The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-09-09
RIVER IMPROVEMENT AND LOW
LAND RECLAMATION.

The congressman who inspected
river conditions in front Of this city
on Tuesday told our officials that the
idea had gained a strong footing at
the East that the real purpose of our
efforts III behalf of river improvement
is to reclaim private low lands, thing
that the Federal Government will
never lend itself to. That idea we are
aware has much obtained, and that it
has not been wholly dissipated by our
representatives at Washington in and
out Of Congress, is to our discredit.
Unhappily there are those in California
who from the trend of naturally sus-
plcious natures, from self-interest, and
because of the inspiration of malice,
have given currency to the charge. 1t
is no wonder, therefore. that Califor-
MIA is misunderstood at the East on
this river proposition.
The simple fact is that the Sacra-
mento, San Joaquin and Feather Rivers
should be improved and bettered sole
~ for reasons relating to navigation,
and prevention of total destruction.
Such treatment as they need, and as
it is the duty of the Federal Govern
ment to apply will unavoidably and
as a natural consequence benefit low
lands. Here, as everywhere, that must
be true. No river was ever improved
that close lying physical conditions
We're not bettered.
No reasonable being will object to
public improvements because, as an in
cident, private property will reflect in
a greater or less degree the benefits of
the work. Who would be so asinine as
to condemn the proposition to have
the Federal Government erect a build
ing for the conduct of its own business,
because the construction would en-
nance the values of adjacent property?
We must make up our minds to one OF
two things. namely, we will ever be
open 70 the reproach suggested by the
visiting Congressman, unless we man
age to close the mouths OF the selfish,
jealous and narrow minded among US,
or we must so apply ourselves before
Congress as to convince that body that
the charge is untrue that low land and
not river reclamation is the end we
have in view.
We confess that the outlook for ac-
comprising either is very dark, in
view Of the fact that Southern Califor-
MIA coast and some Northern California
representative papers of admitted in
fiuence, continue to charge that ap-
peals for reclamation of the navigable
rivers of the State are really shams,
thin DISCUSSES for retaining private
low lands at public cost.
San Francisco papers have in some
instances been diligent promoters of
the faisehood likewise. During the
session of the late Legislature CORE
spondents of the San Francisco press
were permitted. day by day. to stigma
tie the proposition to promote river
work as selfish schemes of swamp land
owners. and little less than robbing
plans to snatch from the Government
purse for private benefit.
Yet here lies the fact before all the
world, patent to all sight and undeni-
able. that the only navigable streams
of the State are rapidly deteriorating
that their navigability is departing
that they are choked with debris, filled
with foreign sands and INSTRUCTED to
a degree that prohibits their use by
vessels that not long ago sailed them
in safety and with ease for hundreds
OF miles. Here is the undeniable fact
that these streams are the especial
charge of the Federal Government, and
that it is bound by the traditions of
the nation. the established policy of the
Government and the express terms of
the Act OF Admission to conserve the
navigahility of these rivers and main
tain them for the free use of all the
people. But they must not be i'm
proved. forsooth. because certain Of our
own people, who enormously hold that
they are not affected by the choked
condition of the streams. charge that
the Improvement desired is solely in