Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-18


nations he had bored the bed of the
| Sacramento in manv places, and found the
bed 10 be composed, almost without exception, of
sand, ana these dams would hold this sand and pre-
vent its hlling up the rver channel, and even the
bay, to which it extends With regard to the safety
of these dams no apprehens need be felt as to
their stability, and danger would result as it is
gravel and sand, and not water, that is held back.
Both Colonel Mende and Mr.. Hall were positive
as to the practicability of taking OF this DEBRIS
and advised immediate action. They also stated
| that the reclamation Of the lands Of the valleys
were all inter connected in such way that this re-
clamaton ought to be under the control Of one di-
rection and that the treatment Of this detritus is
the first step in the reclamation of these lands
The committee met last night in the Assembly
| chamber, Aessrs. Downs and Chamberlain presid-
ing to further consider the "Act to Promote Drain
| age" which calls for Commission. to be known as
Board of State Drainage Commissioners etc. The
bill has been heretofore g en- in full In the RECORD
UNION. There were present at the session lsrge
number of citizens oe Acramento, Sutter and Yuba
counties and the adjacent country.
Mr.. Ostrem addressed the committee against the
bill. He said the bill sounded well to man rot
acquainted with the surrounding circumstances The
bill was entirely wrong and far Sweeping. There
is absolutely no limits to the powers of the proposed
Commissioners. There is no check whatever There
was only portion of the bill that he would con-
sent to, and that is the enacting clause.
W. b. G. Brown opposed the passage Of the bill
There are many reasons why every man who wishes
the welfare of the State should oppose this BILL These
men can Overture all power all autDOrity. 1Dey
can call for any amount Of money they may see fit,
and saddle the expense upon the people of the
State, The State Engineer has nothing to say TO
how much money is to be spent or how much work
shall be done. He did not consider it to be good
policy - saddle the State with further debt. He
knew Engineers Hall and Mendel had done their
work well, but they had not completed it, and they
both say that against such floods as those of 1852
and 1878 the reclamation provided for in the bill
would be of no avail, and the valley could
not be assured against such floods by the proposed
plan People had leveed in sections, as at Sacra-
mento against all floods like those of the past. He
did not want to be understood opposing clearing
out the river or aiding in the proper disposal OF
mining debris, but this bill he declared proposed IL
mere experiment, and to try it proposes to tax
every inch Of property in the districts indicated.
With the light before it is impossible to say
what sort OF reclamation Act will be of advantage
to the State Why should the people from Yuba to
Shasta have their property taxed and bonded to see
If some Commissioners can't keep the waters from
running over the swamp lands of the State? Mr.
Hall had said, even without debris, the waters can't
in fioodyear be kept in the river. The bill is an
expensive one. 1t gives the Commission unlimited
power to incur expenses. There are safeguards
to protect the Treasury from the Commission The
bill is against the financial policy of the people
He had watched the floods for years, and believed
the new bilfs experiment would also fail
As TO improving the navigation of the river theres
no sufficient data which to act. The engineers
agree that works will protect the people except
against about third class foods. Sacramento has
leveed in herself quite securely yet she is asked to
count all that cost nothing and while she is
staggering under debt to shoulder still greater liab
ites and add still more TO her fearful taxation He
believed the cities of the valley can be protected by
substantial evees, but that it is impossible for many
years to leyee in all the Sacramento valley liable TO
overflow He believed the bill to be unconstitu-
tiona Article Xi, Section 13 ION town and county
governments), says there shall be delegated TO no
special commission any power TO interfere with any
town or county, or levy taxes or perform municipal
functions.
Mr.. 0strom again addressed the committee re-
ferrng TO the State Engineers report where he
places the land not affected by debns or floods at
about 900 acres, and the speaker claimed that
the bill placed a mortgage in perpetuity upon the
people Of these lands, to lands in which they
have no interest. The mining and the swamp land
interests support the bill, and no others active
supporters of it but few though they are the sup
por,ers are powerful, united and men of influence
and hence he feared the bill. His people did not
want the friends Of the bill to them from them
selves.
George Cadwalader was called for and responded
saying he was wearied and preferred to speakat an
adjourned meeting. He, however, proceeded. Mr.
