Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1874-04-13
.,wpusr IN ruI rRUcKEE.

The sins Of the California Legisla-
ture, which recently adjourned, were
more Of omission than Of commission,
aud not the least Of these was Its fall
ure to pass a law prohibiting the saw
mill N upon the Truckee river,
within the boundaries Of California,
from running their sawdust. bark,
spllnters and ether timber refuse into
the Truckee river. 1t Is claimed by
the owners OF these mills that not only
would 1t involve great expense to
change tho place OF deposit for this
refuse matter, but that Ii 10 entireiy
unnecessary ; that the quantity OF rub
bish elected from their mills Into the
river neither appreclably affects the
purity Of Its waters nor works Injury
to flsh therein or lands along Its bor-
ders. As to tho expense attending the
suggested change Of outlet for the saw
dust, etc., produced at these mills, we
know nothing from personal observa-
ton, but from tho same source We are
well informed as to the present condi-
ton Of tho river, and can, therefore.
intelligently judge Of tho results to be
apprehsnded.
For several days last week we In
dulsed In angling, u pedestrian
excursions extending from Reno to
Glendale. The water in tho Truckee
River Is naturally as clear as crystal,
and no such melt Of snow and conse-
quent flood has yet occurred as would
render |, muddy or materially raise Its
height. Yet this water, which In Lake
Tahoe is so transparent that the bot
tom Of the lake may be seon at a depth
OF W hundred feet, was In tho
Truckee River at tho tino 81 our visit
SO dl,colorcd that at the depth OF u
foo. nothing could be discerned. 10
was yc,lowlsh and opaque instead OF
pure and crystalline. Close examin-
alton disclosed the cause Of this tingc
and opacity. The water is literally
filled with PARTICLES Of saw dust, SO
thoroughly mingled as to be absolutely
i~nscparable ave by filtration, and at
10 time during our stay upon the banks
OF the river was there any cessation OF
this influx OF wool PARTICLES. Not
only this, but tho stream Is covered
with particles OF bark, broken boards,
spllnters aud shattered pieces Of scaut-
ling Sc thlckly that In tho eddles and
curves, or In still places of tho river,
they cover It's whole face.
We are not a chemist, and can there
fore give no dissertation Is to the
chemical effects Of this turbld water
with its floating refuse OF tan-bark
aud splin,ers spon either fish or land ;
but the most ordinary judgment or
the slightest observation will convince
any QUO that it must be and Ia inju-
rious. II not destructive, to both. or
one thing We are assured, IL can In no
amer be- Of value to either. IL we
owned n ranch upon the Truckee
River, between Reno aud Glendale,
we would test the doctrine OF tina conf
mon law in this particular, by bring
ing suit Ia an United States Court, for
infringement OF our riparian right to
have the waters Of that stream How
"unpolluted, undlmlnlshsd and unob-
structed" down to and past u lands
upon its border. As an angler We are
disgusted with that Legislature and
the legislation which refuses to protect
the fish OF that river from annihllation
byl means which, though slower, we
conceive to be no less sure, than quick
lime or Giant powder.