The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25

loaded her with provisions and navlgated
] her safely to Oroville. If this could have
been accomplished at particular season
| in 1862 it ought to be now feasible plan
! for every week in the year.
It is the intention of Congressman John.
son this winter, I believe, to ask Congress
for an appropriation sufficient to have the
| surveys made between Yuba City and
OrovilIe for the needed improvements.
| Without doubt he will have the assistance
and encouragement of the entire Califor-
MIA delegation in his efforts. Only small
amount is needed to complete the entire
work and this sum should be and will be,
am convinced, appropriated in the near
| future.
In 1874 project was adopted, having for
its object the temporary improvement of
the low-water channels of the Sacramento
and Feather rivers by removing snags,
scraping bars and building wingdams.
Work has been continuous ON this project
ever since, whenever funds permitted,
In 1892 the project was modified and in
creased to include the closure of Jacob
/ Slough, the construction of wingdams on
the Feather River and the treatment Of
the Yuba River near and above Marys-
vile.
The amount expended to June 80, 1898,
was 1904, 537 4S, with the result of securing
on the Sacramento River good navigable
bchannel from Tehama to Butte City for
boats drawing ~ feet, from that point to
Sacramento 4 feet of water, and below
| Sacramento a low-water channel with
least depth of feet, except at one point.
/ During the fiscal year ending June 80,
1894, Jacob Slough was closed by levee
$3.50 feet long, built around the crevasse at
a cost of $40, 732 80; new mouth was
made for the Yuba River by means of
| cut $500 feet in length at cost of
SAT, 294 rs; surveys were made on the
| Yuba and Sacramento rivers, and the
United States snagboat built go linear
feet of wingdams and removed $50 snags
and four trees from the Upper Sacramento
and twenty-five snags from the lower
river at a total cost of $12, 800 q.
The amounts expended ON the Sacra-
mento and Feather rivers ending with the
fiscal year of 1894 aggregate a total of
nearly $3.50, 900. The cut made to provide
new mouth for the Yuba River has
proven entirely successful, not only in
! making more harmonious confluence of
| the Feather and Yuba rivers, but also as a
| relief in carrying off the food-waters of
| the latter stream. PROFESSIONALLY the
future Improvement and development of
these important waterways is closely
allied to the development and progress
not only of the Sacramento Valley, but of
the entire State.
There are four more very important
navigable streams in Central and Northern
California. These are the Mokelumne
River, the Petaluna River, the Napa River
and the Alviso River. The last three
named are in reality estuaries which ex-
tend from the bay to the cities which have
given them their names.
The Mokelumne River is tributary of
the San Joaquin, which it enters about
twenty miles above the mouth of the lat
ter. In the lower part of it's course it is
subject to tidal influence and is always
navigabIe to New Hope Landing. AL
though in seasons of high water boats 60
few miles farther up stream, New Hope
Landing is practically the head of naviga-
ton. At this point the channel separates
into the north and south forks which
unite again about four miles before reach
ing the San joaquin. The length of the
north fork is nine miles and of the south
fork fourteen miles.
A project for the improvement Of this
| river was made in 1884, having for its OBJ
ject the removal of the trees and snags
obstructing navigation. Both forks of the
river were cleaned out in 1884, 1885, 1885,
1887 and 1888, rendering steam boating to
the head of navigation easy and safe. This
completed the project as outlined, and
since then no work of improvement has
been done on the river.
The amount expended on this river up
to. June 30, 1898, was $12,4so 70. Results
previously obtained were not permanent
Since 1888 snags have reformed, trees re-
grown and the channel again requires
cleaning. Another obstruction is point
of land jutting out into the channel near
New Hope Landing. This landing, at the
junction of the two forks, is the most i'm
portant one on the river The south fork,
which is bridged at this point, is hardly
| navigable for one and a half miles below.
The Petaluma River extends from San
Pablo Bay to the city of Petaluma, a dis
lance of about sixteen miles, and is the
outlet for large amount of freight from
very rich agricultural and fruit district.
There are also several manufacturing in
dustries largely aided by this waterway.
The com merce is considerable, important,
and constantly increasing, as Major Heuer
very truthfully states in his report. Yet
the total amount that had been expended
on Petaluma River by the Federal Govern
ment to the end of the fiscal year 1894 was
only $45, 1858. The official estimate of the
amount that could be profitably expended
in the fiscal year ending June 80 1896, is
$55, 543. but this does not include the esti-
mated cost OF completing the projected i'm
provements
Neither the Napa estuary nor that ex-
tending from the lower part of the bay to
AIviso are mentioned in the reports of the
Federal engineers, yet both of these water
courses are of incalcuable value to their
respective portions of the State as everlast-
ing and sure regulators of freight rates.
Napa River taps one of the richest wine
and fruit valleys in this part of the State,
while Alviso River gives the wealth Of
Santa Clara Valley cheap outlet to the
metropolis. Both of these streams need
Strengthening out and some dredging and
other improvements in places though both