The San Francisco call., 1909-02-21

ing the Sacramento and its basin has
been gathered as the result of the
numerous Investigations in past years.
These data should be assembled and
studied by an efficient commission rep
resenting all interests, but restricted to
none. in order that a comprehensive
plan of Development may be laid out
and presented for the consideration OF
the state legislature and congress. The
need OF such action is emphasized by
the recent destructive floods which
have wrought disaster and ruin to the
valley. No permanent relief can be ex-
pected, except through concerted action
upon lines which will include every i'm
portant feature of controlling the whole
river.
FOR NAVIGATION AND FORESTRY
The state for many years has car
rled on various special Investigations,
and number of commissions have stu
died the problem from different stand
points, but the most impressive fact is
that UP to the present time there has
been no one body or commission au-
thorized to go at the entire matter in
a large way.
The federal government is interest
ed in the river primarily on the side
of navigation. The Sacramento and
San joaquin and their tributaries form
one of the great systems of inland
/ N0bSi ways III the country 1nSN SEOuiu
and can be made so that the products
of the great valley can be moved at
the minimum of cost.
The federal government is also in
terested in the stream through its con-
/ troll of the national Forests. They
cover the mountain areas from whence
comes the greater part OF the stream
flow. The national forests have been
set aside largely for their beneficial
! effect upon the rivers
RESERVOIRS ARE PLANNED
The government is also interested
| through the operations of the reclama-
/ tion act. Reservoirs have been sur
veyed to hold flood waters and a be-
/ ginning has been made on the con-
struction OF one of these near Orland.
/ 1t is hoped and expected that under the
| operations of the reclamation act all
/ of the reservoirs useful in irrigation
/ may ultimately be built
THE government - also interested
in the control of the mining debris.
and large expenditures have been made
IN investigating the problem.
MAPPING OF MOUNTAIN AREAS
"It is also investigating, through the
! geological survey, the behavior of sand
and similar materials washed down by
the streams, and has obtained facts of
value on this subject
I
is also making maps OF the mountain
areas in which are located the reser-
voir sites, and also of the valley lands
which may be irrigated, and of the
swamp and oTerfowed lands. These
maps are among the most comprehen-
sive and carefully made in the world,
and bring together vast amount of
/ information needed for a comprehen-
Sive study of the situation.
This survey is also. through its wa
/ ter resources branch, making arrange
ments of the flow Of various tributaries
in high and low water stages, and OBJ
tanning data of quantities of water oc-
curing various times of the year.
WORK MYSTIFIES FOREIGNER
Some years ago an eminent for
eign engineer, after visiting the Sacra
mento valley. expressed unbounded as
/ tonishment that the various reclama
/ ton districts were each building levees
and carrying on work totally regard
! less of the larger public needs. 1t
was incomprehensible to him that
! Americans. with their reputation for
business sagacity, should be expending
/ large sums of money in these works
without any control Dy state or ma
| ton. such as would produce the best
results to the creates. numbers. He
was mystif1ed at the apparent incon-
gruities and conflicts of diverse inter-
ests. National, state and private or
ganizations all seemed to be obhvious
of the operations of each other and
working at cross purposes.
THE best results and the greatest
good to the greatest number can only
result from full knowledge of the pos
sibilities and by following well con-
ceived and far reaching plans.
BENEFICIARIES ASKED TO PAY
For over a quarter of a century the
people of the valley have been discuss
| ing the matter, yet there is still an
apparent lack of unity on fundamental
propositions. Starting originally with
/ the idea that the federal government
/ should pay for everything, there has
been a gradual resolution to a point
where many of the people are begin
ming to see that If the federal govern
ment furnishes the means, the bene-
! fciaries should pay the cost of recla-
nation and of flood protection.
The theory underlying the reclama-
i ton act, by which the government
/ makes the surveys and examinations,
advances the money and collects the
cost from the land owners in 10 annual
instaIlments, seems to provide the most
/ businesslike way of carrying out any
broad scheme of utilizing the arid or
| overfowed lands of the valley.
BROAD PLANS NECESSARY
ITO attain the best results broad
plans must be made. beginning with the
control of the national forests in the
| interest of the water conservation.
Next TO this should come the con-
struction of reservoirs to hold water
| for irrigation and to exercise a bene-
/ fetal effect in modifying floods. Next
the general scheme of levees should be
consistent with the best maintenance of
the waterways The drainage plans
should be laid out with reference
to the general system, the debris
problem worked out on the basis
of the latest information. and finally
the navigation channels maintained
with the aid Of the general works."
SAN FRANCIScANs ELoPE-santa Rosa
Feb. 2O.-James S. Osmund and Mrs. Alfene
Nielsen came here from San Francisco this after
noon, secured license and were married by the
Rev. Monroe II. Alexander of the Methodist Epis-
copal church at the parsonage at o'clock this
evening. Mr.. and Mrs. NJ II. Alpers Of this
city were the only witnesses present.