Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-08
THE DEBRIS QUESTION.

EDS. RECORD UNION A few days since an
article appeared in your paper on the debris
question, in which the writer after compli-
menting your paper upon the position it had
heretofore taken, undertakes to say that the
citizens of Marysville disagree with you as to
the necessity of legislation onsthis question,
and evidently intend to oppose any plan
proposed for the final settlement of the ques-
ton, except through the slow process of the
law. The article referred to purports to be
written by citizen of Marysville and
Granger" 1 have conversed with num-
ber of citizens of this place and the adjacent
country, and all concur in the opinion that
the article was written by one of the attor-
news, who has no interest whatever In the
matter, except contingent fee-and prob
ably hope for a larger one in other cases
and thew disagree with the writer in
the position he takes-all uniting in
the opinion that it is very desirable that
immediate action should be taken by the in
coming Legislature, and that vigorous and
united effort should be made by all parties
interested to ascertain if there are not some
means for the settlement of the vexed ques-
ton that are more speedy and effectual than
that to be obtained by litigation, and where
both mining and agricultural interests can be
protected and preserved. The facts are that
our little city has been crowded rather further
into litigation than was originally intended
and this. too, has been done through the per-
sistency of her attorneys. There was origin
ally pretty unanimous sentiment in favor of
commencing suit against the miners, with q
view to place the matter fairly before the
public. and to bring the parties interested to
some basis of settlement, and, failing to
bring about an equitable adjustment, then to
determine their rights through the Courts,
when the miners so promptly responded and
offered at least partial restitution by propos-
ing to contribute 1000 or $4,000 to assist
in building our levees, and with an avowal
that it was their wish and desire that legisla-
ton should be had that would compel every
miner to contribute to the taking care of tail
ings, and to bear their proportion OF the ex-
pense of any plan that would fully protect
the farming interests, as well as those Of our
CITY. 1t was then that public sentiment
changed, and very large proportion of the
citizens of this place were in favor OF accept
ing the contribution, and favored postponing
further action at law until after the Legisla-
ture had convened. But this proposed assist
auce by the miners was characterized as
DllDeTV, anu all LHOSt WHO ldNOTeu It's dCCcpI-
ance were accused of willingness TO sell
OUT and the attorneys were loud in their
declaration that this was trick on the part
of the miners to get us to prejudice our case
before the Courts, asserting that if We ac-
cepted it it would prove fatal to our cause
Under this pressure one Alderman consented
that suit should be commenced in the name
of the city, and that the case should
be handed over to the management Of a COM
mittee, they 1.-THE committeel giving bonds
that the city should be held harmless from
any larger amount of cost than a $500 fee,
and so the suit was commenced, and we have
the precedent set of city Of 5000 inhabit.
ants engaged in lawsuit where millions of
dollars are involved, and where she may be
mulcted in large damages in the event the
Injunction is not sustained, and whefe she has
neither the right nor privilege to manage the
suit but has TO trust to n committee which is
composed largely Of non-residents, or. In fact,
You might say, the attorneys and the CON-
mittee. | feel can safely say that there is
no disposition on the part of the citizens OF
this place to oppose sny means looking to a
final settlement of all the differences betw cen
them and the miners, and there is no desire
| on their part to have hydraulic mining
stopped provided a plan can be adopted that
will secure the valley against further loss by
reason OF the flow of tailings and further.
they are all DESTROYS that such plan should
be found, and that the good feeling formerly
existing between the mountain residents and
themselves should be continued, and we are
! willing to declare that we have taken no
action in the matter, except we believed
in self-defense That the case has taken an
unfortunate turn we are willing to admit.
We did not understand your paper to have
any plan. hut that you suggested that it was
the duty Of the Legislature to provide for the
adoption of such measures as would preserve
both mining and agricultural interests, and
to empower come one to execute such plan
when adopted. In this we will most heartily
cooperate with you. The miners have been
and are still our customers; we do not de-
sire to injure them except in self-defense,
and if they. or the Legislature, can point
out any remedy, the citizens of Msrysville
win be the first to accept it. TAxPAIER-
Marysville, January 2, 1880. =