The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-01


better work being done or more honesty
shown in the use of materials; that ne
had never seen anything to equal the
work either at the easement or the
jetty system; never so much and sucn
good work for the amount OF money
expended; that the $4,000 expended
showed more substantial results than he
had ever witnessed from a similar ex-
penditure.''
l confidently believe that the effect
of these two Improvements will be TO
deepen and correct the channel of the
Sacramento River, increase the carry
ing capacity and greatly facilitate the
disposal of f1ood-waters.
THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER.
The Secretary of War has granted
permission to make cut-offs on the San
Joaquin River, numbered 3, 4, 8. and
s. Contracts have been let for the
construction of all these cuts except No.
8. No. 6 is now complete, and No.
will be completed by January l, 1899.
Nos. 3 and 4 will be finished by the
middle of February. The testimony of
the oldest navigators is that the work
already performed has vastly improved
the San Joaquin River, and it is con-
fidently predicted that when all the
work now under contract is completed
the river will be in an almost perfect
condition.
In a recent communication, Hon. H.
]. Corcoran describes the work on the
San. Joaquin River as Of the most
stupendous importance-far-rea in
its good, extensive in its nature and
permanent in it's character. When the
work now in project is completed there
will be waterway almost perfectly
straight, from CroZieris to deep water.
STATE AND GOVERNMENT Off
GALS IN ACCORD.
1t is particularly gratifying to be
cord between the Government engin-
GERS and this department as to plans
for river improvement. These condi-
tons have not existed before in the
history of the State. California here
tofore expended vast sums of money
in making surveys, formulating plans
and publishing reports thereon, but as
a result of this expenditure nothing
practical or beneficial was accomplish
ed, owing to failure to agree and a
lack of cooperation between the State
and the Government authorities. They
agree now on all essential particulars,
and this unity of purpose and concert
of action will inure to the benefit of
the State.
Congressman DeVries, after inspect
ing the work already accomplished, de-
clared that when he again goes before
committee to ask for aid in the inn
provement of California rivers, it. will
be of great advantage to him to say
'the Government engineers and Com
missioner of Public Works have united
in a definite plan for work on the rivers,
and the State of California has evinced
its interest in the work by appropriate
ing an amount which is equal to the
asked from the Govern
n.ent" The Government engineers, in
of the fact that California
is making an effort to do something
for herself, will recommend that Con-
gress ought to be liberal in its APP
to the State for river i'm
provement.
tabulated statement of the expendi-
lures of this department will be found
in the report of the Auditing Board. 1t
is estimated that to complete the work
now under contract will bring the total
up to $4,000, which will
leave a balance in the appropriation of
$4,000.
RECOMMENDATION
The jurisdiction of the Commissioner
of Public Works and the Auditing
Board should be extended SO as to in
clude all of the Sacramento River, also
the San Joaquin, Feather ond Tuolumne
rivers. and Petaluma, Alviso and Napa
creeks. As the law now stands, the
money appropriated can only be ex-
pended on the San Joaquin. and on the
River from the mouth of
the Feather to Suisun Bay. The ex-
penditure of a very moderate amour
on the Feather River and on the Sac
above the mouth of the
Feather would vastly improve the navi-
gability of both, and incidentally af
ford protection to a large area of fer
tile country The expenditure of $3O,-
900 would make deep-water channel
of Alviso Creek almost to San Jose.
The Importance of such an. improve
ment cannot be overestimated- The
farmers and fruit growers of Santa
Clara Valley would save more than the
cost in one year in the matter of trar-s-
portation. Like improvements on other
creeks enumerated would result in
material advantages which would not
only affect the country traversed by
them, but which would be shared in by
the people of the entire State. If it
becomes the fixed policy of the State to
care for her navigable streams upon
the lines of recommendations made
herein, the Legislature should make an
additional appropriation of 100000.
There seems to be a well-defined and
public sentiment in favor of
such a policy. 1t is ably advocated in
a recent article from the pen of Hon.
H. j. Corcoran. After urging the ne
cessity for State supervision in taking
care of the navigability of the streams.
he says:
nature has endowed our commonwealth,
and upon their proper maintenance do
ponds, to a large extent, the cost of car
rying to market the product of the fer
tile fields which lie on either side of
them, and of bringing at moderate cost
to the people who dwell in the interior
such things as they are obliged to buy
at the seaboard. They are essentially
State institutions, interesting the peo-
pie of this commonwealth only with no
national Importance, no national sig
nificance, and no just claim upon the