Reclamation of Swamp Lands 



JOHN W. FERRIS, C. E. 



AN earnest movement has been on foot during the past year, designed 

 to compass the reclamation of the vast body of overflowed lands 

 in the valley and delta of the Sacramento River in this State. 

 These lands when reclaimed, are "as rich as the richest on earth" 

 and embrace something over a million acres. 

 Individual effort has already accomplished much in the direction of 

 reclaiming these lands. 



Grand Island, Pierson District, Sutter Island, Roberts Island, Union 

 Island and other tracts show what may be done in the way of safe reclama- 

 tion and attest, in a practical way, to the productive value of the land. 



On these reclaimed lands are grown much of the vegetable product 

 of the State: Vast fields of potatoes, onions, beans, asparagus and grain 

 are the wonder of visitors who are taken to see them; and astonishment 

 is frequently expressed that the reclamation of the land lying unreclaimed 

 is not proceeded with. 



Whilst a measure of success has undoubtedly been attained, however, 

 many failures have been recorded; and the land reclaimed has much of it 

 cost so high for embanking that there is little measure of profit, and a great 

 deal of risk, attending this class of operation. 



It is probably safe to say that the land, so far, successfully reclaimed 

 has cost an average of $100 an acre; which is above its selling value at the 

 present time when in a fit state for cultivation. 



It is realized that the reclamation of any further material area, by lim- 

 iting the area now serving as reservoir to equalize the effect of sudden 

 freshet, must increase the dangers not only of the newly reclaimed tracts 

 but of the area heretofore diked, and necessitate a material addition to 

 the existing embankments. In other words, it is realized by those consider- 

 ing the problem that the river channels are insufficient to handle the volume 

 of flood water presented to them; and the present effort has been in the 

 direction of determining what rectification of existing channels or construc- 

 tion of new channels is necessary to warrant the further work required to 

 render productive the territory now subject to periodical overflow. 



As a result of the agitation and discussion of the problem an organiza- 

 tion of the Swamp land owners known as the "River Improvement and 

 Drainage Association" has been effected, and at its instigation a Commis- 

 sion of Engineers of high standing was appointed and a report submitted by 

 it dealing in the most thorough manner with the features of the problem. 



The matter resolves itself into the question of how the funds may be 

 provided to carry out the work recommended. 



Land owners claim that the deterioration of the river is to a great 

 extent the cause that has prevented the prosecution of the reclamation of the 

 overflowed lands; and say that little more would be needed than to restore 

 the condition of the channels to that existing when the swamp lands were 

 conveyed by the Federal Government to the State and by the State to their 

 present owners. 



The obligation of the Federal Government to maintain the navigable 

 waters of the several States is one fully recognized, and from the fact that 

 in recognition of the present movement Congress has taken the prelim- 

 inary step of creating a Commission of U. S. Engineers to prepare a report 

 on the condition of the Sacramento River and its tributaries, it is confidently 

 believed that the Federal Government will do its share in the work. The 

 land owners ask the State to supplement the work of the Federal Govern- 

 ment in restoring the "original condition" of the channels to the extent 

 of making them competent to transmit the flood wave to tide water, and 



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