The San Francisco call., 1905-01-27
PLAN TO DRAIN
GREAT VALLEYS
Bills for River Improvement
of the Sacramento and
San Joaquin Are Ready
OUTLINE OF THE WORK
Legislature Will Be Asked
to Make an Initial
Appropriation of $50O,OOO
OUTLINE OF THE WORK

Appropriation OF SoOU,OUU
Measures relating to the control Of
flood waters IN the Sacramento and
San Joaquin rivers and the reclama-
tion of lands now wholly or in part
submerged will be introduced in the
Legislature to-day. In the Senate the
bills will be presented by Senator Rush
of Solano and in the Assembly by AS
senhlyman Moore of San Joaquin.
There are five bills and one proposed
amendment to the constitution of the
State. but all have a direct bearing
on the main proposition for the
reclamation of lands by the control of
flood waters. 1T is proposed that the
burden of expense shall be borne joint
ly. if not equally, by the Government
of the United States, the State of Cal
ifornia and the land owners who may
be benefited by the establishment of
an effective system of drainage. The
plan recommended is that which was
reported by the executive committee
of the~River Improvement and Drain
age Association and adopted by the
general body.
SENDS OUT LETTER.
This letter, addressed TO the Senate
and Assembly committees on Rivers,
S5yamp and Overfowed Lands, out
lines the legislation desired:
SAN FRANCISCO. Jan. "a. 1s05-My Dear
Sir: AT meeting OF the executive commt.
Association of California held to-day the
president was instructed to send copies Of GER
tain measures to the chairman OF your COM
mittee for presentation in the California Leg
islature at the earliest opportunity. The meas
ures that have been sent are as follows:
An act TO authorize the Governor TO appoint
a committee of three, etc.
An act TO create a drainage district to pro-
mote reclamation therein.
An act to add new section to the Code OF
Civil Procedure.
prosecution Of the work OF river improvement
ta create a fund therefor and to make an ap-
preparation for the commencement OF sucn
work . :. :.
conmittea having most important duties to
nerform in connection with the work Oh river
Improvement and drainage has already peer; neen
presented to your committee and no action
taken for the reason that 1t did not meet
with the approval of the Governor II must
not be understood that in again asking tnst
this bill be presented this association
desires in any way to oppose the Governor:
but the request is made for the reason tnat
the association has instructed Its executive
Committee to carry out prescribed plan nav
ing for its object the carrying into erect tne
report of the commission OF englneeIs' ,srin miue
Recommendations for the improving ana rem
dering nayieable the Sacramento and san Joa-
uuin rivers and making possible the reciama-
ton of land II is hoped that the opinion does
not prevail that the committee asked LOT Is
primarily for lobbying purposes. me outies
If the committee cover the getting in touch
with United States authorities at washington
as we'll as the all important matter oil ap-
portionment Of cost s9s en'g gut also as be-
tween the state and the land owners. delicate
task indeed and requiring men especiaiiy
All of the measures submitted to you are in
accordance with the approved plan. ana eacn OF
the measures has an important oearlns on ,ne
others To carry out the comprehensive plan
of the association. which plan has been arrived
at after careful consideration OF the matter
fSom all points OF view and in consideration or
oil the fiffereDt interests involved. >all of the
proposed measures should be favorably acted
Ipon at the present session of the Legislature.
The River Improvement and Drainage As
sociation as YOU doubtless know, represents
large interests in the state. ana on account
of this, as we'll as on account OF the magnituae
Of the work involved and its Importance TO
the entire State of California, careful consid-
Grafton of the matter as now presented Is earn
estly hoped for
tho nresdent TO respectfully suggest that when
these measures are referred to the committee
notice must be given when the executive com
mittee NAV meet your committee at Sacra-
mento to go into the matter fully, explaining
such points in the proposed iesislation as may
lie desired in order that the members OF the
Legislature may fully understand the oojects
of the association.
l send you herewith a painpnie,, On pases
cedura os adopted From this you will see
that the legislation proposed is simply to carry
out tne wiRayF RUFUS is P P. JENNINGS. President.
p. S. A proposed constitutional amendment
has also been sent. to be treated the same as
the other acts hereinbefore mentioned.
Rufus p. Jennings also transmits to
the Legislature a copy OF letter from
Hon James McLachlan of the Rivers
and Harbors Committee, House of Rep
resentatives, Washington, ID. c., where
in the Congressman writes:
NAV say to you very frankly that IT will
take ali the influence at our command to In
duce the Federal Government to act upon ,hs this
vast scheme and personally would advise
that every possible influence be brought tc
hear upon the Congress to assist in this matter
The Congressman inclines to the be-
lief that il would be wise to send from
California to washington three vel
informed men, especially If we fail to
secure an insertion OF clause in the
House, within the next DAY or TWO
nroviding for Government board OF
enpineers to examine the whole mat
ter"
McI,achlan is endeavoring to obtain
nrovisjon for three engineers to ex-
anime the whole project.
WORK APPROVED.
ral,fornians who are familiar with
| c+ota LEGISLATION and Federal Govern
mental action in regard to the allow
ance Of money to carry out the plans
of engineers for impounding mining
| debris will observe that the bill to bs
| Introduced in the Legislature to-day
! contemplates the extension of system
| IF work which has already received
| the approval of the Federal Govern
ment II is no new departure for thu
General Government to join hands with
/ the state. each contributing an equa
s,,n, for the common benefit.
The promoters of this vast scheme
of reclamation recognize the very i'm
nortnnt fact that section II, article l
of the state constitution must b
amended in order to render the pro
nosed law effective. This section says
.sPrivate property must not be takel
or damaged for public use without jus
/ compensaticn having been first mad
70 or paid into court for the owner"
! The main bill to be introduced to
day and to which all other bills con
form bears this expressive title:
/ An act to create drainage district
RI he called Sacramento Drainage Dis
ffict.' to promote drainage therein; t
nroyide for the election and appoint
ment of officers for said drainage dis
trict: defining the powers, duties an
+ compensation of such officers and pro
/ yiding for the creation, division an
management of Reclamation, Leves