The San Francisco call., 1904-06-07
THE RIVER PROBLEM.

Droblem made by Mr.. William H. Mills OF the State
Board OF Trade. 1t is example OF the profound
study and intelligent attention given by the members OF
that organization to the great hysical problems which
affect the material welfare of the State. Whether en-
neers agree with its conclusions they must all
admit that it presents concsely and forciby the elements
OF the situation with which engineering science must deal
The foods originating attitudes running up to oooo
feet are rapidly delivered point near TIDE
level where their progress barred by the tidal oppos-
ton The food in effect stored at that point by
tidal influence and wait slow drainage into the
oct;n The overilcweo region becomes reservoir tor
these arrested waters. The problem is different from
shutting out the ocean itself Holland. There 1t IS
only necessary to against the and the influence
OF tide and wind and there great floods delivered
brisky from high altitude the landward side to be
guarded against In valley that food water is the
greater problem of the two
Heretofore the of Our foods by draining them
into such depressons the Yoo basin has been pro-
posed in recognition of the very difficulties plainly
stated by Mr. Mills But when the flood water is in such
volume as to cover valley from the foothills of the
Coast Range the foothills of the Sierra Nevada all
becomes flood basin and depressons like the oo basin
are simply part of the whole expanse.
For the purposes of treatment the food waters that
come down the Sierra Nevada only may be considered
If these are taken of and held back from their pres
ent zero or meeting OF the influence of the tides the
age Therefore have consider the control of that
world of that falls upon the great and runs
down its sides like rain off roof If that water be
intercepted the slope of the roof and kept from reach
ing there will be floods in the valley and the
point will be lifted the point OF inerception
The floods of the McCloud Pitt, Feather Yuba, Bear
and American rivers, if diverted arrested before
they reach the Sacramento will the drainage
capacity of reaches of that main stream where
it meets the obstructive effect of the tides grand
canal beginning altitude sufficient for the purpose,
would intercept the floods, carry the water along the
foothills and distribute system OF reservoirs in
which could be held for gradual discharge through the
season These reservoirs would water for irrga
ton and for power If the diversion be at point high
enough that water could be carried in great pipes
or by open and elevated fumes to the west side of the
San Joaquin bring into cultivation great areas that are
now uncertain in their yield for lack OF irrigation
Perhaps such canal and reservoir system would have
have the aggregate capacity of all the rivers would
intercept, The would be great But if it be the only
effectively control the floods there is no choice
between adoption and the wasteul expenditure OF al
most equally great plans made ineffective by the
very nature of the problem
The great value of Mr. Mills discussion of the ques-
ton clear presentation of the confluence OF all the
rivers in great river, beginning Suisun Bay and
enptyng into the Golden Gate AS he puts
forcbly the many plans cenered the lower reaches
of the Sacramento the faacy that river may be
relieved by delivering its food into its chan
mel The tide level of Susun Bay cannot be changed by
any such process. We must go farther up stream in
search of remedy which be found in keeping the
great floods of the river entirely Those floods
down the mountains right angles to the general
the river If they be intercepted and carried in
waterway parallel with the river and drawn off and
stored the solution is complete
The ancient river system that existed before the
tain upraise was such that the stream generally
north and south Gravel mining has revealed the beds
those ancient rivers. When the mountain chain was
raised direction of the line of drainage changed and
the cut the old approximately right
angles. If it be within the capacity OF engineering
science and within the power of any available OF
money make river following the general course
of the ancient intercept the existing
relief sought will be attained
When we see the Chicago River upset and instead Of
running into Lake Michigan made to of it. and
when we consider the diverng works that carry
waters of the Truckee into the sink of the Car
son. and the not significant diversion of the water of
the Tuoumne into the grand canals of the Modesto and
Turock districts and of the Merced Lake Yosemite
be said that this proposed inerception of
The Board of Education encouraged by the suggestion
cd ic