The record-union., 1897-10-22
RECLAIMING THE RIVER BED.
AUDITING BOARD PREPARING
FOR ACTION.
Easements to be Built and Jetties
to be Constructed at New
town Shoals.

"a meeting Of the Auditing Board 10
the Commissioner Of Public Works was
held in the Capitol building at ! O'Clock
p. m. yesterday. Chairman Corcoran,
Messrs. Doty, Markley and Hall being
present
Engineer Nurse reported that he had
conferred with the Government Ensl-
neers respecting the proposed construc-
1on of jetties at Newtown Shoals. anu
that they had agreed that the shoals
are the proper place TO begin opera
tions, and that the contemplated jet
ties viii remove the shoal, and be ma
terially assisted by excavations made
with a dredger.
Engineer Nurse further explained that
the Government Engineers had given
verbal permission for the prosecution of
the proposed work.
Senator Doty raised the point that
q written permission from the Govern
ment Engineers for the prosecution of
the work would be safer, and allow of
no subsequent misunderstanding and
a resolution instructing Chief Engineer
Nurse to secure such written permis-
sion was drawn up by Chairman Corco-
ran
The report of Commissioner of Pub
lic Works Leake Gncluding the report
of Engineer Nurse, on recent surveys
made on the Sacramento and San Joa-
quin Rivers, published some time ago
in the Record Union" was read and
ordered placed on file.
Chairman Corcoran raised the ques-
tion as to whether or not the Auditing
Board has the right to order work done,
unless the same be recommended o.
the Commissioner of Public Works.
Mr.. Markley thought the board under
the Act creating it, has a right to order
any work done which is deemed neces-
sary. Mr.. Hall said the board, he be
lieved, can and cannot order work done
The Act creating the board was read
but no definite conclusion was arrived
at, and the question of authority was
dropped.
A communication from the land own
ers up the Sacramento River was read,
showing that the farmers of the district
stand ready to build their levees TO
the hight indicated by the engineers
OF the Public Works Department. pro-
vided an assurance be given that prop
er easements are put in at the breaks
near Elk Horn ranch.
Commissioner Leake stated that he
had conferred with Mr.. Hershey, who
owns the land at and in the vicinity
OF the Hershey break, and that he had
volunteered to build his levees to the
hight indicated by the engineers, rro-
vided the State would put in an ease
ment sufficient to carry off surplus
food waters.
Mr.. Hershey, Commissioner Leake
said had also volunteered to give
right of way through his land for sur
plus water, and thus insure the State
against a prosecution for damages. The
Commissioner suggested that a resolu-
ton adopted by the board to the effect
that the easements will be put IL as
soon as the levees are raised to the
hight Indicated by the Public Works
Engineers. would be perfectly satisfac-
tory TO the land owners, and that work
on the levees would be commenced at
an early date.
Captain Hall said the farmers up the
river are anxious to raise their levees,
and that if assurance is given them
that easements will be constructed,
they will begin work on their levees
this fall.
The discussion resulted in the adop-
ton Of the following resolution. drawn
by Chairman Corcoran and O-k'd by
Commissioner Leale:
Resolved, That when the levees on
the right, or west bank of the Sacra-
mento River between knights Landing
and Sacramento are rebuilt to a suit
able hight and dimensions as directed
by the Commissioner Of Public Works,