The San Francisco call., 1907-03-28
RISING WATERS
COVER ISLANDS
IN SAN JOAQUIN
1t Is Expected That Every
Levee VIII Give Way
to Pressure
BIG TRACTS FLOODED
Nearly Thousand Men Fight
to Close Breaks on
Reclamation Lands
OUTLOOK IS GLOOMY
Every Available Dredger Is
Centered Around Rob
erts Island
- DIspArcH ro rHE 80.

STOCKTON. March 27.-Abso-
lutely discouraged are those interested
IN the islands whose reclamations have
thus far withstood the greatest Of all
freshets recorded in this section Of the
valley. Only a few tracts of land now
stand above water. il is expected that
by tomorrow morning every levee vii
have sucoumbed to the slowly bul
steadily rising waters. The highest tide
~ the season. due Friday morning
wiz have a tendency to retard the
small current now carrying water into
the bay.
This afternoon a 6OO0-acre. tract oi
the Rindge Syndicate. known as tho
Jones tract, was flooded. A quarter
OF mile of solid levee on the Empire
cut slipped in. The tract was under
cultivation and tho loss is heavy. Near
ly 1000 men arc 81 work on the few
reclamations thus far surviving tho
food. trying 10 close small breaks and
strengthening ievees.
Roberts Island, one OF the richest
and most highly cultivated tracts in
the san Joaquin district. was safe al
last report. but with the great tide ex-
pected and the water rising an eighth
- an inch an hour those interested
believe IL cannot withstand the strain
The waters OF the overtaxed Sacra-
mento River are flowing into san Joa-
ouin County through the New Hope
country to the north This also has q
tendency 10 speedily I'll the San Joa-
quin River.
The outlook is very grave and every
piece of land in this section is in peril
The famous Rindge tract, with its 74OO
acres OF highly cultivated land, is hold
3 ing an immense body of water. seepage
that entered through the breaks filed
in by dredgers. Every available dredger
IN the island. district Is centered around
Roberts IslsAp and the Rindge prop
erty Most OF Them arc helpless for the
reason that fuel oil is unobtsinabIe.
SACRAMENTO, March 27.-Repor.
from down-river sections today are all
encouraging. From this city to Rio
Vista the water has fallen eight inches
In the past twenty-four hours and is
stin falling. Water IN the Yolo basin
and in the overhowed islands is reced
ing, and with the clear weather and a
prospect OF its continuance, farmers
are taking heart.
Steamers from this port have sue
ceeded in bringing all livestock, farm
utensils. furniture, etc, from the food
ed districts to places OF safety.
The falling OF the water indicates
that many OF the breaks were not as
serious as was at first supposed. At
several only the crown of the levees
went out snd repairs viii not be ex-
1,ensive. Once the water goes down
the water will soon be pumped from
the islands, in case the breaks can be
repaired
The town OF Washington. across the
river from this city. is in no danger
of an avalanche OF water. Rocky
Point. a half-miIe above the village.
Is holding nicely, and uniess~the Amer
ioan sends down another nood TO shoot
across the river at right angles and
smash against the point, the levee will
hold.
Merritt, Grand, Sutter and Sherman
islands, containing nearly $4,000 acres
Of rich land, are safe. their levees
standing from three 70 i've feet above
the water