Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-10-07

A most singular condition of affairs has
been produced by the working of the mines
in California. II seems that the farmers,
who live In the districts Of the Sacramento
Valley and on the borders Of the Yuba,
Feather, and other large rivers, which drain
the auriferous mountain districts, have suf-
fcred such heavy losses from the deterioration
Of their lands in consequence Of the sediment
from the gold washings which has been
washed from these rivers upon them through
overfows and the irrigation necessary to
secure moisture for growing crops, that they
have formed themselves into an association,
10 devise ways and means to prevent the
complete destruction of all the lands depend
ent for irrigation upon these streams. The
gold washings poison the fish and are so de-
structive to the fertility Of the soil that
eventual sterility must result, unless some
method can be discovered to prevent the
poisoning Of the waters from the imprcgna-
ton resulting from these mineral washings.
No enmity exists between the mining and
farming interests, as both are dependent upon
each other; and for years the agricultu-
raj community have quietly submitted 10 the
encroachments upon their lands, knowing
that it was caused by the hard working
miners on The mountain sides whose labors
secured the precious metals so requisite to
the commercial interests Of their state and
the worldi while the miners, understanding
that their own prosperity is largely dependent
upon the abundance and cheapness Of agricul-
tural productions, have neither the wish nor
desire TO injure farming interests. But with
the development of hydraulic mining in the
mountain counties, the injury to agricultural
lands has increased to such an extent that
great alarm prevails among their owners, as
the annual diminution of crops indicates that
eventual sterility must result unless some
remedy can be found. A meeting was held
at Marysville on the 3lst of August, where
this question was discussed in all it's bear
ings, but no remedy was elected against the
destruction arising to lands from this source.
A committee was appointed to collect the
fullest information on the subject and re-
port at the next meeting, held on the 18th
ultimo.
Aside from the threatened danger Of turn
ing vast extento of country, as fertile as any
on the globe, to barren desert, another
equally great disaster is imminent if the ac-
cumulation Of sediment in the rivers Of the
Sacramento valley continues which is, that
they will be rendered unfit for navgation
Even now it is no uncommon occurrence for
steamers to be kept hours and days aground
in some shallow localities, rendered more 50
from the washings of the mines while it i.
with difficulty that even small crafts can
reach Marysville in consequence Of obstrud
tions caused thereby At the last session OF
Congress some action was taken for survey
ing and dredging the Sacramento and san
Joachim rivers and an appropriation madl
for this purpose. This viii afford some TEN
porary relief although the accumulation oi
sediment is such that the dredging will neec
to be in constant operation If navigation Il
not to be impeded and utterly destroyed
, The great difficulty is to find some remed,
to prevent the washings of mineral deposits
from obstructing and poisoning those streams
and as yet none has been devised. There
| fore If the gold digging goes on for the uex
decade as it has during the past, the destruc
ton to commercial and agricultural indus
tries will be far greater than the value of thu
metals obtained.