Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-03-05
4 THE DEBRIS QUESTION.

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.Ths following letter to the San Francisco
Ballletin contains very fair aud clear ac-
count of the Parks debris bill, and we there
fore reproduce it:
Editor Balletin: There has been in the
newspapers of the State good deal of dis
| cussion IN regard to the House Bill No. 3S4-
generally known as the Parks bill--showfng
little knowledge either Of the bill or of the
| results sought to be accomplished by it. The
object Of this communication viii he to state
| in general terms the provisions of the bin
and the results which viii follow If it be en-
acted. Several amendments have been pro-
posed by the friends Of the measure and the
bill, as thus amended, will be discussed.
1t provides for the appointment Of three
Commissioners to be appointed by the Gov
erncr, who. in conjunction with the State
Engineers (Alr. Hall, Colonel Menden and
Captain Eads) are from time to time to di-
vide such portions of the State as to them
seems necessary into drainage districts
The engineers are then to prepare plans and
estimates OF the work to be done in any dis
| trict, having in view the eentrol of debris
from the mines, the improvements of the
rivers and the protection from foods of cities,
towns and lands. These works are contenl-
plated to be done in detail, but under one
general plan. When these plans have been
approved by the directors of the district (who
are the same persons as the Commissioners,
their title being changed in order to meet the
constitutional objections) the work to be
done Will be let TO the lowest bidder.
Funds 10 meet the cost Of these works will
be raised by The issue of 20-year per cent
bonds. with a sinking fund beginning on the
eleventh year, and which will finally ex-
tinguish the debt on maturity. The total
issue of these bonds viii be limited for the
first year to one million dollars, and can at no
time exceed II per cent. of the value of the
property in any one district. All the prop
erty in each district will be taxed to provide
funds for payment of interest and sinking
fund on the bonds issued for that district.
The State Engineers, MIR. Hall and Colonel
Mendell, have stated in the most positive
manner to the committee, before whom they
appeared, that,
First-The debris coming in the future
from the mines can be held Ia reservoirs by
dams erected in the mountain canyons that
these dams can be built in the most perma-
nent manner, at a reasonable cost, and will
afford ample storage for all the heavy mate
rial which may be washed from the mines
Second-The great deposits of sand and
gravel now remaining IN the Yuba and Bear
rivers, between the foothills and Feather
river, can be held In place by proper dams,
and that thus the towns OF Marysville and
Wheatland, with their surrounding lands, can
be relieved from the imminent danger which
they are now in.
Third-The expense of these works will
not be a heavy burden upon the property
which should contribute to their construction,
and that it is most important that these
works should be begun at the earliest practi-
cable moment.
Fourth-No Improvement to the Sacra-
mento and Feather rivers can be accom-
plished until the mining debris is finally
prevented from coming into the rivers.
Fifth--There can be 10 effectual reclama-
tion of the low lands of the Sacramento val
ley, nor any thorough protection from foods
to the valley cities until the rivers and their
levees.are placed under one general control,
similar to that Of the Parks bill.
Now, supposing that this bill becomes a
lsh The three engineers named are men of
acknowledged ability and probity, having no
interests or prejudices either for miners or
farmers. The three Commissioners are to be
Appointed by the Governor, who will doubt
less select men of first class character With
a Board composed Of six such men, it can
most safely be assumed that ONLY such dis
trict districts will be formed, where there
is absolute necessity for their creation, and
that only such works as are necessary viii be
constructed. Only one million dollars car be
spent the first year. and should the workings
of the Act prove to be unsatisfactory it can
be repealed beiSre more tta5l that million
has been expended. In no event can the ex-
penditures exceed 4a per cent. Of the assessed
value of the property contributing. The
taxes, therefore, for the first ten years, to pay
interest, cannot exceed 27-100th Of l per
cent, and on the twentieth and last year of
redemption, cannot exceed three-fourths Of l
per cent.
Owners OF mining property are in favor of
the measure because they believe that the
plans for the relief proposed by the engineers
will prove TO be efectual, and thus satisfac-
torily and permanently end, the costly and
troublesome litigation which has obtained for
the past three years. During the past year
alone probably Sl00, coo was spent in iruitless
attempts to close the mines by legal means,
and the end is now farther removed than
ever before.
The engineers first wish to control the min
ing debris; afterwards they wish to bring the
Sacramento river back to its original condi-
ton.
The miners are willing to pay taxes for the
benefit of the farmers, providing that the
farmers first assist them in taking care of the
debris.
The full discussions had in regard to this
matter have shown that mining can be here
after prosecuted without further injury to
the valleys, and it viii certainly be both un-
wise and unjust, where interests or sucn vast
magnitude are involved, il the present Legis-
lature does not provide the means for apply
ing the necessary remedy.
This whole question is so important that no
penny wise and pound foolish policy should
prevail. Every one living or owning prop
erty in The Sacramento valley is directly in
terested in this measure, and selfish views,
that one man may perhaps be benefited more
than another, ought not. to be considered.
Perfect equality in laying the burdens of tax
alton has never yet been accomplished, and
never will be- Doubtless, however, changes
will be necessary in this legislation, but for
the present the engineers have only two OBJ
jects, the holding back of the mining debris
and the improvement of the Sacramento and
Feather rivers and for these purposes both
miners and farmers should be willing to con-
tribute. MINER
March l, 1880.