The record-union., 1898-06-13
WILL Be FULLY RECLAIMED.
SHERMAN ISLAND TO BLOSSOM
AS THE ROSE.
This Rich Tule Land will Soon be
Brought Under Guilt
vation.

movement is on foot for the recla-
nation of Sherman Island, some three
miles below this place, says the Rio
Vista News" Last week Judge
Buckles confirmed the sale of that por-
ton of the island that was held by the
estate of E. I. Upham, deceased. the
purchaser being Joseph Upham, who is
greatly interested in the project of its
reclamation.
A dredger has been engaged, and
within a short time will commence
work closing the several large breaks
which have been washing out since the
body was flooded in the winter OF
1S7S-19. 1t is intended to keep the
work going upon the whole Of the
island, exclusive of that portion below
the old cross levee which was located at
point short distance below Lone
Tree Island. The area thus cut off will
comprise about 4,5OO acres, and the
remaining $500 will be reclaimed.
The history of the partial reclama-
tion of this magnificent body Of land Is
probably more interesting and peculiar
than that of any other large swamp
land area in the State. This island
stands at the upper end Of Suisun Bay,
bClWCCH liAC lWo great IlNeIS VI Tic Nesi-
ley of California, and is in Sacramento
County. It's banks were just flooded at
high tide; they We're comparatively
firm, but the interior Of the island
was of peaty formation "Hardpan"
was found at a depth Of about forty
feet. The warm, early spring, incident
to it's proximity to Suisun Bay, primpt-
ed its early settlement, and in 1859
Cnff 1ol %n1
levees of three or four feet in hight
and a base width of some eight feet,
along the banks of the Sacramento
River and the sloughs. Until 1861
the lands were used principally for
vegetables and stock. In that season
nearly all the stock on the island was
drowned After this flood additional
levees were built, but no concerted ac
tion was had even on this one island,
although the levees We're extended TO
the San Joaquin River front. In 1868
the island was organized into a dis
trict, and forty-nine miles Of levee were
constructed, inclosing the entire island.
at a cost Of $4,000. This levee rap
idly settled on the San Joaquin front,
and an additional S1O5OO was expended
in raising this barrier.
The lower portion Of the island was
less firm than the upper, and irregular
settlement and the drying out of the
peaty soil caused cracks to form both
across and parallel with the levees.
Into these cracks, which were some
times twenty or more feet deep and a
quarter Of mile long, immense
quantities of peat and soil were ram
med. Filling one cost from $4,000 to
$4,000, and during the decade from
1868 to 1873 they caused heavy expend-
itures and loss from breaks
The island was also subdivided by a
cross levee some three-Quarters of a
mile long. Two dams were built in
Mayberry Slough above the junction Of
the cross levee, and the slough levees
extended to the junction; the cost Of
these improvements was $4,000. The
lower portion of the island, some 500
acres, was thus left out, and after 1875
was abandoned. The agricultural re-
suits obtained UP to 1878 were favor
| able during dry years and disastrous
during wet years.
When under complete cultivation the
lands yielded enormous crops. The en-
tire amounts expended in the district
organizations amounted to 1923 1SO, but
full accounts We're not kept of the ex-
penditures Of individuals, which were
large. The losses during food years
We're very severe. Since 1873 only a
small portion of the upper part of the
island has been cultivated, the rest of
this fertile area being a dreary waste
of water.
| The proposed work is of great i'm
| portance to Rio Vista, for Sherman
Island in the days before the food
was source of great revenue to our
town, and it is earnestly hoped that
| the efforts of those interested will bear
success in the way of an early fruition
Of their plans.
Try McMOrryS 35c tea 531 M