STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



271 



Sacramento " River Record," at Sacramento. 



The following table shows the highest and lowest water in the river for 

 each season from 1849 to 1861-2, and 1873-4 to April 1, 1888-9. From 

 1862-3 to 1872-3, both seasons inclusive, the figures are missing. The zero 

 of the gauge was put down in September, 1849, to the lowest water at the 

 lowest point of ebb tide, and from that the high and low water records 

 commence. This zero point of the gauge is 5 feet above the sea level, and 

 29 feet below the Central Pacific Railroad track, according to a circular 

 issued March 15, 1875, by the Chief Signal Officer at Washington, D. C. 

 This circular says when the river shows 25 feet on the gauge it is then 

 near the danger line, and at that height it is dangerous to levees within 20 

 miles of Sacramento. The same circular gives the beginning of the dan- 

 ger line for Oroville as 10 feet; at that point it threatens danger to Marys- 

 ville and all country below Oroville. The danger line at Marysville begins 

 at about 15 feet, and is then dangerous to levees. At Red Bluff 20 feet is 

 the danger line and 22 feet floods the bottoms. The danger line begins at 

 Folsom City at 30 feet: 



Highest, Lowest, and Range of Water in the Sacramento River for each Season, from 1S4O-50 to 



1S61-3, and from 1S73-4 to date. 



* Up to May 1, 1889. 



Note.— The record from 1849-50 was taken from Dr. Thomas M. Logan's report. The 

 gauge was put down in September, 1849, at the lowest stage of water. At that time there 

 was from 23 to 24 feet of water in the channel, the water was clear, and the rise and 

 fall of the tide amounted to several feet. The lowest water since 1874 shows 4.3 feet above 

 the lowest water of 1849, the zero point of the gauge. If the river had not been filled with 

 slickens, that would indicate over 20 feet of water in the channel; the real fact shows 

 scarcely five feet, with bars too numerous to mention. The river bed has therefore been 

 raised upwards of 20 feet or more by debris. • 



