The Nevada Democrat., 1861-12-24
Effect or Mining Operations in Filling
up the River Reds.

mp the River Beds.
The constant and rapid accumulation OF
debris from the mines in the beds of most
of our rivers. so that they overflow their
banks under ordinary falls of rain, renders
the inquiry as TO the end of all this matter
of serious import TO the farmers and DWELL
ers 10 cities on our plains and valley lands.
Years ago, the writer of this, after witness.
ing the immense accumulation of earth,
gravel and boulders in the bed of Webber
creek, from the old hydraulic mines at Coon
Hollow, in the county Of FL Dorado, ex-
pressed his fears that between the miners
and the people Of the lowlands there would
soon spring up complications from this very
source. Hydraulic mining since that day
has become general system. On almost
every tributary of the Mokelumne, Cosum,
mes, American, Ynba and Feather rivers
wherever a bill or mountain has been favor
ably tested, the hydraulic hose has been
playing upon, and sending its earth and
gravel and bonlders down to the level
waters of the valley. Eight years ago, the
bed Of the Mokelumne, at Athearn's Bridge
where the stream debOuches from the foot
hills, was twelve feet deeper than 1t Is now.
The same changes have been wrought in
nearly all the streams. On the lower Yuba
and on Feather, below Hamilton, in the
Costumes below Indian Bar, and in the
American from Mississippi Bar downward,
we believe the filling up process has been
equally rapid. Each annual fFeshet brings
down the lighter gravel, cement, lava, ear.
thy particles from the short level stretches
in the mountains, and adds foot or more
to the old deposits. If all mining operations
we're TO cease for several years, il is doubt.
fnl whether the sluggish valley streams
would ever get rid of the debris which now
fills up their channels The Sacramento
certainly never can, for each flow of the
tide will send back great portion of what
the feeble current carries downward at ebb.
But it is certain that 30 long as the mining
operations are continued, the accumnla.
tiOns must increase. 1t follows. of course,
thht in process of years these streams will
be raised above their banks and flow of 10
quest Of new channels TO the Sacramento.
We can suggest no positive cure for the
evil. The only expedient is the erection Of
ykes along the river banks, aud this Is bot
Tending off disaster to final reckoning Of
more serious consequences. For if the ac-
cumulatiOns 10 the beds of the streams are
constant, the dykes TO the fence in the RI
sing waters would have TO be periodically
heightened and strengthened, so that ulh.
mately our rivers would be coursiDg along
bigb above the surrounding fields; break
would then be something quite as serious
as an inundation of Holland from The sea.
The Dutch have been complmented by his
toria0s as the greatest of all people, be.
cause they rescued their country from the
North Sea, and with works of art, which
are the wonder of the world, fenced back
the boisterous waves and bid defiance TO
tide aud storm. 1t may yet traDspire that
the people inbabiting these valleys will
have 10 summon energies to face combat
With our rivers, which, If successful, will
merit an equal cOmpliment.--[St [StOcktOn In
dependent.