The record-union., 1896-02-08
RECLAIMING THE POCKET. /"
Assessment Commissioners May be Ap-
pointed To-day.
Engineer BOyd's Report to the Trus-
tees, Outlining the Work
to be Done.

the rich but hitherto oVerfiOwed lands
embraced within what is known as the
Pocket" south of the city, viii to-day
apply to the Supervisors for the ap-
pointment Of three commissioners to
fix the assessments on the land for the
purpose of constructing Ievees and put
ting in a pumping plant. If this should
be done, and no delays met with, the
several thousand acres embraced in the
district should all be under cultivation
next season.
The work to be done in order to re-
claim the land has been outlined by J.
c. Boyd, engineer of the district. whose
report to the trustees will accompany
the application to the Supervisors for
the appointment of commissioners. It
is given below:
THE REPORT.
To James McNasser, J. C. Baumgar-
tel and F. ]. Luiz, Trustees of Swamp
Land Reclamation District, No 673,
Sacramento County-Gentlemen Pur-
suant to your appointment made at the
regular meeting of the Board of Trus-
tees of Reclamation District 673, on the
18th day of January, 1896, as engineer
of said district, with instructions to sur
vey, plan, locate and estimate the cost
of work necessary for the complete
reclamation of the lands of said dis
1rict, in conformity to law, L have
the honor to submit herewith for your
consideration the following report
thereon, together with the accompany
ing map and profile of the district
THE DISTRICT, ITS SURROUND
INGS AND REQUIREMENTS.
The district comprises 3,023.7 acres
Of land skirting the left or easterly bank
of the Sacramento River, and lying
from three and a half to six miles south
of Sacramento City, and being a frac-
tional part of what was formerly known
as Swamp Land Reclamation District
535. and subsequently set apart by or
der of the honorable Board of Supervis-
ors of Sacramento County as a separate
and independent reclamation district.
On the north, south and west the dis
trict is bounded by the Sacramento
River, and on the east by the overflow
occasioned by the drainage of that por-
tion of Sacramento County extending
from near Folsom on the northeast to
Mokelumne River on the south and
southwest. In order to provide for an
intelligent plan for the reclamation of
the lands of the district it behooves US
to examine into the causes leading up
to the existence of the present neces-
sity and the reason for this corporate
organization
Owing to the fact that our chief work
must be directed to the line of drainage
and protection from outside drainage
as hereinafter outlined, I will first take
up the chief cause Of the necessity for
the construction of these reclamation
works
The drainage or surface waters of the
northeasterly portion of the county,
which are not tributary to the American
River, are collected along the various
county roads, in this portion of the
county, and led from road to road, and
from ditch to ditch, till they find their
way ultimately into the Pocket" So
called, to the injury and destruction of
the lands therein.
Sacramento City has also, up to a
very recent period. added its compile
ment to the destructive agencies
brought to bear against the cultivation
of these lands by dumping its sewage
and drainage into the co-called drain
age canal, whence they are led and
dumped into the Pocket Added to
the injurious effect of the above-named
causes, the lands are further damaged
by the flood waters of the Mokelumne
River. operating northerly through the
drainage canal to the Pocket"
Antedating the various improvements
(?) hereinabove noted, the lands of the
Pocket were in a high state of culti-
walton, but of late years the effect of
accommodating this vast quantity Of
water has resulted in devastating near
ly all of the lands of this district, to-
eether with other lands lying contig-
uous thereto, Transforming them from
a typical and blossoming garden spot to
a desolate tule waste It IS estimated
that eight-tenths of the whole area or
this district has been laid waste from
this cause.
To reverse the condition of affairs, is
the object sought in the organization of
this district.
Added to the quantity Of water ac-
cumulating from this source, is another
factor, which, while Of much less ex-
tent, is nevertheless important and de-
nands consideration.
The bed of the Sacramento River is
constantly raising in elevation, and in
consequence of such raise the eleva-
ton of high flood water and the guam
tjty Of sipage water increase in proper
ton. This, owing to the porosity of the
soil adjacent to the river bank is very
important, and yet at the same time
q very uncertain quantity.
BY infltration water from the river
forces its way through the porous allu-
vial soil of which the river levee and
bank lands are composed, and through
the substratum Of quicksand underly
ing the surface soil, and finds its way
by gravitation to the lower lands now
sought to be reclaimed.
Added to this quantity of water thus
accumulated. and necessary to be dis
posed. of. may be noted rain fall, and to
some considerable extent sipage, which
will force its way through and under
the back levee, hereinafter proposed
to be constructed.
Briefly summarized, then, this dis
trict requires protection:
First-From the flood waters of the
Sacramento River
Second-From the flood waters Of the
drainway lying to the eastward.
Thirdly the collection and removal
of surface and sipage waters.
RIVER LEVEES.
The 1evee system naturally presents
itself as two distinct parts, or features,
i. e., the river levee and the back levee. /
The river levee is 29, ,264 feet or five
and one-hah miles in length from the
upper to the lower extremity of the dis
friet; it is generally strong and service
able, with a minimum top width of 10
A G D,,~a ~,