Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24
FLOOD WATERS
HELD IN CHECK
BY THE LEVEES
Believed That Danger
Is Now Over
Two Men Drown and a Third Has a
Narrow Escape-Relef Boats
Sent Out from San
Francisco

OSHt OuI from san
Francisco
BY Associated Press.
SACRAMENTO, March 23.-While
there was no apparent improvement in
south of this city today, the belief pre-
walls that any reclamation district le-
wees that withstood the force of the
flood wave of Friday has a good chance
to pull through.
That the water will go higher tomor-
row morning and still higher Monday
seems to be the belief of Weather OBJ
server Scarr of this city, but it will be
due to a slight rising of the tide.
This. however, is not expected to be
very trying to the levees.
1t is thought that the heavy rain of
this morning, and which was general
all over the valley, will do little more
than pour water into the already flood
ed districts to the north and that it will
not be appreciably felt in the lower
island district. The feeling today is
hopeful.
Early in the morning word was re-
ceived from Fair oaks that Gorge Das-
sonville and Fred Frame were drowned
while trying to take a small boat with
government mail across the river, and
that Christ Anderson nearly lost his
life in attempting a rescue.
Sewer Gate Closed
From a. m. until noon today 133
inches Of rain fell and the sewer sump
pumps could not lift the water. In or
der to prevent the sump station from
flooding, the sewer gate at Fifteenth
and S streets was shut down, resulting
in flooding o, N and M streets from
Eighteenth to Thirty-first.
In few instances water entered base
mentS, but practically no damage
was done. When the rain ceased the
gate was raised and the streets were
drained.
Sacramento sits dry inside it's strong
levees. and there appears to be no dan
ger from any quarter In fact, since
the beginning of the flood this city has
been in no danger, and with breaks
above and below it seems impossible
that any rise in the river will throw
water into this city.
Early in the morning a rumor was
in circulation to the effect that the
levee had broken at the Harget place,
mile above Washington, in Yolo coun-
ty, and that there was danger that the
town would be swept away. The ru-
NOR, however, was groundless.
Relief Boats Launched
Two relief boats with provisions bed
ding and barges left this city early in
the morning. Those persons who have
been driven to the levees will be
brought to this city if they desire to
come, and food, clothing and bedding
will be distributed.
AT 945 tonight the Unions corre-
spondent with the relief boat sent the
following communication from Isleton,
in the southern part of this county, COW
ering the entire situation in the rich
island district:
"On the west side of the river the
country between Sacramento and
Clarksburg in Yolo county is inundated,
the Lisbon district, the Ryde
district and several other smaller ones.
Below Clarksburg on the west side
Merritt and Grand islands are intact, |
though seepage and surface water is
noticeable in a limited degree, caused
chiefly from the lack of fuel for the |
engines at the pumping plants. The !
levee systems of these islands appear
to be intact and should meet every de-
mand made upon them at present.
"A considerable raise could be taken
care of in both places. Sacks of sand |
are used in low places, but these are in
frequent chiefly in runways and de-
pressions in front of residences"
Grand Island looks particularly
strong, and both it and Merritt present |
assuring appearances.
No Break on East Side
"On the east or Sacramento side there |
is no break in the leVee between Sac
ramento and Freeport, but large vol
lme of water is in reclamation dis
tricts 535 and 673 from the breaks in
the back levee and several breaks be-
tween Freeport and Courtland on the
Bryan and Terry ranches. There is
one break in the Bryan and two in the
Terry leVee and these flood the entire
district between Freeport and Court
land. The levees are also broken in
The private reclamation districts of the
Johnson, Cannon and Dwight Hollis
ter ranches and others.
"At the lower end of the Hollister
'anch the Presson district and Randall
Island levees seem to be in a precar-
ous condition and heroic work waS
being done there. 1t is recognized as
the key to the safety of the Pierson
seems to be safe. Farmers from miles
away went to Randall island and did
some of the most effective work ever
accomplished in battling high water
along the river. The levee is holding
and is probably safe.
Levee Goes Out
"Tyler island leVee went out at G
o'clock this evening and is past the
possibility of repair until the river
shall have fallen. A hard fight was
made for six hours, 900 men participat-
ng in the work. Several breaks were
'epaired, but the work was of no avail.
rhe break Is a hundred feet wide and
will be a quarter of a mile by morning.
Upper, middle and lower Andrus
sland districts are in excellent con-
iition as to leVees on both sides of
5eorgiana slough and Front levees.
md the only fear the land owners have
S that the Brannan island levees may
go out and let the flood in over the
Dack levees.
1.-The Brannan island levees are in the
most critical condition of all the island
o.r,as that apa nor NoOdad Uba ..rato,, |,