The record-union., 1898-03-09
A VALUABLE DOCUMENT.

Congressman De Vries of this Con-
gressional district has conferred dis
tinct benefit upon the people of Califor-
MIA by preparing and issuing a compact
pamphlet which he has submitted to his
fellow Congressman, in the form of a
readable brief concerning the legitimate
and equitable claims of the Sacramento
and San Joaquin River sections upon the
Federal Government
The title of the fifty-two page book
monograph. 1t reads:
Statement of the commerce of the
Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers,
California, and of the country imme-
diately tributary thereto, together with
the reports and recommendation of the
Secretary of War. Chief of Engineers,
the local L. S. Engineer Corps and the
California State Engineering Depart
ment thereupon, including the opinions
of the Judge-Advocate General of the
War Department relevant to certain
questions Of law pertinent thereto, and
drafts of the legislative provisions nee
essary to carry into effect these reports,
recommendation and opinions and TO
utilize State and Federal appropriations
already made for the Improvement of
said rivers. Respectfully submitted by
Marion De Vries, Nj. c., Second Califor-
MIA District"
The predatory page consists of a we'll
stated brief and meaty statement of the
Importance of the rivers, their primitive
condition and commercial capacity and
! their present degraded state. Then fol-
lows showing that the appropriations
asked for the restoration of the CONNER
cial Importance of these rivers are sup
ported by the recent reports of the Gov
ernment engineers, and to that end there
are liberal citations from the reports
made to the Secretary of War on the
| Improvement of the Sacramento below
this city, followed by an able, concise
and straight to the center argument,
| showing that the plans outlined in these
reports are feasible, and that this is ap
parent to any, without scientific know
/ ledge.
The next chapter is devoted to cita-
! tions of facts illustrative of the COM
nerce of the Sacramento River and it's
tributaries. and supporting the claim
that the facts warrant the appropriations
asked on plain business grounds. Then
/ comes a chapter on the commercial out
put of the country contributory to the
river waterways to be treated, the ex-
I e Il,
lands. the variety of soils. etc. Tables
follow showing the exports from the
/ Sacramento Valley by rail for last year
in detail.
! We are next given testimony in sup
port Of these figures, and this is supple
mented by the petition, by joint resoiu
/ tion of the California Legislature, 10
4 Congress in behalf Of the plans of inn
provement, reclting among other things
that the State has appropriated S25o0o0
to conserve Improvement by restraining
the down flow of debris and the further
sum of 10000 for general river work
on the Federal Government signifying
its readiness to contribute with equal
! iiDefalty.
The resolutions of the Trans Missis-
sippi Congress of 1897. approving The
petition Of the State in behalf of the
rivers are given in full. together with
/ resolutions of various Boards of Super
visors Of California counties, petitioning
/ Congress upon the subject.
Mr. De Vries then interposes a brief
| argument including expression Of the
Auditing Board to the Commissioner of
/ Public Works and the Endorsement OF
/ engineers under that Commissioners.
Then follows a plea for an appropriation
of $3.50 coo for dredging below this city.
a dozen pages or more are then devoted
to consideration of the needs OF the San
Joaquin River, with elaborate tables ana
citations of testimony on that subject.
Concerning permanent necessary leg
islation on the subject of river improve
naent in California. letter by Mr.. De
Vries to the Chief of Engineers. in re-
ply to one addressed to the California