The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1896-12-30
proceeds of hydraulic mining"
AT this point recess was taken until
n m
Afternoon Session.

del Flint, Peter Timnl, JOS. II. Glide, ex-
Senator VIM. Johnston, Dwight Hollis
ter, w. j. Smith, Sol. Runyon, A. T. j.
Reynolds. ]. W. Faris, ex-Mayor Bing-
ham of Marysville, Geo. B. Greene, Les
ter Greene, Robert Gourley, George
Hack, L. f. Leake, Commissioner of
Public Works; Chief Engineer Price of
the commission, T. w. Sheehan, J. S.
Foster. Gdllis Doty, Fred Zeile and
Thomas W. Dean.
w. a. Gett for the Committee on
Memorial and Resolutions reported that
the result of the committees Iabors was
in the hands of the stenographer and
would shortly be ready for presenta-
ton.
A letter was read from General Geo.
h. Williams, expressing regret at his in
ability TO attend, and conveying his de-
sire that definite action for relief might
be taken.
COMMISSIONER LEAKES STATE
MENT
Commissioner of Public Works Ed. E.
Leake having prepared a statement for
the meeting, supplemented his remarks
by stating that prejudices had existed
and probably still exist against the De-
partment Of Public Works, but that the
work done by himself and his assistants
stood on it's merits, and he courted
close investigation of the plans evolved
from the work performed. If, he said,
it was found that the department had
not faithfully performed its duties and
given to swamp and overlooked land
owners feasible scheme for relief, then
he was willing to step down and out.
AS to the question of the proposed
plans, Mr.. Leake said:
Drainage and river Improvement are
questions of such vital Importance that
they demand and should receive the
gravest consideration. A proper solu-
ton of these vexed problems would SO
materially affect the industrial condi-
uons, the material prosperity of the
State and the extent of it's resources
that they are worthy of the best
thought and most earnest researches OF
every citizen who earnestly desires to
see the resources of California utilized
until they reach the highest state OF
development.
THE vaStness of the interests in
volved will be better understood when
it is known that in the two great vail
leys Of the State are more than a mill
ion acres Of land, the value of which is
either directly oar indirectly affected by
the ravages of floodwater
I'm the Butte, Suffer- Colusa, Amer
lean and Yolo basins there are $50, O0C
acres of swamp and overlooked lands
that are inundated by an average am
nual rainfall. Lands partially reclaimed
in the Sacramento Valley aggregate
115, 633 acres, and equally subjected to
the dangers of ordinary floods. In the
San Joaquin Valley there are 1886, 24C
acres of swamp and overfiowed lands
is partially reclaimed.
In 1861 there was returned in Sac
ramento Valley 500, 900 acres Of swamp
land. The area has since been largely
increased by reason of the sitting and
filing up of the rivers. The higher that
levees are constructed
THE MORE DANGER THERE IS
To land that naturally would not be
subject to overflow. Under the pres
ent unsystematic method Of reclama-
ton this area Is constantly increasing,
while the value of the land Is constant
ly decreasing.
"On the assumption that this land
can be reclaimed, 1t is reasonable es-
innate to place Its value at from $50
to $50 an acre. If this land was seeded
to wheat. and would produce fifteen
sacks to the acre, if sold at cent per
r1OlInd J,o
swamp land alone would be S17,603,-
~ 1t would require a barge of a
capacity of 10000 sacks !, 258 days to
move this crop, taking 10000 sacks
each day. AT an average of 81 per
ton the annual cost Of transportation
would be $3.50, 164 60.
Engineer Hall estimates that on ac-
count of high levee building and other
conditions about 100000 acres not in
cluded in the above estimate is subject
to periodical overflow. The perfection
of drainage system would increase the
income of the valleys S27 603, 292
IMPROVE THE CHANNELS.
Our recommendations are based on
the assumption that dredging and chan
mel corrections Of the river will result in
the reclamation of the bulk Of this land,
and that the small area which cannot be
permanently reclaimed may be utilized
for late crops and for pasturage during
six or eight months Of the year
Most Of the land is Strong and fer
tile, and il relieved of all danger of
overflow can be made as productive as
any IN the State. When once reclaim ed
the value of all of it will be doubled.
and that Of a greater part of it will be
increased tenfold. These figures serve
to convey some idea of the Importance
of the problem, and the enormous in
crease, to the tax-roll OF the State that
win result from it's solution.
1T is reasonable to assume that if
the swamp lands were reclaimed. the
assessed valuation would not be less
than S2S.S55,0 900. The State and county
tax on this amount would be not less
than S412,626.
In some quarters an objection has
been raised which is based on the as
sumption that we propose to make this
work tax upon the whole State This
is not true, although the benefits to be
derived are of such incalculable value
and 50 general in their character affect
ing, as they Will, the tax-roll of the
State, as well as the question of trans
portation, that the State could well af-
ford TO undertake such an enterprise.
The method of Ievying the necessary
tax is a question for the Legislature to
determine. but in our opinion the tax
should be upon only such prOnar.tv a c is
benefited, and in proportion to the bene-
fit conferred. Two years ago The
MONTEZUMA HILLS CUT