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

- q sacramento, Lee. L, 1850.
Hon. James H. Budd, Governor of
California-Dear Sir: / herewith sub
NIT a report Of the work done under
the direction of this department for a
period of twenty months, beginning
March II, 1897, and ending November
II, 1898.
The reports of Chief Engineer M. A.
Nurse and Assistant Engineer G. N.
Randle, also the report of the Auditing
Board to the Commissioner of Public
Works, are also submitted and made
part of this communication.
THE AUDITING BOARD.
An Act approved March II, 1897, pro-
vided for the appointment Of an Aud
iting Board to the Commissioner of
Public Works. By the terms of this
Act the report of this department
dated November Is, 1896, was made
the basis of all operations in the work
of improving and rectifying channels
and promoting drainage. The Act also
vested the power to appoint all en-
ployes in the Commissioner of Public
Works, but reserved the right to the
Auditing Board to determine the num-
Der necessary and their compensation.
The Commissioner is authorized to
determine the character of all work
and to superintend it, and the Auditor
Board is authorized to make all con-
tracts, and there can be no expendi-
lures without its sanction.
You commissioned as members OF
that board H. J. Corcoran, ellis Doty
and John Markley for four years, and
Captain Thomas B. Hall and G.. w.
Patterson for two years. The board
effected an organization on the 14th
of May, 1897.
STAFF APPOINTMENTS
At the first meeting of the board
announced the appointment of NJ. A.
Nurse, Chief Engineer, and G. N. Ran
die, Assistant Engineer. These ap-
pointments were confirmed by the
board.
In my report of November 16, 1886,
1 specially recommended as the most
practicable methods of promoting river
improvement and drainage the con-
struction of easements and a levee
system; also the use of a jetty system
for rectifying and deepening the chan
neis of the rivers With reports pub
Ished in an engineering journal con-
corning experiments with a new by
draulic dredger, called the Beta" as
a basis, also recommended the pur-
chase of a dredger.
In the latter recommendation the
Auditing Board did not concur, ard
subsequent events have demonstrated
the wisdom of its action. To have
purchased a dredger at that time would
have involved the State in an expensive
litigation. Further reasons for not
making the purchase are clearly set
forth in the reports of the Engineers
nd iC
unnecessary to repeat them here.
WORK AUTHORIZED.
As a result of the consultations of
the Commissioner and Auditing Board
it was decided to remove Newtown
Shoals by means of a jetty system, to
construct an easement or overflow con-
crete weir near the Elkhorn ranch, in
Yolo County, for the purpose of reg
ulating the discharge of flood waters
and combining as much water to the
river channel as could be carried with
out endangering the levee system, and
to improve the San Joaquin River by
Strengthening and deepening the chan
mel.
CONSULTING ENGINEER AP-
POINTED.
Before beginning this work it was
first necessary to obtain the permits
sion of the Secretary of War. Maps
and plans of the work proposed were
submitted and applications for such
permission were made. Persistent eff
forts were made by this department,
aided by Congressman De VrieS. to
hasten action, but there was long
and vexatious delay. prabably due to
the fact that the War Department was
actively engaged in putting the coun-
try on war footing. In order to OBJ
viate as much delay as possible, per-
mission was asked and granted by the
Secretary of War to appoint Major w.
H. Heuer. Consulting Engineer to this
department.
WAR DEPARTMENT GRANTS PER-
MISSION.
In April. 1898, permission was first
granted to begin the work. Since that
time there has been no unnecessary de-
lay. The Secretary of War readily
grants permission for any State work
that meets with the approval of the
Government River Board of Engineers,
upon the conditions that the Govern
ment is not to be held responsible for
the expense or any damages that may
result, and that the work shall be done
under the supervision of the Govern
ment Engineer.
ELKHORN EASEMENT.
In accordance with the plans outlined
in my report of November 16, 1896,
the Elkhorn easement, concrete weir
two thousand feet in length and fifteen
feet in width, has been completed. and
the Government engineer indorses it
as the best and cheapest work of it's
character In the United States. To use
his exact language: 1T is practically
everlasting, and while monuments may
crumble and stone and brick may sue
cumb to the wear of years, the ease
mant ought to stand for ages.
1t is the finest work ever saw in the
United States. 1 do not believe there
is a piece of work in all Europe that
equals it,"
THE JETTY SYSTEM.
The jetty system of removing New
town Shoals has also been completed.
It comprises five jetties. aggregating
about six thousand feet in length. This
work has also been inspected by Major
Heuer He pronounces it as the most
substantial and least expensive work
of it's character that has ever come
under his observation during his many
years service on the Mississippi. Mis-
souri,, Ohio, Delaware, Hudson and
Sacramento Rivers. In public speech