Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-26
THE DEBRIS QUESTION.

to hinder remedial Legislation, but 1t is
impossible for those who bore the heat
and burden of the conflict over this
question to forget that the journals which
are now showing so keen an appreciation
of the dangers involved in an unrestricted
flow of debris, were totally Indifferent to
these consequences when their co-opera-
ton might have been of some use. Dur
ing the session of the last Legislature,
when the RECORD UNION was straining
every nerve to secure the passage of some
bill to take care of this question, the press
of San Francisco was either hostile or in
different, and its conductors could not or
would not see that the harbor of their city
was threatened by the deposit from the
rivers, and that they had in fact as deep
an interest in the prompt application OF
remedies as any of the farmers on Bear
River. Now that Captain Eads has ar
rived here, and now that the gravity OF
the situation can no longer be concealed or
denied, we find those who obstinately re-
sisted all legislation in the premises
thrusting themselves forward aud dis
cussing the outlook as though 1t
had been their dearest wish to
abate the evil for years. The adage " bet
g ter late than never" no doubt applies to
these eleventh hour laborers in a good
cause but it is necessary to remember
that their support is only given when it
has ceased to be necessary, and that when
the practical beginning had to be made,
they were in the ranks of the obstruction
| lists. 1t is also in order to remind these
tardy converts that though they now per-
ceive the necessity of protecting San Fran
cisco haTbor, last winter they wanted to
make the Bear river farmers and the peo-
pie of Marysville and Sacramento bear the
whole expense of the remedial operations,
and angrily contended that it would be an
outrage to levy any tax whatever upon San
Francisco. At present they can see very
clearly that San Francisco harbor is en-
dangered by the debris, and they are very
earnest in pointing out the necessity OF
protecting it. Had they been as clear
sighted few months ago it might
have been possible to secure the pas
sage of better bill than that I'M
der which the present operations are
being conducted, and there would not
have been SO much misapprehension and
prejudice on the subject generally. The
truth is, that the debris question is one of
the largest which has ever been forced
upon community, and it must be handled
in a large way or not at all. 1t is said that
Captain Eads has expressed surprise at the
extent of the devastation already effected
by the wash from the mines, and at the
enormous quantity of it which has to be
handled. When he has inspected the
hydraulic workings thoroughly he will
probably have still clearer idea of the
scope of the forces which are changing the
face of the country, and sending the noun
tains down into the valleys, to the ruin of
the most fertile regions in the State, and
to the serious injury of the rivers and
! harbors.
It is said that Captain Eads thinks much
may be done with brush dams, and that
he bases this belief upon his Mississippi
experience No doubt he is too good an
engineer to be deceived by apparent
analogies, but it may be worth while to
point out that the greatest possible differ
ence of character exists between the debris
of the Mississippi and that of our rivers.
1t is in fact the difference between vege-
table and mineral deposits between the
debris of alluvial soil and the debris of
sand and gravel; and it is by no means
certain that remedies which apply in the
one case are equally available in the other.
At present, however, the condition of mind
which the public should cultivate in this
regard is one of patient expectancy. If
when the next Legislature assemblies it is
found that the operations Of the Drainage
Commissioners have not been very
extensive, no disappointment need be
felt. The question is far too large
one to be settled in hurry, and it would
be worse than useless to try to patch up
cure merely for the sake of temporary
show. This evil has been proceeding in
cumulative way for twenty years, without
let or hindrance. If the flow of debris
could be stopped today there would still
remain great engineering problem in the
disposition of the mass already deposited.
1t cannot, therefore, be expected that a
single summer, the greater part of which
must necessarily be devoted to investi.
cation, will suffice for the application of
defnitive remedies. As time has been
required to produce the evil, SO time will
be required to cure it. What is needed
is an effectual cure, not merely a rapid
one. We have called upon the en-
gineers to show us how our rivers and
harbors can be saved without putting
stop to hydraulic mining, and
since it is a compromise we want we
must be content to pay for it.
Captain Eads has at least done one good
service already. He has convinced the
doubters that the debris question is
formidable one, and that it demands ener-
getic and sustained action. Henceforth all
that should be insisted upon is fair play
and free play for those who have the bust
ness in hand. We have now a machinery
for dealing with it which combines science
and business capacity, and which is there
fore trustworthy. 1t is improbable that
it could be dealt with better by any other
combination, and we may reasonably con-
clude that whatever can be done will be
effected. II the next Legislature will re-
frain from interfering with the existing
plans, and will afford such material as
sistance as may be required, the best re-
suits attainable may be anticipated.
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