The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-08-26
Report of Engineer Nurse
on Their Removal.
Also That of Commissioner of
Public Works Leake.
Read Before the Auditing Board at Its
Meeting Yesterday.

missioner Leake'S office yesterday lOF
the purpose Of receiving the report OF
the Commissioner and his engineers re-
speeding proposed work on the river,
and for transacting any other business
which might come before it. ellis
Doty alone was absent, and the meeting
was harmonious throughout.
J. o. Coleman, Secretary of the Sac
ramento Chamber of Commerce, in
formed the board that Congressman
Hooker, Chairman of the Committee on
Rivers and Harbors, was expected TO ar
rive in the city this morning on his
tour Of inspection of the rivers and har-
bors of the Pacific Coast. The Cham
Der of Commerce win tender Congress
man Hooker a banquet at the Suffer
Club, and extended to the members OF
the Auditing Board, Commissioner
Leale and his engineers, Nurse and
Randall, an invitation to be present.
AS Congressman Hooker could spend
but a limited time on the coast, and
would have no chance to make a per-
sonal inspection of the river, 1t was
suggested that Commissioner Leake
and his engineers go to the banquet
armed with data, maps, etc, to snow
clearly the condition Of the river and
be able to explain what was necessary
to put it in frst-class condition.
On motion of Mr.. Markley, the invi-
tation was.accepted.
Besides the Auditing Board and the
officials of the Public Works Depart
nent, there We're present j. R Price,
Highway Commissioner, and z. A.
Kruu. w. ]. Hinsdale J. B. Cave DR..
Snider, J. King and others representing
the property owners along the river
LAND OWNERS TALK.
Messrs. Kruu and Hinsdale addressed
the. board. and evidently had an idea
that no steps whatever had been taken
bv that body along the lines laid down
by the Act of the Legislature which
created and defined its duties. They
petitioned the board to take immedi-
ate steps toward relieving the farmers
of the Sacramento River Valley, and
insisted that as a start in the right di-
rection the Hirshey and Butcher breaks,
m the river on the Yolo side, ought to
be closed and easements put in which
would admit of an influx of water to the
Yolo Basin only when the water in the
river was at flood
Chairman Corcoran had some diff
Guilty in making the applicants under
stand that to fill in the breaks and con-
struct easements would be of no value
whatever unless the land owners would
raise and maintain their levees above
the easements so there would be no dan
ger of other breaks in the vicinity Oh
the easements constructed.
Mr.. Hinsdale also had plan for re-
opening Jacobs Slough, which was
J,, V01
and stated that a canal could be put
through, insuring the drainage OF the
basin for sum not exceeding SlOo,-
GOO.
Mr.. Hinsdale was informed that under
the Act creating it, the Auditing Board
could authorize no expenditures OF mon
ey for reclamation purposes, other than
would necessarily follow from the recla-
nation of the river for navigation pur-
poses.
Chairman Corcoran explained to the
farmers that If they would perfect an
organization and insure that leVees
along the river would be raised above
the easements under consideration, the
board would have something DEFINITE
to work upon, and would, he had no
doubt. respond to the wishes of the lana
owners and assist in combining the water
to the natural channel of the river.
Then the board got down to work
and after the minutes Of the previous
meeting had been read and approved
Chairman Corcoran called for Commls-
sioner Leakes report upon the surveys
and boring recently made under his dl-
rection at Newtown Shoal. above Rlo
Vista, and other work authorized ana
recommended by the board.
Commissioner Leake submitted anu
read his report, as follows:
COMMISSIONER LEAKE'S REPORT
To the Auditing Board to the Com
missioner of Public Works-Gentlemen:
Tn response to your resolution, request
rnr that this office report plan for the
innrovement of the Sacramento River
showing various works to be performed
in the order of their necessity, etc.
submit herewith the report of the engi-
neer in charge, prepared after as thor
ough an investigation of the matters
relating thereto as was possible in the
time at command.
Your honorable board has heretofore
been acquainted with the fact that
there is not sufficient data in this office
rectifcation and improvement of the
San Joaquin River and Stockton and
Mormon Channels. and from which tc
estimate the cost thereof. The only
survey of those streams ever com
menced by a State engineer Is yet in
complete and very indefinite.
Captain c. E. Gillette Of the Govern
ment Engineers promised this office 8
1irl
necessary data. but it has not yet beer
received, and until it comes to hand
or until your honorable board author
ICES a survey, the information called
for in resolution No. cannot be sup
piled from this Office.
I fully indorse the recommendation
of the engineer in regard to the neces-
sity for the reduction Of the Newtowr
Shoals, and earnestly urge prompt ac-
ton TO the end that at least partial re-
lief may be afforded before another
food season arrives. Recent contracts
entered into between the Government
and private parties to dredge the chan
mel at Mare Island indicate that no re
sponsible bidder can be found who vii
do the work for less than ten cents pei
cubic yard. To make the excavation:
under such conditions would exhaust
our appropriation, and is impracticable
With a dredger owned and operated BY
the State, the same work can be done
at an expense so much less that fee
warranted in recommending the pur-
chase Of q dredger.
I respectfully recommend that wher