Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-12-19
A Grcnt Reclamation schcme.

The Sacramento Union of the 9th
instant says: Initial steps toward
reclaimlng and draining all the tule
land in the Sutter basin were taken
yesterday by the auditing board to
the commissioner OF public works.
BY full vote of the members of the
board Engineer Nurse was author
ized to proceed with the contour sur
vey OF the basin to determine where
the drainage canal must be placed.
During the greater part of the year
this basin, comprising many thou
sands of acres of lowland in the
heart of Sutter county. is flooded by
the water from the foothills and is
made useless by reason of the thick
growing tules.
Several months ago the people In
Sutter county interested In the pro-
iect sent n petition to the board OF
public works, asking that the state
bear half of the expense OF the sur
vey and do the work required The
matter was taken up at the time, but
the board could not see It's way clear,
the survey at that time being inn
possible because OF the thick growth
OF tulo Now the basin is free from
water and the dead tule has been
burned II Is estimated that the
survey will cost $500. and the boal q
yesterday adopted resolution au-
tthorizlng and directing the state en-
gineor TO 20 ahead with the work.
Engineer Nurse told the members
that he will start the survey imme-
diately. lie will 20 to Sutter coun-
" next week with his corps of assist
ants and run the necessary lines to
determine whore the canal Is to be
built.
The Sutter basin Is the largest In
the state that has not been surveyed
for drainage canal AS soon as
lines are run down and the board
knows whore the drainage canal must
be placed where Il will do the most
good for the entire basin. steps Will
be taken to raise an appropriation
from the state TO complete the work.
When the food waters of the Sacra-
mento river subside the water from
the foothil that was deposited In
the basin stays there because the
outlet or natural channel drain
age point Is much higher than
the level of the river. This
water stands In large lakes for
a greater part OF the year, and
as the process OF evaporation finally
dries up the ponds the decayed and
dead fish left there when the river
subsidies makes a vast unsanltary
area which is general menace TO
the surrounding ristriots.
The unsanitary conditions are not
the only ones that are considered
With the drainage OF the basin thou
sands OF acres OF rich agricultural
land will be reclaimed. In discussine
the matter yesterday State Engineer
Nurse told the members of the board
OF public works that he will work
night and day to complete the sur
vey before the winter rains set In
II the cost OF the survey Is more thar
the amount allowed by the board
the property owners In the basin vii
gladly pay the balance, he said.
Contract bids for the work OF
clearing the right OF way at Shang'
hal bend. on the Feather river. tive
miles below Yuba City, We're opened
yesterday aud award made to w. 7
Ellis. Jr.. his bid being ssS5S.25
The board will enter into the con
tract Immediately and she work vii
be pushed TO completion as fast a
possible AZ the last meeting the
bids for the work were rejected be
cause they were too high and new
bids advertised for.
n.