Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-16
SACRAMENTO VALLEY WORK
DEPENDS DEPENDS UPON UPON HARMONY HARM! 4! !!
MAJOR T. G. pABNEY REPORTS TO
ASSOCIATION
River Improvement and Drainage Body
Hears Optimistic Sentiment from
Expert Who Headed Inves-
tIgation

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 15.-The River
Improvement and Drainage association of
California is in receipt of supplemental
report from Matt. G.. Dabney, who
headed the Dabney commission OF en-
gineers which thoroughly investigated the
Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers in
1904, as a result of the work Of the asso-
citation.
Mai. Dabney says: There can be no
doubt that such class of population as
we find here must succeed in any enter
prfse they may embark upon IL only they
shall act together and in harmony, which
means thorough organization as first
requisite to success
1t was the thorough organization of the
River Improvement and Drainage associa-
ton OF California which enabled 1t TO
bring about results which are now oene-
tfting the great valley. The Sacramento
drainage commission, now in active opera
ton and declared legal and competent by
the courts, is one of the results of this or
ganization, and the mass of statistics and
data relating to the rivers which has been
gathered and is ready for presentation TO
congress- and the further work along this
line which is in progress shows that the
association is not only organized but is
thoroughly alive and active in its work
for the betterment of river conditions.
After going into detail regarding the
work of reclamation and drainage in the
Yazoo bottom lands of the Mississippi,
Mai. Dabney shows that 1t is not neces-
sary to have the vast sum of many mil
lions on hand before work is begun, but
that in California it can be accomplished
IL the recommendations of the commission
of engineers of joint appropriation OF
sS00.0OO by state and federal governments
be properly applied, and with this begin
ming the Improvement will be permanent
and progressive. It was the opinion of
the commission of engineers that it would
require a total of $23 900 to reclaim the
entire Sacramento valley.
Worked PersistentIy
The River Improvement and Drainage
association of California has worked per-
sistently but quietly ever since 1T was
organized in May, 1904. and many benefits
that have come to the rivers are the direct
result OF this work. which is still going on
and which is still accomplishing much
good. 1t was started by mass conven-
ton in San Francisco. at which all OF the
prominent commercial organization of the
state were represented, and since that
time 1t has lost no opportunity to carry
out the plans suggested by the Dabney
commission of engineers which 1t was in
strumental in having formed.
John M. Fox, special director of the ma
tional rivers and harbors congress, is
visiting California, explaining to the COM
mercial organizations of the state, and is
working directly with the River Improve
ment and Drainage association of Califor-
MIA, the national organization having
found that the association has complete
grasp of the California situation. Under
direction of the River Improvement and
Drainage association meetings have been
arranged for Mr.. Fox at San francisco
Monday afternoon, September 16, at the
chamber of commerce rooms; Oakland
Monday morning, September 16; Los An
geles, Tuesday evening, September II; San
Pedro, Wednesday September 1S; San
Diego Thursday, September 10; Santa
Barbara, Friday, September 2O San Luis
Obispo, Saturday, September 21; Monterey,
Monday afternoon, September %, and
Santa Cruz. Monday evening, Septem-
ber 22.
The president of the River and Drainage
association will call a meeting Of the
members of the association In November
for the purpose of bringing river matters
before the California delegation just be-
fore the departure of the members for
Washington.