Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 62, Number 132, 23 January 1890 — WISE PRECAUTIONS. [ARTICLE]

WISE PRECAUTIONS.

WHAT THE TRUSTEES ABE DOING AND WILL DO. Levees and Their Protection— Proposed Improvement of the V-Street Levee. The members of the Board of Trustees yesterday made their regular examination of the levees, to see how work is progressing in the care of the embankments, and what else is needed to be done. On their return Mayor Gregory was seen by a Recobd-Usiok reporter and was asked how he found things. He replied that the Beard found everything all rightand that there is no reason, in its opinion, for any apprehension or fear as to the strength of the levees in case of a freshet. The work heretofore ordered, it was found was being carried out faithlully, and it was of the ordinary precautionary character, to see that the levees were not neglected anywhere. "How about Front-street work ?" "As to that," replied the Mayor, "we are having work done on Frcnt street from R street south to V, to prevent any possible cutting, by sloping the face of the levee and facing it with sacked dirt." "Is there any intention to fill any swales on that line .' " "There are none of any moment, bat wherever there is any likelihood of any high water coming upon the levee we have provided plenty of sacks to be used, if needed, to prevent any ingress of water, though there is not any such thing at all feared. While the Payne break remains open the v s is :jO danger of any rise to bring the -vaier up to where it was a few weeks ago on the levee." 'Where are the men working?' "As stated, on the Front street line, below R and down to V street. It can be done so much better now while the waters are comparatively low. We have had work done right along, understand. Over on the east ievee we have had men constantly watching for any possible gopher holes or anything of that kind." "How about the Y-street levee?" "That is the subject of thought now. The Board thinks it ought to be raised from Ninth street to From, and action is contemplated now." "How about the levees below the city?' "The Payne break makes a difference of over three feet in thecapaeity of those levees beiow and outside of the city limits to stand a rise. The Beard, however.notwithstanding there is no apparent danger from the levees of th«t district, because when the Payne break occurred it made a difference at once of three feet below V street, while above, or here at the city front, the change was but from eight to ten inches immediately: notwithstanding th:3, I say, the Board is proposine to have the Y-street levee raised, and very soon, too. The idea is to put a sack levee oa ibe outer edge of V street about four or five feet high and of the saiuethickn<-;-. from Front street eastward. Then, when ibis cross levee is permanently raised, to rill in to the sacked earth. Thus the roadway will not be interfered with, and the levee will be finally widened and broadened. 1 ' "Does the Board propose to use any broken granite anywhere?' "Yes, on the east and north levee, where the American river strikes the levee at high-water, we propose to put several hundred carloads of broken granite, and the railroad people will be seen about the transportation early to day." "What revenue has the Board for levee work, if nece^ary, beyond providing for the coat of work now being done?" "Ample for the present, but not sufficient to do thorough, permanent work, and carry out the systematic scheme of the Board. But the disposition of the Board is to spare no expense to make the levees secure beyond all question. There will be no hold- , ing back. If it i 3 necessary to pledge the *-credit of the city for $100,000, or for any any other sum, it will be done. The Board is not going to hesitate in using money to do whatever is needed. The city is safe, and will be kept so. Her levees are in good condition, but wear and tear here and there must be replaced every year, and a* said, some ra : sing must be done."