The San Francisco call., 1905-04-08
TELLS OF WORK
At LEGISLATURE
Executive Committee of the
River Improvement Asso-
citation Files a Report
MEMBERS ARE NEEDED
Selection of the Drainage
Commission Authorized
Under Law Is Important

The executive committee of the
River Improvement and Drainage As
sociation of California has submitted
to the association, in the form of a
bulletin, a report relative to work and
results in the recent session of the CAL
ifornia Legislature in legislation to
forward the aims of the, association.
The report Is. in part, as follows:
An act was passed the last Congress
authorizing the Secretary of War to appoint
and report upon the Sacramento, San Joaquin
and Feather rivers and their tributaries.
Federal Government for river Improvements
unles the work has been previously reported
on and approved by the chief Of the United
states engineer corps, acting under the Sec
retary of War.
The action of Congress, therefore, is mat
ter for congratulation evidence that we
have both interested the Federal Government
in the undertaking and secured the first step
necessary toward an appropriation from the
1t is Anticipated that this Federal commits
sion will report on the feasibility of the plan
recently presented by the commission appoint
ed by the State and that the necessary sane
ton and Endorsement will be secured from the
= The he interest Of the State has been evidenced
In the legislation enacted by the passage of
the drainage bill, insurfng the cooperation
of the State with the landowners.
The drainage bill, which has become law,
!etin and which was presented as Assembly
bill 1874. There were some good suggestions
bill during the discussion at various confer
ences after its introduction, which suggestions
incorporated in Assembly bill 1852. which is
printed in full In this bulletin.
this bill as passed viii lshow some further
points requiring modification. The necessary
the Legislature However. it is believed that
the State at large and those interested In the
development may be heartily Congratulated on
the fact that definite and comprehensive
basis is now outlined for the reclamation Of
the swamp lands of the Sacramento Valley:
The Importance of what has been accomplished
is made prominent by the expression used by
Governor Pardee in his message to the Legis-
lature. when he says
Not the least among the important meas
ures OF the session has been the legislation
for the organization OF a great drainage dis
pected to lead to the control OF the winter
floods and the reclamation of over million
The important matter Immediately before the
land owners is the selection Of the men who are
to form the Drainage Commission. So respon-
sihle are the duties that will devolve upon
these Commissioners that It is OF vital mo-
ment that the right men are secured for the
service
They must be capable honest. broad minded
men. and men who will give their time to the
work ard are earnest in their desire to see the
swamp lands reclaimed. 1t is strongly urged
upon the owners OF swamp lands to consider
well the candidates for election to the very
The River Improvement and Drainage Asso-
citation of California has d great amount of
work yet before it. It's work, tn fact has but
commenced. The people OF California must be
fully educated to the necessity OF appropria-
tions to be made by the Legislature The as
ISOLATION must use all of it's power and infiu-
cnce in dealing with the question OF obtaining
assistance from the Federal Government, and
1t must at the same time act a neutral
body, with view to carrying forward the plan
Of reclamation and river improvement.
It has also to see that the legislation sought
at the last session of the Legislature in the
way Of a. constitutional amendent to facilitate
the securing of right OF way, etc, IS favoraby
acted upon at the next session.
1t is important that with all OF this work
before II the association must be a large and
representative body. and every of the thou
sands who interested In this great move
n1ent should be identified with II members
of the association.
Again we call upon you to make an effort
to secure new members. Work of this charac-
ter cannot be accomplished without funds.
More funds will be necessary. The executive
committee serves without compensation, but
money is required all the time for necessary
clerical expenses. for the printing OF bulletins.
for postage, etc
If each present member would enroll five
new members and send in the dues to the secre-
tary they would not only neIp matters by put
ting the exchequer in satisfactory condi
tion but they would be assisting to enlarge
and strengthen the association, which has al
ready done much and still has much to do.