Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-21

If nothing is done at this session the
future will have to take care of itself. The
litigation between the farmers and the
miners will proceed, and the settlement of
the debris question will have to await the
tedious and well-nigh interminable pro-
cess of the Courts. 1t is already very evil
dent that the chief obstacles to progress at
present are being prepared by attorneys
who fear that the adoption of compre-
hensive system of drainage and reclamation
would interfere with their business by do
ing away with the necessity for litigation.
1t is perfectly clear that the interests of the
people, of the farmers, the miners, the
! citizens of Sacramento and Marysville, the
owners of swamp lands, demand the adop-
ton of system which will embody and
apply the principles laid down in the report
of the State Engineer. In fact none but
the lawyers have anything to hope or eX-
pect from procrastination in this business,
and their motives are obviously selfish, and
not in harmony with the public welfare
Sacramento has much to gain and nothing
to lose by the adoption of such a general
system of reclamation, and, moreover,
Sacramento cannot afford to wait.
Every year adds to the danger in
which the flow of debris places
this city, and therefore all our interests
require that we should support a policy
of immediate action. There has been al
together too much cross-purpose about
this matter in the past, and it is time
sensible men united to carry into effect
whatever plans may upon full examina-
ton prove the most satisfactory. There
is no danger that any bad legislation will
be had in the premises. Those who are
interested can shape it to suit themselves.
But the demand of the hour is for action
At present there is prevailing cry for
labor going up from the unemployed.
Thousands of healthy men in San Fran
cisco are without work. Well, here is
means whereby they, and thousands more,
withdrawn from investment and lying idle
in the State. Well, here is means
whereby every dollar of it can be profit
ably employed. Reclamation of the swamp
lands, the building of debris dams in the
mountains, the extension of levee systems,
afford opportunities for the utilization of
all the spare labor in California And the
employment of that labor upon these works
is demanded in the interest of the whole
State. 1t is the creation of enormous
wealth to which it would be devoted.
The reclamation of the swamp and
overlooked lands will add scores of millions
to the taxable property of the State, build
up new industries, cause the settlement of
immense tracts now lying waste, stimulate
trade in every direction, and give the com.
munity treasures the value and permanence
of which would sink the Comstock lode
into comparative insignihcance. This is
UHe HlOSI Important UNDERTAKING uoW pe-
foie the people, and it promises the most
magnificent results. Let it therefore be
discussed with due sense of its magni-
tude, of the benefits to be derived from it,
and of the urgency of the remedial measures
which are proposed. Work for the unem-
ployed, wealth for all concerned, securityfor
endangered property, the utilization of rich
and fertile regions hitherto idle, the en-
couragement of settlement and cultiva-
ton, the enhancement of real estate values
all these desirable ends are embraced
in the drainage and reclamation problem.
It would be nothing short OF calamity
should the session end before any legisla-
ton is had upon this momentous question,
but the only way to secure what is needed |
is for all concerned to unite in amending |
and improving, instead of opposing and |
pulling to pieces, such bills as are intro