The San Francisco call., 1903-01-23
RIVER IMPROVEMENTS.

tally interested IN tue improvement Vi IhS W.
Il great rivers OF the State Their navigability
is necessity to the agriculture and commerce OF the
State and the protection OF their delta and bench
lands from overflow in food time will add enormously
to the States productive power and to its taxable
property
This State suffers from the inaention OF the Fed
era Government to its part OF the work needed to ef
feet the two grand objects OF river Improvement, navi
CATION and care OF the food waters Tens OF millions
are spent and properly in protecting the valley OF the
Ohio and the Mississippi Much is also expended in fu-
tile work to control the flow of mud in the Mis-
souri,, which does no permanent good to navigation.
This State has productive capacity in the valleys OF
the two rivers of the interesting variety volume
and value, and gets but little.
1t is estimated by experts that an expenditure OF
$4,000 will put the lower reaches OF both rivers in
condition to carry of the food waters scour out the
channel and extend the tidal influence so far that
navigation will be opened deep water ships as
far as Stockton and beyond Sacramento
The small jetties already placed in the Sacramento
have secured the channel where subjected to their
influence that tidal action has been extended Before
the jettes it ceased at Walnut Grove, but is ex-
tended up stream distance OF twelve miles past Nor
den Courtland and Richland This has made it posi-
bic for boats Of deeper draught to land at Sacramento
the channel was filed with mining sickens, to its
damage, but it is also that the food waters, if
confined to the channel will, with the extension of
tidal action scour out this obstruction.
The waters OF the Sacramento are held back and
thrown of banks by the meanders in the lower
river and by the presence Of the islands which choke
the flow The extent Of this obstruction is shown by
the fact that in March 1902 the river at low tide at
Antioch and Collinsvle marked two-tenths OF foot
above zero, or mean low tide, while at the same time
at Rio Vista, fourteen miles up the rtSer, the water
was fourteen feet above zero, showing fall OF foot
per mile, and demonstrating the blocking OF the
stream by restriction OF the channel, which piled up
the waters above.
1t seems obvious engineering proposition,
that this obstructed water acts dam to the food
behind it. forcing it the banks to flood Yolo
BASIN and permanently disable tract of fine land
which might be reduced TO tillage if the waters
carried in the channel which they would rapidly scour
to a depth sufficient for their carriage.
The most valuable lands are always the delta lands.
The delta OF the Nile noted for its production be-
fore the pyramids built the Sphinx reared
great and questioning face to gaze across the land OF
the shepherd kings
The fat delta of the Mississippi perspires the most
valuable crops of the South and the delta lands of the
Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers can feed the popu-
lation OF kingdoms. Compared with the results pos
sble OF achievement by proper attention to river
thcaton, its cost IS lost in decimal No object OF
State and national action relating California is OF
greater interest than this. The State and nation
well afford to share between tbsm the cost for
both will gain when the work is accomplished When
done far Colusa viii become seaport if she wish.
and the wheat OF the Sacramento Valley may be load
ed directly upon deep water ships whose spars are in
sight OF the fields that produce it.
In the case OF the Mississippi and control OF its
floods many States and millions OF people combine
in interest and influence CALIFORNIA is but one State
against them all, but interest in what we have
and want is vital What seems to be needed is some
member OF Congress who will abstain from many
essentials and make this river improvement an
essential and speciality II the present session of the
Legislature take up with the whole purpose OF fore
ing it upon national attention, and meantime giving
resources for entry upon the work. the best results
may be anticipated from the effect upon Congress of
determined attitude here
This is not matter Of politics. OF which we have
toe much in legislation. but OF the material better
ment OF a company OF interests OF the utmost i'm
portance to California.