The record-union., 1897-04-15

flowed at stages of between twenty
four and twenty-five feet when no high
wind prevailed Merritts, Sutter and
Ryer Islands had still four feet of levee
above the water, but would have been
in danger with a high north wind if it
had continued couple of days as is
frequently the case. Had the present
break below Knights Landing been re-
paired, much higher stages would have
| resulted at Sacramento this year.
In fact, the water would have risen
to such hight as to cause overflow at
other points along Yolo Basin before
the top of the levee was reached at.
Sacramento or amng the river islands,
all of which, / believe, have higher
levees than now exist along the Yolo
Basin between Knights Landing and
Rio Vista. Therefore the stages on
the Sacramento gauge at which injury
is likely to occur depend entirely on the
condition of the levees bordering on
the Yolo Basin. At present damage
results to a considerable amount of
property with stages of twenty-five feet
without high wind and is likely to oc-
cur to much larger amount of terri
tory should high north winds prevail
| If the break now existing at Knights
! Landing be repaired then the Yolo
levees will probably Withstand stage
approximating twenty-seven feet on
the Sacramento gauge and no damage
will occur until that point be reached,
and not then until after the Yolo Basin
has been filled by water overlooking the
levee, when the river islands and re-
clamation districts will be in danger.
| Were the leveeS of the Yolo Basin to
be built as high as those at the river
| islands and those about Sacramento,
no damage would occur until they were
oVertopped at stages of twenty-eight
feet or more, but such stages would
then occur with even less flood condi
tionS than We're had this year, for |
think the channel would have been fill
ed to such a stage had the water been
confined within it.
With the present condition of the
levees bordering on the Yolo Basin the
idea of damage to Sacramento by over
| flow from the Sacramento River is alb
surd, for the Sacramento levees are
considerably higher than those on the
| opposite side of the river and no danger
would occur even if the break below,
then the levees bordering the Yolo
| Basin would be overtopDed at many
points before a stage could exist that
could approach the top of the Sacra-
mento levee. At present there is no
danger to Sacramento unless it be from
high stages of the American River,
which perhaps might overflow it's
banks above Sacramento and allow the
water to reach the city from behind the
Sacramento levee. l presume you are
better informed in regard to this con-
dition than I am as 1 have made no
careful study of the American River
territory.
Regarding the question as to what
| stage on the Sacramento gauge should
be considered the danger point. it is
evident that the answer depends as to
whether the danger point refers to the
city OF Sacramento alone or to the
| nelghboring region to which the Sacra-
mento is the nearest gauge If the
former meaning is taken, then, of
course, the danger point should be
placed at such a stage as is likely to
overflow the Sacramento levee which
must be considerably above twenty
eight feet. However, it had been the
custom of this bureau to place the dam
ger point at such a stage as is likely
to put valuable property in the vicinity
IN danger. This stage varies from year
to year in accordance with the condi-
ton of the levees. Two years ago, be-
fore the break Of the levees into Yolo
Basin, the danger point was placed at
tWenty-eight feet. With the condition
of the break as it now exists this stage
is entirely too high
In conclusion, permit me to express
regret if the river forecasts of this sea-
son caused needless alarm to any seq
ton. If such was the case it was be-
cause OF a misunderstanding of the
meaning of the term danger point, on
the sacramento gauge, for 1 am sure
the forecast official had no intention of
misrepresenting Sacramento or causing
any alarm to the people of that nlace
Very respectfully,
W. H. HAMMON. Forecast Official