The record-union., 1896-11-29
A MARVELLOUS REPORT.

The extracts from the report of the
Commissioners of Public Works, pub
ushed this morning in our local COL
umns. set out that there is now COM
pleted and in use by the Federal Gov
ernment a wonderful machine, through
which we can clear the channels of
our navigable streams, and at compar-
atively reasonable cost, and so effect
ually, that deep-water vessels can be
brought to such up-river points as
Sacramento at even low stages Of
water.
The report simply glows upon this
subject The wonderful machine is over
andover again praised, and what it can
do for our rivers is stated by. the Com
nissioners' engineers with an enthusi-
asm and emphasis such as rarely find
place in official expression The ma
chine is a great dredger that operates
upon soft or clayey bottoms by means
of rapidly revolving cylinders armed
with knives, which put the earthly mat
ter into a state Of suspension in the
Is taken up by powerful suction tubes
and lifted from the bed of the stream.
We are told that this machine will
bore its way through long and OBJ
stinate sand and clay bars with mar
velous rapidity, and that it can in a
few months dig a channel through the
Sacramento River, for instance, of any
desired depth, and that thereafter it
Will keep the channel open at compara-
lively small cost. With this wonderful
contrivance river bends in overflow To-
calities can be Strengthened, the flood
level of the rivers be greatly lowered,
and the carrying capacity Of the
streams marvelously enlarged, while
the deltas can be opened and kept
open. Indeed, we can recall no official
report In which any Endorsement or
recommendation has received such
strong presentation.
1t is urged upon the State that 1t shall
procure one or more of these machines,
and set them to work, not waiting for
Federal action, since, it is held, the re-
sulting gain will far exceed the outlay,
while it will reduce the reclamation Of
low lands to such a minimum as to prac-
tically settle vexed question. We know
nothing of the machine except from the
report. We must accept the statements
OF the engineers of the board as verify
We cannot think that they would so en-
Enthusiastically commit themselves to any
reclamation and river correction scheme
without thorough belief in its practic-
ability, and after having gained pretty
accurate knowledge of the instrument
and the mechanical principles upon
which 1t is grounded.
Without now passing upon the ques-
ton of the recommendation that the
State should set such machines at work
upon our rivers, since that viii come up
for debate when it is before the .Legisla-
ture, we may consider what the sue
cesses the engineers say are possible to
the machine would mean to the great
drainways of the large valleys.
It would put an end to the enormous
expenses of extensive levee building: it
would render the reclamation of hun
dreds Of thousands Of acres of lands
now idle and unproductive possible. and
make them the richest acres on the
globe; 1t would remove from river towns
most of the threat Of inundation;
1t would add immensely to the
assessable values of the State, and thus
tend to the reduction of taxation; it
would open up the interior to naviga-
ton by craft to which 1t is now closed
wholly; 1t would enhance property
values in all the river towns and cities
very greatly: 1t would shorten distances
of river travel and transportation and
cheaper rates; it would operate to
further efficient drainage; it would mean
new employment to a great number OF
people; 1t would be distinct aid to the
pffort 70 procure for the great valleys