The record-union., 1898-01-24


Feather Rivers will be submitted at the
earliest day practicable.
The State of California, it appears,
has appropriated 100000 for the ,rl-
provement Of the Sacramento and San
joaquin Rivers. There is no law, SO
far as is known TO this Office, which
connects the United States or its agents
III any way with the expenditure Of this
money. Plans for a limited amount of
work or the Sacramento and San 5oa-
quln Rivers have been presented TO the
Secretary of War by the Commissioner
of Public Works Of California, for Ills
approval, and report upon such plans
will soon be submitted
The River and Harbor Act of June 3,
1886, also appropriated $3.50, coo for the
construction of restraining barriers for
the protection Of the Sacramento and
Feather Rivers in California; such bar
riers to be constructed in accordance
with the recommendations of the C;tli-
fornia Debris Commission, pursuant TO
the provisions of Section % of Act OF
March /, 1892
This Act provides for the organization
of the California Debris Commission.
and prescribes among other duties, nc
making of plans for improving the nav
liability of the Sacramento and san
Joaquin Rivers. with view OF making
channels effective as against encroach-
ments of debris from mining operations,
etc. and permitting mining to be car
ried on provided the same can be ac-
complished without injury to the navl-
gability Of the said rivers or lands ad-
A lSn
determine the utility and practicabiiity
Oh storage sites in the tributaries OF
sad rivers, and in general to make
such study of and researches in the
hydraulic mining industry as science.
experience, and engineering skill may
suggest as practicable and useful in d..
Vlsing method or methods whereby
such mining may be carried on as
aforesaid" Other duties are prescrio-
ed by the Act.
Ever since the last Legislatu passed
the bill appropriating 100000 for the
purchase and operation OF q dredg-
er for the Improvements OF the Sacra-
mento River. great deal of dissatis-
faction has arisen because the provis-
ions Of the Act have not been carried
cut.
The Auditing Beard to the Commits
sloner cf Public Works created espe-
clalIy to control the funds appropriated
Tor river Improvement authorized sur
Veys by the engineers of the Public
Works Department. and subsequently
autEcrlZed the construction of wing
dams at the Newrtown Shoals, near Rio
vista, for the purpose of conflnng the
waters of the stream in comparatively
narrow channel. in conformity With the
engineers report
Contracts We're let fer the construc-
ton of the jetties, or win3dams, nut
when the plans and specifications were
submitted to the United States Pacific
Coast River Board, consisting of Cclo-
mel Suter and Majors Heuer and Davis
Commissioner Leake was informed that
he would not be allowed TO remove
square feet of debris from the river. or
drive pile in its bed without the sane
tion ard approval of the Secretary Of
War
The report was accordingly turned
over to the United States River Board
and by its President was transmitted
TO the Secretary of War; who respect
fully returned it, with the request
that report on the matter be returned
by them.
Through the courtesy of Congressman
De Nries, who, ever since he assumed
the duties of office, has assiduously
worked for river improvement. the
''Record-Unicn" is enabled to publish
herewith the report TO the House of
Representatives on the Improvement
of the Sacramento River below Sacra-
mento. embracing a letter from the
SeCretay of War. transmitting-with
letter from the Chief of Engineers-a
preliminary report by the Board OF
Engineer officers on the improvement
of the river below this city
On January 9th the report was re-
ferred to the Committee on Rivers and
Harbors and ordered printed. 1t is as
follows:
Washington, Dec. 2S. 1897.
To the Spsaker-Sir: 1 have the non
or TO transmit herewith letter frora
the Chief of Engineers, dated Decem-
Der n. 1897. together with copy of
preliminary report of a Board of En-
gineer Officers. dated December IL
1891, on Improvement Of Sacramento
River below Sacramento, Cal, made in
compliance. with the provisions OF the
River and Harbor Act OF June ,, 1896
Very respectfully.
G.. d. MEIkLEJOHN.
Acting Secretary of War
GENERAL WILSON'S LETTER.
Washington Cd. CO. Dec Pa 1891.
Hon. r. \. Alger, Secretary CT War
Sir: The River and Harbor Act of June
;. 1886, authorized and directed the Sec
retary Of War TO appoint a board Of
three officers OF the corps of en-
gineSrs Of the army for the purpose of
making surveys and examinations Of
Sacramento and Feather Rivers and
their tributaries, and submitting the
most feasible plan for the Improvement
of said rivers and the maintenance of
navigation thereon
The beard as originally constituted
consisted of Colonel Charles Z. Suter,
Major Charles f. i. r. Davis and Cap
tain c. E. Gillette. Corps Of Engineers,
but in consequence OF assignment of
the latter officer to an Eastern station
he was relieved by Major w. f. Heuer.
| have just received from the board
q preliminary report, dated December
II. 1891. with reference TO the improve
ment OF the Sacramento River below
Sacramento, and have the honor TO
submit the accompanying copy Of Il.
from which it appears that in the opin-
ion Of the board a least depth of seven
feet in the river at low-water stage is
sufficient fer the commerce carried On
the river.
There are certain localities in this
portion CT the river where seven feet
or less water is found, but the beard,
after careful consideration. believes