The record-union., 1896-01-13
MR.. JoHNsoN,s RIVER BILL.

THIS ulSLFlcI mas InduG the 1lISl AhONS
that has been made in Congress to es-
tablish the river improvement system
that the people have so long desired,
namely, to put the whole subject of the
conservation of the navigability of the
Sacramento River in charge of COM
mission of United States Engineers.
The bill provides certain specific du
ties for them to do pending their inves-
tigation of the condition of the stream
and ascertainment of what systematic
treatment it needs. With those duties
we have not now to do, they may be bet
ter considered hereafter. 1t will suffice
to say that the sum now on hand in the
river improvement fund is made avail
able for the proposed new commission,
and that $500.0O0 in addition is to be
appropriated for the uses of the COM
mission in restoring the navigability of
the river to the status of 1860.
But the central thought and aim of
the bin is to secure treatment of the
river and it's tributaries on the plan of
system that will embrace the whole
river, from headwaters to delta. 1t
does not contemplate any patchwork
| thorough examination of the stream
with a view of settling upon a system
by which it may be treated during a
term of years for its complete and final
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This. in legislative nomenclature, is
called the contract system. Once ap-
piled to river it takes it out of the BIZ
ennial struggle for recognition and ap-
preparation, and lifts it to the level of a
Government work decided upon and or
dered from commencement to compile
ton.
Now. if Mr.. Johnson's bill becomes a
law, as it ought to, the commission be-
ing organized and located with offices
at Sacramento, where they should be.
the miners and the Iowlanders can
alike present their arguments before it.
to influence it's report. Thus the whole
question of dams for restraining debris,
all the reasons for and against, all the
matters of levee protection, of rectifica-
ton of bends and curves, of the opening
of the delta of the stream, of the treat
ment of the tributaries of the river, the
care and disposal of the enormous de-
posits of mining debris now in such
tributaries and the canyons above them
all these matters will be left to the
| commission, and by their decision all
the people will be bound, for this COM
mission will be one of United States
Engineers, impartial, free from bias,
uninfuenced by local feeling, and rep
resenting the Government of the United
States and not local interests.
| In the meantime, as we have said, the
commission is to do certain needed work
in the matter of closing crevasses, re-
moving snags, growing timber on the
| banks of the river, etc. The bill is one
that ought to pass, and Congressman
Johnson's constituency should give him
all possible assistance to that end. He
has, we realize, herculean task before
him In getting the bill through, but he
| is man not to be disrnayed by the pro-
portions of any duty imposed upon him.
Nevertheless, whatever the communi-
ties along the river, indeed, whatever
any citizen anywhere in the State can
\ do to assist Mr.. Johnson should be done.
! Really, this is far from being local
matter; it concerns all the State. The
people of San Diego have an interest in
the restoration of the chief navigable
river of the State; the people Of Hum
boldt are concerned in the prosperity of
the drainage area of the river, and in
the highest prosperity of every commu-
nifty more or less affected by the condi-
ton of the river. The people of the me-
tropolis are deeply interested in the
matter, while the citizens in the mount
aims ought to feel as profound concern
in it as those of any section.
/ Whatever will benefit river naviga-
ton, improve the drainage of the Sac
ramento Valley, render conditions more
desirable for residence and business in
it, will tend to enhance assessment VAL
ues, lower taxation, invite new popula-
tion. enlarge industries and generally
advance the whole State.
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