Parks had assumed by his bill to solve the whole
problem, and do work Engineer Smith had de
clared, after eighteen months labor, could not be
done. He asked if Mr.. Parks system to reclaim tule
lands had hot involved Sutter county districts IN
hopeless indebtedness
Mr.. Parks replied that Mr. Cadwalader knew the
levees referred to were twice cut by mob and that
thousands of acres of the best of lands were unre-
claimed solely because OF that fact
Mr. Cadwalader insisted that the Parks system
had proved failure. He thous hit it strange that
Mr. Parks had formed an alliance with the hydraulic
mIners who cannot be taxed to support the system
as a mountainous country cannot be put into a
drainage system. The bill taxes valley prOpe ty
that hydraulic miners may continue their present
system. The high lands must be excluded from the
bill, and the Courts will say that mountains and
hills cannot be put into valley drainage dist let
The bill creates debt first then let come what
may. He detailed the scheme of the bill, and said
unheard-of power was given the Board. He asked
General Williams If the great costte reclaim island
lands had not failed.
Mr.. Williams said he had good leyees on Grand
Island, but there water there too.
Mr.. Cadwallde SAID steamboat slough had filed
up so that where there was twenty feet of water
there but t. four, and the river is lifted
up tn spage water passes through into the
belly OF the island. The bill gives power to the
Board to buy all old reclamation works it p!cases,
though they cost ever much. District No 1Ohad
spent fortunes and Roses d strict had been fail
ure, too.
Mr. Parks How much money have you spent to
prevent Rose from reclaiming?
Mr. Cadwalader-= Not cent.
Mr. Parks-But your clients have.
Mr. Cadwalader said where the tules grew in lSi9-
50-5l52 they grew now because the tuleS are reser
voirs and the Sacramento river fume flowing
through tue basins from to 90 feet below the river
banks. Hydraulic mining fill the rivers, lifts up
the channel, ana more than ever goes through into
the tules. lie said that there would soon apnear
the most material report of the State Engineer
that on the debris question and it will show what
Is coming and will point out how single noun
tain stream will bring down in given time z0O-
100000 cubic yards of solid material Why sot
wait for that report? He could in two days take the
committee to districts where good work has been
done aud failure followed, and where between So
100000 and 81 0o00 600 of old reclamation works can
be seen, and yet this bill allows purchase of oil
these. Who could resist the great temptation in
Nolved? The Constitution and the people never
contemplated plac ng unlimited power in the hands
Of three necessarily irresponsible men. The sisla
tor voting for the bill and to sadd such burdens on
the State will never be heard of agau and will have
to do as all here have been threatened they must do
leave. The Commissioners, under the bill, can
mortgage any Of land they choose. The bill he
believed unconstitutional. The scheme of tie Con-
stitution is to place all public functions
in the hands OF the regularly- constituted
authorities. Special commissions with municipal
powers are botted out by the Constitution but the
bill creates such. Though it claims to make them
municipal authorities so as TO evade the COnsttu,
tion yet in counties they must supersede Super
vsors, and in cities all municipal authorities.
General Williams interrupted TO ask if Mr. Cad
walader held that the Constitution prevents people
forming reclamation districts and electng trustees
Mr.. Cadwalader replied yes, they are special
commissions, but did not probably affect mere
trustees not exercising municipal functions
General Williams replied that he did not think the
Constitution aimed at quasi municipal bodies as
stated by Mr.. Cadwalader, but against those given
full municipal functicns etc.
Mr.. Cadwaladt said the Constitution prohibits the
Legislature delegating municipal powers to a Com
mission yet the bill would permit a special Com.
mission within Sacramento city to drain low lots on
the low grade. He proc cded at length to oppose
the financial scheme of the bill unconstitutional
giving the power to tax, and being generally
mpracticahle and said $50 000, 600 would not be
beginning for the Commission. There had been no
trouble in the valley until hydraulic mining began
and the trouble will never until the debris is
checked aud the water allowed TO come down cl ar
To Mr.. Young he replied that the only way to re-
the threat over the people Of the va leys is to
stop hydraulic mining, or stop position of its re-
suits in the streams and feeding CANYONS Hy.
drauc mining has established beds for the rivers of
greater consistency than provided BY nature Dig
pOsthOle and try to fill it up with the material
taken out and the truth OF the staten ent will be
seen, for natural deposits are the lightest known
Artificial deposits resist greater currents alWays
Ii hydraulic miners compelled to use their prop
erty as not to njure their neghbors We will get
clear water OF greater securing capacity and danger
will be averted.
General Williams next addressed the committee
He could not sit still aud hear facts misrepresente
however unintentionally. Mr.. Cadwaiader had for
years been employed an attorney on one side Of
the question, and his Judgment is biased. His
honesty OF purpose he did not doubt The sneaker
had large lsnded interest and no mining in
terests. lie represented the farmer He had studied
the matter for years and consulted all authorities
and included there must be legislation either 10 stop
hydraulic mining altogether combine it and recIa.
nation interests IN one system TO stop mining would
be to his personal interest from selfish uoint of
view. But to do that will depopuate part OF the
country. here must then ne hrnafler