The San Francisco call., 1904-02-29
HYsTERICAL REPORTS.

itself entirely UNAFFECTED
HYSTERICAL REPORTS.
All reports concerning any fears felt
BY the citizens of Sacramento are
based on hysteria merely and are not
shared in by any Sacramentan. This
is not saying however, that there is
any disposition to minimize the bad
effects of the Edwards break referred
to. 1t is realized that il will do in
calculable harm TO future crops. but
the sufferers for the most part are
weIl-tO-do and can stand the loss. IN
deed, little sympathy is expressed for
the wealthy planters, who allowed
their Ievee to become weakened at a
point which former experiences should
have taught them was exposed to
every freshet. River men freely de-
clare that had proper precaution been
taken the present calamity could have
been averted. The levee was allowed
TO remain practically unguarded and
the story is printed tonight that at
its inception one vegetable gardner re-
fused to stop the break with d couple
of bales of hay on the ground that the
hay cost too much.
a former Supervisor said to The
Call correspondent tonight that for
twenty years the scene of the break
was known 10 be weak point in the
levee, but during all that time prac-
tically nothing had been done to
strengthen il.
TRUSTEES HOLD MEETING.
The trustees of the flooded district
held a meeting this afternoon and
opened bids for the driving Of piles
and the placing Of brush to prevent
further erosion of the banks. The bids
for the work were as follows:
James Touhey of Sacramento,
S3275; Darby Laydon, S2S7S. Laydon
was awarded the contract and said he
would complete the work in six days
time. 1t is realized that the closing
of the break, while important, will
not relieve the lands of the waste of
water which has already spread over
them to a depth of three or four feet.
The water may have to be pumped.
A grewsome situation has developed
as the result of the flood. The various
cemeteries are located south of the Y
street levee, in the flooded district
Monuments and vaults may be seen
rising specter like out of the water.
while humber wooden boards, lOosened
from the earth, have become part of
the fotsam of the tide that is sweep
ing over the broad submerged area.
But worse still, several funerals are
announced for tomorrow and the in
be made except in the water and with
boats for hearses.
The city owns a mortuary vault in
which bodies NAV be housed to await
interment. but this vAIlt is submerged
and cannot be used. The Greed Hay
mond vault is still high and dry and it
is probable that the private owners
will consent, in Difference to the senti-
ments Of the bereaved families, to al
low the dead to be received therein
until the water recedes from the GEM
etery and interments can be made in
the usual manner.
TRACKS UNDER WATER.
At railroad headquarters tonight it
was announced that trains were run
ming everywhere except between Oro-
vile and Marysville, where the water
is twenty inches above the track. The
overland passengers are obliged to un-
dergo a nerve-racking experience on
the main line between Webster and
Nixon, west of Sacramento. where the
water from the Tule basin sweeps over
the tracks TO a depth Of two inches
The trains go through the water very
cautiously, and while ordinarily the
run from Davisville to Sacramento is
made in twenty-five minutes, it now
takes fifty-fve minutes.
A message was received here to-day
from New Hope stating that thous-
ands of acres OF land are being flooded
in that vicinity by the flood waters
from the Mokelumne River. Much un-
easiness is also felt at Isleton and
other Sacramento River points below
the flooded districts. The river. how
ever, is gradually lowering, thus re-
ducing the danger Of further breaks,
-