Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 82, Number 125, 15 January 1892 — RIVER PROTECTION. [ARTICLE]

RIVER PROTECTION.

Congressman Caminetti Expresses His Views Thereon. lie Thinks It Necessary to Impound the Debris Where It Is—Tiie Prospect of Government Aid. The River Convention which meets in this city to-day is regarded by California's representatives in Congiess as one Of considerable importance. They ail j appear to be alive to the necessity of im- j proving the" Sacramento, San Joaquin and other important streams of the State. Senator Felton has announced that lie in- j tends devoting a good deal of his time to ; the matter of the improvement of the ? California bays and streams in order to j render navigation easier. Representative Loud takes especial interest in the ! matter and has already made many j friends on the River and Harbor Com-j mittee. He spends some time each day I explaining to members of this committee j the importance of tbe California rivers j and bays to tiie comnlerce of the State. J He will make a strong eribrt to secure an j appropriation for the improvement of Aiviso Creek and its mouth. Represent itive Caminetti, in whose dis- ! trict to-day's convention will be held, and who, perhaps, takes more interest in its bug- than any other member ofthe California delegation, as be has the mento and San Joaquin Rivers in his district, was ge< d last night by the Recobd's \\ ashington correspondent, who telegraphs the following interview with ilil;: : "Mr. Caminetti what shall I say for you to the River Convention through the BECOBB-Ul-lONt 1 should like to have your views on the subjects which will be there discussed." < iaminetti — You may say that the work is being act;, oly pushed to the fullest extent possible under the circumstances. a day will !e granted our delegation in the near future to present the matter before tiie committee. "What do you think tho outcome will be?" Caminetti—Well, it is feared that our Governmental expenditures the next ilscal year will exceed our receipts, and an attempt will be made to cut the river and harbor and ther appropriations down to the lowest limit, but I hardly think it will succeed to the extent proposed, BO for as the rivers and harbors are concerned. 1 notice a general desire to be judiciously liberal to the rivers and harbors, while ,<t the same time it is felt and admitted that economy is necessary in all department-. The light, of course, will have to be made before the committee. 1 shall welcome any effort to secure BUC.I the part of our people, and hold i ley-elfin readiness to do my utmost to carry out their instructions. "What effect will the Holman resolution have on the question of appropriation?" Caminetti —According to Mr. Holman's explanation so-day, lie merely pledges the House to a frugal and economical administration of the debt, which, of course, includes that under which the river and harbor work is carried on. It was not intended to prevent -ary appropriations for p.folic improvements. However, a large number of members who are interested in river matters called upon him to request such modification of his second resolution as to avoid the effect of a strict construction thereof with regard to legitimate public employments. He has consented to make such an amendment. "What will 1-e the amount appropriated for < California rivers, in your opinion :"' Caminetti—lt is hard to say now. I intend to introduce a bill to-morrow, if I can get the floor, providing for the amounts recommended by the Government Engineer, with some additions to meet the cost of work recently examined by Major Heuer in the San Joaquin River. The proverb, "a stitch in time saves nine." should be applied in formulating a proper plan of river improvement. Therefore, we should go about the work immediately required to beneiit navigation, and attempt to check the material which the Government Commissioners report is stored in the channels of the tributaries to these two river systems, awaiting the winter freshets to be transmitted to the navigable portions thereof. It is more practicable to hold it where it now lies, than to permit its lodgment in the streams, and then pass resolutions to appoint committees and attempt to secure appropriations to accomplish, at greater expense, that which can now bo prevented at greatly reduced rates. With that end in view I purpose introducing measures providing for necessary appropriations to check the movement of the debris in said tributaries. To those who say this is proposed for the purpose of permitting hydraulic mining, 1 will remark that such treatment of the debris now in the channels above Marysville is absolutely required, without consideration of the question of further hydraulic mining. This should be manifest to any person who will look at the subject in 1 reasonable light, and is, moreover, strongly sustained by the Government Commissioners who treat of the subject. What is true ofthe channels above Marysville, is also true of other places on that belt. It is time to set aside all prejudices and proceed on the basis that, above all, will bring about a comprehensive system of river protection which will not only make available every dollar spent in river work, but wiil make ts results permanent and effective. Besides, it should be remembered that the expenses ot handling this materia] in the waterways is known to persons from whom we are to ask for river appropriations, and unless we supplement our demands therefor with a request for tho proper protection of the rivers, when improved—-especially since it is recommended by the commission— we .will be handicapped in our endeavors. :'he importance of our rivers is scarcely realized by many to whom I present t:. .1 Was asked a few days ago how many ports of delivery we had on them ! i said we had cities like Sacramento and Stockton, with about 30,000 population < ach; Marysville with 0,000 or m>, and many other places having shipping facilities but no port of ry (Btablished by law. They were surprised. i investigated the matter, and lound that it would be advisable, in order to attract attention, to have the official mediums of gathering commercial statistics, in addition to the benefits directly accruing to each city, to constitute, each such a port. I immediately followed that episode by introducing a bill for that purpose and propose to - it to passage. These are my views, generally speak--1 [owever, if the gentlemen who take part in the convention at Sacramento tomorrow have other views more practical and better calculated to carry out the ob1, 1 shall be pleased to bear from them, and will carefully consider their suggestions. ♦