The San Francisco call., 1904-11-15
RECLAMATION
THEIR FIGHT
congressman Unite to Sc
cure a Big Appropriation
to Confne the Rivers
PLAN ACTIVE CAMPAIGN
VIII Await Report of En-
gineers and Then Proceed
to Secure Needed Funds

Citizens of the great Sacramento and
San Joaquin valleys are to be congratu-
lated over the fact that at the election
of a week ago the entire Republican
Congressional ticket Of the State was
victorious 1t means to them that their
dream of years-the reclamation of the
inundated lands of the basins-is about
to be realized.
Although the reclamation Of the in
undated lands Of the State affects di-
rectly only four of the Congressional
districts, it is admitted that indirectly
it affects every citizen of the State.
With this fact in mind a movement is
now well under way looking to united
effort on the part of the eight Con-
gressmen and two Senators of the State
to secure a sufficient appropriation
from the Government to reclaim the in
undated lands of the State, confine the
great rivers to their natural channels
and utilize their surplus waters for the
irrigation of the arid lands Of the
southern districts.
Congressman- elect McKinlay was in
the city yesterday in consultation with
those most interested in the great prob
lem that is born with the yearly over
flow of the rivers named. Land owners
of Colusa and nearby points that an
nually suffer from the rush of waters
called upon him to offer suggestions.
Their observations were recorded for
future use.
AGREEMENT is REACHED.
After Mr.. McKinlay had left head
quarters it was given out that an agree
ment had been reached by the Con-
gressmen and Congressmen-elect to
make the question of the reclamation of
the inundated lands of the State the
main fight of their incumbency. Early
in December the board of engineers en-
pIoyed by the River Drainage Associa-
ton of this State will file it's report as
to the most feasible plan for the recla-
nation of inundated lands, and then
the time will be ripe for Congressional
action.
1t is not probable, however that the
question will be laid before Congress at
the coming session. The plan of the
board of engineers must be first studied
in detail and the matter of cost of the
proposed improvements as suggested
by it's members carefully calculated
before the California Senators and Rep
resentatives will be in position to de-
bate the question and answer any OBJ
lection that may be raised by any mem
Der of the Senate or House that feels
so inclined.
READY TO DRAW PLANS.
Telegraphic advices are to the effect
that the board Of engineers employed
to investigate the reclamation problem
is about to meet in the East to draw up
the final plans and specifications. Frank
D. Ryan, State Commissioner of Pub
lie Works, will leave for the East in
few days to confer with the board of
engineers having the ork in hand. It's
final decision on the work to be per-
formed will soon follow this conference.
The board Is composed of Henry Is.
Richardson of Louisiana, Major t. G.
Dabney of Mississippi and Major H. M.
Chittenden of Yellowstone National
Park.
Congressman-elect McKinlay said
yesterday that though he would not
take his seat until March 4, he would
attend the coming session to familiarize
himself with the work of Congress, and
especially to aid his associates in de-
Gliding upon the most promising mode
of procedure to secure the appropria-
ton for the carrying out of the plans
of the board Of engineers.
With eight Congressman and two
Senators, all Republican, bending their
energies to carry the plans to compile
ton there is no question that they VIII
succeed, and California will reap its re-
ward for the splendid plurality it gave
the party In the battle that has just
been merged into history.