The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-04-01
CONTROLLING THE FLOODS.


country where the water Levels OF the Sacramento
L and San Joaquin and other smaller rivers meet
makes ar acute issue OF flood control. The submerged
lands, whether islands the mainland, have been
protected for development by cyces These except in
some cases on the south side the San Joaquin, have
proved inadequate and great loss has resulted The
drainage OF the Sacramento has overlooked into that OF
the San Joaquin. and the greater and Lesser hoods nave
united in a mission OF destruction
Among important industries affected the asparagus
teres has suffered the worst Plantations which have
yielded half the pack OF that vegetable for the caneres
destroyed and the seasons output will be abridged
that asparagus market, which is largelyin Europe,
will be diverted elsewhere for supply, and when the
plantations restored the market will have to be
covered The flooded lands also yield considerable
of our potato supply and the price OF that vegetable
will be affected by the loss. | ~: :
The interests concerned direct and collateral, try
ing to get together to adopt plan that will pre-
the nagability of the Sacramento and San Joa
gum and at the time correct their drainage capa-
city. Two important commercial cities concerned III
this, Sacramento and Stockton Some of the plans pro-
posed the Sacramento objected to the
ground that they will impair the navigabiy of the San
Joaquin which of is injurious to Stockton and
perhaps to the ;mpregnable recamations the south
side of the San Joaquin.
The engagement of the Sacramento is said to be be-
low Rio Vista and various plans have been suggested to
correct It, 1he senior OF these prOpoSltOnS is lot
canal through the Montezuma hills This was, be-
leve first proposed by General Green of Colusa, who
has been observer of the river from the earliest set
Element of its valley and capable engineer Suisse
quent study has led him abandon the Montezuma
nal, because the fall at end is insufficient
effect its purpose Yet all of the that overfows
the leyees the side of the river and all of the
drainage from that side is forced back into the river by
the Montezuma hills, be backed up by the structure
south of Rio Vista All plans end in this, that that OBJ
struction must be in way corrected.
To the end that something may be done and that a
waste of words may be added waste of water il
proposed that convention of all interests be held
organize for eecuatng some plan. 1t is true that
many years may go by without another flood like the
present. But that will only add the loss when it
comes as it surely will. With of security bred
in long immunity. the value OF Improvements increases
and the risk rises. AT present this water question
the Many have plans withcrt for them and
many have reasons without plans for them.
In ali the discussion have heard nothing about a
diversion of the river above Sacramento that will take
all the spill and drainage its side from such
the Yoo arr clrry it through
the low country into Suisun Bay We don't know
whether there IS fall enough what the would be
compared with that of the Montezuma canal. 1t may
have been engineered already but if it has escaped
attention. With only the casual knowledge OF
the conditions below Rio Vista unable how
.
carrying the enormous volume of that has caused
the losses If the food above con-
fuence of the American River could all be diverted into
great CHANNEL taken from the entirely and car
ied through the low land into Suisu Bay that channel
would perform exactly the same function as the great
bayeus of the lower reaches of the Mississippi which
make New Orleans safe: by divertng the great~loods
that come down from the watershed of that stream
We are not however, PROPOSING any plan. That for
the engineers and those consider the men and
the interests in Sacramento and Stockton that finch up
der the losses of the last month These may be sure
that given the rainfall the same obstruction to
its runo they will get the same losses repeated on
greater scale corresponding to the length time in
which they enjoy immunity: -. 49, -.
There will be a disposition to invoke public assist
ance by way of appropriations. AS to this it may be
said that the Federal Government spends millions on the
Mississippi River; by Federal commits sion; in evees
and other engineering devices in order save the cot
ton, cane, tobacco and rice plantations from destruction
and there is reason why much less expenditure
should not be made for like purpose on. the Sacra
and San Joaquin OF course if adequate remedy
be found within the capacity of the land owners Il
will be more quickly and usefuy applied by them: All
this must be determined by getting together and talking
il Therefore those interested should get together
at once: -. :.
Marquis Ito has been decorated with the Order of the
plrn1R he