282 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION May 



their ineffectiveness. He then pointed about $23,000,000, and recommended 



out that a comprehensive plan, em- that the whole amount be provided for 



bodying a vast problem and an im- before the work should begin, 



mense outlay of money, was devised, "Taking an object lesson from the 



which could not be carried out in its fortunes of this levee (the Yazoo dis- 



entirety, owing to the fact that such trict of the Mississippi River) it may 



immense sums could not be made avail- be said with assurance that had it been 



able; then, when the people were al- proposed in 1884 to finance the whole 



most despairing of successfully cop- project in advance this enterprise 



ing with the problem, it was proposed would never have gotten on its feet at 



to begin the work by units, gradually all. As the event shows, however, the 



combining them into a harmonious undertaking advanced step by step,. 



whole. The success of the first unit growing stronger with each advance, 



was shown, and Major Dabney says and so better able to carry the burden,, 



the following of the result: until it is now approaching consumma- 



"The accomplishment of this work tion and is fully justified by resultant 



at once inspired the people with re- benefits." 



newed hope and energy, and the wheels Major Dabney thus emphasizes the 



of industry began turning rapidly, importance of the unit system of work 



The next Legislature, in 1886, author- for river improvement; and while the 



ized a bond issue of $400,000. From report of the California Commission, 



this period the industrial development of Engineers, which he has quoted, 



of the district progressed in acceler- gives a broad, comprehensive and com- 



ated ratio. Forest lands were cleared ; plete plan of river development, it is 



railroad building became more and neither necessary nor essential that this 



more active ; numerous small towns work should all be provided for be- 



were built up along the railroads, fore any part of it be done, 



some of which have grown into Indus- The plan for improvement of the 



trial and financial importance, and all waterways of California, as devised 



are thriving business places ; a great by the Commission of Engineers, in 



many banks were established and all brief, is as follows : 



appear to be thriving; numerous saw (a) To confine the flood waters tO' 



mills, besides wood factories of various the channels of the various streams by 



sorts, with numerous outputs of lum- the means of levees, so as to prevent 



ber and wood products were built ; destructive inundations of the fertile 



many cotton compresses and cotton valley lands. 



oil mills are engaged in profitable act- (b) To correct the alignment of 



ivity ; and flourishing cotton and corn the river by cut-offs where necessary, 



crops are being raised on land which and to increase its channel capacity by 



shows river flood marks twenty feet mechanical means wherever current 



above the ground." action fails to accomplish this purpose. 



"It is interesting to note," continues (c) To collect the hill drainage, 

 Major Dabney, "that the California which now loses itself in the basins, in 

 Debris Commission has recommended intercepting canals and convey it to 

 a joint appropriation by the United the river at selected points. 

 States and the State of California of (d) To provide escape ways over 

 $800,000, which it is proposed shall be the levees for surplus waters during 

 applied to the initiatory step in the the channel development, and to pro- 

 execution of the plan of reclamation vide for the disposal of this water in 

 recommended by the California Com- connection with the hill drainage, 

 mission of Engineers in the Sioux (e) To provide for the relief of the 

 City report — that is, to channel recti- basins from the accumulations of rain 

 fication. The Commission of Engi- and seepage water by means of pumps 

 neers estimated the total cost of the re- wherever gravity drainage is not prac- 

 clamation of the Sacramento Valley at ticable. 



