The record-union., 1898-01-29
AUDITING BOARD
OF PUBLIC WORKS.
Review of Its River Improvement Efforts
Up to Date.

report of the Commissioner of Public
Works: to erect, build, and construct
embankments, and other works, where
necessary for carrying out he purposes
of this Act; to employ persons in and
about said work, and to purchase such
supplies as may be necessary for the
carrying on of the same, and for doing
all other work described in said report
to improve and rectify river channels
so as to promote drainage"
LIMITATION OF POWERS.
1t will be seen from the foregoing
extracts from the law creating the
Auditing Board, authorizing and direct
ing the performance of certain duties,
that the report of the Commissioner of
Public Works is made the basis of
operations and that our action in the
line of river Improvement is limited to
the execution of plans therein specified
for improving and rectifying channels
and promoting drainage.
We have diligently and faithfully
sought to expedite the execution of the
principal features of river improve
ment, as outlined and recommended in
the report of the Commissioner, in the
firm opinion that needed relief and sub
stantial good will accrue to the great
interests so treated. Examine the
principal recommendations contained
in said report.
LAYING OUT THE WORK.
From page II of said report: "All
shoals between Newtown and Collins
vile must ultimately be removed.
Horseshoe Bend must be corrected so
as to offer as little resistance as posi-
BILE to the free outlet of the floods, and
many other important steps taken IN
the line of river Improvement; but the
important step, and one that must be
taken before any other, is the correc-
ton of the evils now existing at the
Newtown Shoals Without this, all other
work is, in CUR estimation useless"
From page 1G: Let us now compare
the river-bed condition in 1873 with
that OF 1890, as shown on profile. Near
ly every point along the line, from Col
linsVille to the foot of Grand Island,
shows that the river has been excavat-
ing its channel since 1878. We find a
difference in the profile lines of from )
to and 10 feet in depth in favor of
the increased depth of water. Very
little, if any, deepening has taken place
on Newtown Shoals Wherever the
river runs through a properly construct
ed channel with reasonable width. we
find the river has bettered itself.
Wherever the channel is faulty, there
has been little, if any, Improvement.
The formation of Wood Island. having
divided the river into two distinct chan
nels, causes the profile to show deep
water where, in 1911, there was shall
low water. This is one of the greatest
practical examples Of the truthfulness
of our position that can be found in the
history of the river. The shore of
Wood Island has continued to close up
the channel by accretion, until the riv-
er is now of a width commensurate
with the flow of water, and is there
fore deepening its channel between the
shore of Wood Island and the main
land.
AT no point on the river from Col
linsville to Rio Vista do we find deep
water at low tide, unless the river is
500 or 900 feet in width If the New
town Shoals should be removed we
might expect tidal flow of feet at
ordinary high tide, whereas we now
have but 3 feet. We would recon-
mend the construction Of training walls
or curtains from the head of Wood ISL
and to a point on the left bank of the
river, near the confluence Of Old River
and Steamboat Slough. and at an ele-
walton Of half tide to begin with"
From pages II and Is: IF, then,
we had a deep tidal riTer in 1S49 at
Sacramento City and all along the line,
there can be but one reason assigned
for the change, and there can be but
one conclusion as to the remedy. A
deep river is what is required; return
as nearly as possible to the conditions
Of nature before the sitting of the
stream Can the remedy be applied
The history of river treatment answers
in the affirmative with facts and re-
suits that cannot be questioned.
The Improvement of river channels
has been so scientifically treated and
studied that a law has been demon
strated which in its effect, is as certain
as the laws that govern the movements
OF the planets. The locomotive engin-
eer, by the twist of the screw or the
movement of the lever, can either direct
his iron horse to move on or reverse rs
pace and move backward. The pilot.
by the turn of the wheel, may either
direct the course of a vessel to the right
or to the left So the civil engineer, by