The record-union., 1898-01-08
RECLAMATION OF THE RIVER.
WORK WILL BE COMMENCED
BEFORE LONG.
All Its Waits For is the RECON-
mendation of Major Heuer 20
the War Department..

Early in November of last year the
Auditing Board to the Commissioner
OF Public Works advertised tor plos
for the construction of a Jetty system
at the Newtown shoal, in conformity
with the plans furnished by the engl-
nee.s of the department, with d view
to removing the shoal, when is the
chief impediment to navigation IN the
Sacramento River, and which mas, TO
a gSeat extent, been responsible Tor
the filing in of the river with debris
from the mines which would otherwise
have landed in Suisun Bay.
On November 10, 1897, a number of
bids were opened by the Auditing
Boari. and after due deliberation, con-
tracts were let for the several portions
of the work and bonds issued, subject
TO The approval of Attorney General
Fitzgerald.
Each of the successful bidders de-
posted with the Auditing Board a GER
titled check for $1,000 as a guarantee
of good faith in making the bid, with
the understanding that it should be
returned when, after the approval of
the contract by the Attorney
the bond was deemed good and suffi-
cient for the proper prosecution Of the
work
But matters of moment called the
Attorney General to Washington, and
as the Durrant case hung fire, that Off
cia1 found no time in which to examine
the several contracts, and as a result
several of the bidders had need of the
money they had deposited and made
demands for the return of their checks.
nd oil in re
power to hurry matters, but it was not
until yesterday morning that the long
lool1ed-for opinion of the Attorney Gen
eral was received. 1t is as follows:
San Francisco, January 6, 1898.
Auditing Board to Commissioner OF
Public Works, Sacramento-Gentlem
/ have examined the contract between
your board and Samuel Henery for pill
ing ard improvements at Newtown
shoals in the Sacramento River; the
contract between your board and A
Lauritzen and Joseph L. Hodatt for a
wingdam at said Newtown shoals, and
the contract between your board and
j. G. Smith for channel rectification in
the San joaquin River, together with
the respective bonds required by said
contracts, and the proceedings taken
by your board in reference to said con-
tracts; and, so far as the forms of said
contracts are concerned, l approve of
the same, except as to those portions of
the bonds wherein / have noted the
necessary changes. / return the con-
tracts and bonds. Respectfully,
"W. f. FITZGERALD,
Attorney-General"
The changes in the bonds recommend
ed by the Attorney-General were mere
ly that the work to be performed should
be specified.
The proper interlineations We're ac-
cordingly made. and the instruments
were yesterday afternoon started to the
bidders, and as soon as their bonds
men sEall have been secured and ac-
cepted, their checks will be returned to
them, and there will be no further
cause for complaint
That work will soon be commenced
on the tetties at the Newtown shoals
is evidenced by the fact that the War
Department of the General Government
has been acting. Before work can be
commenced on the river, that depart
ment Of the Government must approve
of the plans Of the local engineers.
The plans We're forwarded by the
United States River Board, and recent
ly there was returned to Major Heuer
Of the board communication asking
for his recommendation AS Major
Heuer has always expressed himself as
approving the plans of the State engi-
neers, there can be little doubt as to
what his recommendation will be. and
that work viii soon be commenced
seems practically pey-tain