The San Francisco call., 1905-01-06

tee of the River Improvement and
Drainage Association of California is
given in full herewith. The principal
points contained in it refer to the cost
and apportionment of the work to be
performed and contain declaration
that there can be no question that the
burden must be divided between the
Federal and State governments and the
land owners; sets up that to the Fed
eral Government belongs the preserva-
ton of the navlgability of the rivers
and the restoration of channels and TO
prevent the escape of water from the
rivers; estimates the gain that Will
accrue to the State under great
reclamation plan: recommends that
one-third of the expense shall be car
ried by the Federal Government, one
third by the State and one-third Dy
the property owners: adopts the recon-
mendation of the engineers as to the
basis of river Improvement: provides
for drainage district to include with
in its boundaries the territory shown
in the map submitted by the engineers;
also provides for a board of river con-
troll OF two members to have charge
of the construction of levees and CHAM
nels in connection with the disposition
of flood waters and their care; also
drainage commission of eleven MEM
bers who will appoint assessors
to assess upon the land With
in the drainage district charges
proportioned to Dement'S; asserts
that II is of great Importance that
the entire funds needed shall be guar
anteed from the start; recommends
that any appropriation of money by the
State shall be conditional upon appro-
priation by the Federal Government
urges Immediate action upon the ex-
ecutive committee.
The text in full of the executive COM
mittee's report is as follows:
your executive committee. appointed at the
close OF the convention held in San Francisco,
NAV o3 and "a last begs to submit the foi-
lowing report: - :.
the convention three eminent engineers reslo
ing ort Of the State of California were ap-
pointed to submit comprehensive plan OF
river Improvement. the State engineer coup
Grating with these three gentlemen
The State is to be congratulated on the
character Of the commission OF engineers . tiu'
organized. and your committee does not nest
tate to exoress it's fullest belief that the re-
mort presented by this commission cannot fal
if carried out in its essential features 10 soirs o
In anticipation of this report your commit
tee has spent much time and EFFORT IN the en-
deayor to arrive at an equitable and just ap-
portionment Of the. estimated cost OF the
work
the Federal and State governments and the
landowners there can be no question
The navigation of the Sacramento and san
JOAQUIN rivers is matter purely within the
jurisdiction of the Federal Government, ano It's
protection Is burden that the Federal Gov
rnment has in all cases assumed At an early
period the Sacramento River was susceptible
of navigation throughout its entire course in
the Sacramento Valley and the Feather River
was navigated as far as Marysyile. From
various causes the channels of these rivers
have been obstructed and filled with sediment.
Both the nayigability and the flood carrying
capacity of the rivers have been seriously I'M
paired This condition has arisen from the
failure of the State and Federal governments
to protect and maintain the channels. and In
justice to the State of California the Federal
Government should contribute to the joint
fund It is hoped to create the object of which
will be not only to restore the channels to the
condition they were in before impairment. but
add to their capacity to such an extent as
shall justify reclamation of the lands through
which they flow.
To do this and maintain them In future,
the report OF the engineers shows plainly the
work necessary to be done. II will be neces-
sary to prevent the escape of water from the
river and to concentrate the flow within the
channels In order to provide sufficient current
to remove the sediment which has already
accumulated and 10 prevent deposit in the
! future
There is an additional burden that should
| be borne by the Federal Government. and that
| is the correction and Improvement of the
| channels. so as to make them more service
| able for navigation.
commerce Is rapidly increasing and the
| valleys becoming productive, and
| this calls for some consideration on the part
/ of the Federal Government to make p-ovi-
| sions for moving the product. The burden Of 80
] doing is one that the Federal Government has
assumed throughout the United States, and
we can see no reason why il should not be
adopted On the Pacific Coast.
STATE is INTERESTED.
The State is interested in this work fol
many reasons. The lands already partially
| reclaimed within the valleys will be savet
from recurrence of the disastrous floods tha
have heretofore periodically devastated them
/ large area of land that is now useless anC
unoccupied will be placed In condition L
make it's reclamation possible will affort
homes for increasing population and add t.
the products of the State to an enormous ex
tent 1t is estimated that 1000. 600 acres o
anu permanently reclaimed and an average o.
/ $50 added to its value. The reclama
tion Of some of this land has already beer
! attempted. but part of it's has been allowed
to lapse entirely and more of it Is subjected
to occasional overflow and an insignifican
| proportion only be looked upon as beint
permanently reclaimed
The increased value of the land for pur
! poses of taxation at the present rate of tax
/ alton on the land alone would add to tn
I revenue of the Statesat least $250.O00 annually
In addition to this opening of the land t
settlement and cultivation will necessarily re
quire the erection of improvements upon th
land and the acquisition of personal propert,
for the purpose OF cultivation and manage
ment This will easily add another $50 900 T.
the revenues OF the State making total o
$1,000 per ai1num that the State will de
rive in benefits-and this benefit will be per
! petual.
Indirectly the State will gain largely from
the progress of SO important a work. Tn
| entire cost of the work will be spent righ
here In California: employment will be foun,
! for a large force of men. large fleet O
dredgers will have to be built and operated
Vast quantities of fuel will be required 70
| power; freighting supplies Will OF itself be
kiarge item subsequently the magnificent ter
| ritory developed. all susceptible of intense an,
varied cultivation Will be sending through tn
/ channels of commerce q splendid contribution
to the product OF the State.
LAND OWNERS SHARE.
A portion of the expense should undoubtedl,
| be paid by assessment upon the lands to b
benefited, for the reason that they will b
| enhanced IN value.
i A some what exaggerated estimate of tn
probable enhancement has become current.
| l. sometimes suggested that a great part o
the cost of the proposed work should be born
4 value to be given to them. Values Of 500 an
s150 an acre are sometimes talked of, and
4 Is forgotten that the high value OF some re
| claimed tracts Of this State has been reache
| by added improvements OF houses, barns. goo
roads and the growth of important settlements
with their hotels. postofhces. etc. Moreove
the high estimation OF the value of ands
rather an anticipation Of the value 1t ma
have when we have q large population an
assured markets for the product OF intens
cultivation. But we think the price that
realized in the selling OF large tracts OF Ian
comes approximately near establishing thei
value and the following statement OF fact
should be considered before accepting the NOR
picturesque estimate OF value: