This enactment, if it
nave the force of law and be not disre-
garded, would seem to make it neces-
sary, when bridges are constructed
across that part OF the river lying be-
tween the legal head of navigation and
the practical head of navigation, to pro-
vide them with openings for the passage
OF steamboats,, even though it be known
that none will ever pass"
Not even preliminary examination of
the Sacramento River above Red Bluff
mad ever been made by the Engineer De-
partnent at the time august, 1894 when
Congress appropriated $4,000 for snag-
glng and other work between Tehama
and Redding. Such an examination,
without which no work of improvement
could intelligently be begun, was made
under my direction by Lieutenant Fitch
In october. 1884. 1t appears as a result of
the information thereby gained that to
render the Sacramento River navigable
as 1or as Redding would require the con-
struction of a number of locks and dams.
Data Tor determining the exact number
are not available, but assuming as q
minimum twelve locks and dams, at an
average cost of 100000 each. the total cost
would amount to 81, 4,S00,000, the interest
on which at per cent. is $4,000.
10 warrant such an undertaking. there
tore, the benefits to be derived tnerefrom
should amount annually to SI92, 600, or
should at least show some reasonable
prospect OF reaching that figure within q
few years after the completion of the
work. According to statistics furnished
this office by the Southern Pacific Com
pany, the total tonnage shipped from
Redding during 1892 was l, ,226 tons (S7, ,2O9
charges. Even If we assume, therefore,
that freight rates be reduced to the level
OF freight rates from Red Bluff (the head
OF naVlgatlon), and in addition, that the
tonnage of commodities shipped from
Redding be increased Uenfold (both as
sumptiOns entirely unwarranted), still
the amount saved annually would not
pay interest on the cost of Government
improvements necessary.
In my opinion the Sacramento River.
between Redding and Red Bluff, is not
worthy OF Improvement by the General
Government, and not even the cost of d
survey would be justified with such an
object in view. As, however, the river
below Red Bluff is being improved by
the Government, and as a survey above
would furnish physical data concerning
the river that might be valuable, | have
to recommend that be authorized to ex-
pend $1,000 in making such a survey.
AS to the remaining 5000 the River
| and Harbor Act of August II, 1894, re-
Quired $4,000. or so much thereof as may
be necessary, to be expended between
Tehama and Redding. Red Bluff lies
between those towns, and this amount,
less $1,000. can proftably be expended
between Tehama and Red Bluff, thus car
rying out the instructions of Congress
without committing the department to
an expenditure of funds on what l be-
lieve TO be an unworthy project.
In view, however, OF the fact that the
people resident near Redding are very
anxious for, and, from representations
continually made to them, firmly believe
in the practicability OF, the improvement
of the section of the Sacramento River
between Red Bluf and Redding, l re-
quest that a board of engineers may be
appointed to consider the matter and de-
eide whether or not this portion OF the
river is worthy of Improvement. Re-
! specttully submitted, w. II. HEUER,
Major Corps of Engineers, U. S. A.