The record-union., 1898-12-16
IMPROVEMENT OF THE RIVER
JETTIES DEEPEN THE CHANNEL
AT NEWToWN sHOAL.
Recommendation that the Powers
Of the Auditing Board Be
Enlarged.

The Auditing Board to the Commis-
sioner of Public Works met in the State
Capitol yesterday. all the members
present.
Chief Engineer Nurse submitted a
verbal report, based on information re-
ceiVed from Webb and Parrish, who
are engaged in taking soundings at the
Newtown ShoaI, to the effect that be-
tween 5etties No. l and there has
since their construction been a deep
ening of the channel averaging from
four to five feet. Between jetties No.
and the deepening Of the channel
Is progressing rapidly, though from the
fact that they We're constructed last,
the securing has been less than at the
others He estimated that the average
securing out Of the shoal up TO the
present time is two feet, the minimum
being one foot, the maximum seven
feet
A communication from J. w. Allen
der, who owns land on Brannan Island,
was received and placed on file. He
claimed to have been damaged to the
extent of $500 by the filing in of the
river between the jetties at Newtown,
art a. point which rendered a siphon he
was obliged to move the siphon about
sixty rods
Assistant Engineer Randall explain
ed to the board that Allender had told
him it had cost him $50 or 500 to
move the siphon, and that S100 would
amply recompense him.
It was the sense Of the board that
1t had no jurisdiction over such claims,
M fhn4
would be no end of them.
Captain Hall, the special committee
OF one on the recent excursion to the
Elkhorn easement and the jetties at
NeWtown Shoal, reported verbally to
the effect that the excursion had been
a decided success and that all invited
would indorse that statement. He de-
pIored the fact that owing to low water
In the river the boat had been unable
10 reach the shoal before nightfall
Secretary Markley suggested that the
report Of the excursion published in the
Record Union the day afterward
might be embodied in the report and
mace part Of the minutes, it being ac-
cuTate and complete
Chairman Corcoran said he had ex-
pected that Captain Hall would offer
TIE report in question in connection
With the one he made.
captain Hall accepted the suggestion
which he deemed a good one, and the
Record-Union's" report ACCORDINGLY
became part of his report and was or
dered spread upon the minutes.
chairman COrcoran favored the plac-
ing in the report to the Governor of
the remarks made by Major Heuer dur
ing the excursion, and published in the
Record-Union" the following day. He
said the published report would 60
further with the Legislature than a
solicited statement signed by Major
Heuer himself. The suggestion was
adopted, and that portion of the pub
hshed report will be incorporated in
the biennial report.
Inc board next considered data to be
incorporated in the biennial report.
winch will be made by Engineer Nurse.
MS report that Of the Commissioners
and that of the Auditing Board TO be
incorporated into a single report.
II was agreed that the report should
contain a brief history Of the organi-
eaton of the Auditing Board; the in
specl0n of the rivers Sacramento and
san Joaquln) after organization: that
Inc law creating the board fixed a basis
connning operations to the San Joa-
gum River and to the Sacramento
RlNer between Newtown Shoal and the
mouth Of the Feather River; the inves-
1Igations made at Newtown Shoal and
tdle agreement reached; the investiga-
non or dredgers, resulting in finding
mat no dredger could be purchased un-
less 1t carried a law suit with it. and
that II purchased, it could not have
been operated with any degree of econ
omy or advantage.
1t was decided to recommend that the
power Of the board be enlarged so As n
take in all Of the navigabIe streams in
The State. including Alviso and Mana
Sloughs, and the Feather and Tuol-
lnnne Rivers. all Of which could he
improved at trifling cost to the State.
Cnoer the law creating the board its
outles and powers were limited to the
san Joaquin and the Sacramento. be-
tween Newtown and the mouth of the
Feather. No recommendation for an
appropriation will be made. as il is
thought enough funds are still on hand
10 prosecute prospective work for the
succeeding two years.
Bills aggregating nearly $50. 900 for
work at Newtown, Elkhorn and cutoffs