The record-union., 1898-10-06
WEAK SPOT IN YOLO LEVEE.
PUBLIC WORKS BOARD TAKES
ACTION ON 1T.
Neports Concerning the Elkhorn
Easement and Newtown
Shoals Jetty.

The Auditing Board to the Commits
eloner of Public Works met in the lat
ter's office in the Capitol building yes
serday, all the members, together with
Commissioner Leake and Engineer
Nurse, being present.
A communication from the local
Chamber of Commerce, calling atten-
son to the fact that at the ChlcofY
ranch, four miles below this city, the
FiVer is steadily eating its way into
The west bank and under the leVee,
and that unless steps were taken 10
stop 1T break, equal to, if not larger
than the old Paine break, would follow
The first appreciable rise in the river.
Commissioner Leake stated that IN
company with Engineer Nurse, MAJOR
Heuer, Government Engineer, and cap
tam Hall of the Auditing Board, he VS.
ited the Chicory ranch, and found
things as indicated in the cOmmunica-
ton from the Chamber of Commerce.
AT the point in question, he SAID, the
current runs directly into the bank
Nhlch seems to be composed OF quick
sand, and that everything points to
Dig break in the levee and a consequent
filling of the big Yolo basin, unless i'm
mediate steps were taken to stop it.
He explained that break in the levee
at the point mentioned would draw
such a volume of water from the river
as to render ineffectual the jetty sys-
tenn at Newtown Shoals, the practical
demonstration of which will depend
upon the volume and securing capacity
Of the water in the river.
Captain Hall said that beyond ques
ton a break would result unless imme
date steps were taken to stop the
erosive action of the current. He said
that a cutoff through the point would
cost a vast sum of money, would be
a mile in length, and could not be fin
ished before the floods come and the
anticipated break had become reality.
Commissioner Leake stated that
Major Heuer, when the viewed the situ-
alton, said that things were in a bad
condition and that a break was in
eVitable; that the only permanent
method was to build a levee back 100
feet and let the water cut on through
the old one. He said, however, that a
brush mattress might be put in for
temporary relief, but that in time, re-
gardless of that obstacle, the water
would cut it's way through. He roughly
estimated that a substantial Wall-one
which would effectually turn the cur
rent-could not be put in for less than
$4,000
Captain Hall said the levee had al
ready been set back six times, and that
much of the ranch had been washed
away
In answer to questions by members of
the Auditing Board, Commissioner
Leake said the work would come under
the Public Works Department fully as
much as did that of the Elkhorn ease
ment into the Yolo Basin.
Captain Hall urged that a break at
the Chicory ranch would render in
effectual the work at Newtown Shoals,
and agreed with Major Heuer that a
brush mattress would give at least tenn
porary protection.
Chairman Corcoran and Senator
Doty thought the putting in of a brush
mattress was properly an emergency
matter and ought to be treated as such
which would allow the Commissioner of
Public Works to take immediate steps
to prevent the break, without wasting
three weeks in advertising for bids and
letting a contract.
Engineer Nurse said a break at the
Chicory ranch would cause inesti-
mable damage, and if he owned the
property he would Immediately cover
the corroding bank with a brush mat
tress. He did not mean to say that
such an eXpedient would prevent a
break but he would adopt 1t much as
as drowning man would grasp at
straws. A facing of brush, he said,
might hold back the water three or
four years, and it might not withhold
the first food, but it would be pro-
tective measure and would give the
landowners time to construct another
levee.
Mr. Patterson was inclined to believe
that rip-rap work ought to be put in,
but was informed that in the opinion
of the engineers who had examined the
ground. the current would work in be-
hind the rip-rapping and render it
nugatory.
Secretary Markley favored declaring
1t an emergency matter, and at the
suggestion of the board, Commissioner
Leake drew up a written recommends
tion that the work of laying brush mat
tresses along the corroding banks-,3UO
feet long and 30 feet from low water
to the top of the levee. be entered upon
at once. He estimated that the work
would cost from 81 800 to $1,000
A resolution empowering and in
structing him to proceed with the work
was unanimously adopted.
LENEE WORK
Engineer Nurse reported that the
concrete work at the Eikhorn easement
is about finished, and that the rip-rap
work is nearly all in place. The work
on the levee is progressing slowly in
every case, except that portion along
the land of S. Hauser. Hauser ne
said. had offered TO give $500 If the
Chamber of Commerce would undertake
the work. and he (Nurse) had taken
him up. but Hauser subsequently went
to the Yolo County Board of Supervi-
sors and agreed with them to build the
levee ten feet broad on top, for a
county road instead of eight feet
Nurse could not build the broadened
levee for 5000 and so the agreement
fell through. Hauser still said he would
give 5000 to have the levee raised TO
the point indicated by the engineers.
The opinion seemed to prevail that