Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-14

must lefend themselves if the st tie does not de-
fend them. The State, in Undertaking, Tor con-
OF community interest, to compromise
the issue between the contendng parties, laid itself
under obligation to afford to the farmers that pro-
ing through the Courts But the case of the farmers
who have been directly injured or threatened
by the debris is not the only one in
point. l have already referred to the
fact that when the State sold its swamp lands
it made their reclamation prime condition Of pur
chase. Now when a State imposes such a condition
it binds telf, by direct implication to do nothing
which can hinder prevent the fulfillment of the
condition by the purchaser And it is clear that in
the present case the State has not acted up to this
requirement, since it has permitted the hydraulic
miners so to treat the rivers that all plans of reca
nation have proved futile. There can be No doubt
OF the responsibility of the hydraulic miners for
that condition of the rivers which has caused the
capital of our swamp-land cultyators to be wasted
MORGAN there be any question as to the concern
of the State in the general situation 1t caunot it
Gppears to me, exercise the community right of
effecting compromise between conflicting interests,
and then evade the concessions which are required
for the success of that CO promise. That would be
TO recognize principle of duty where it affected the
relations of others to oneself, but to repudiate it
when it affected ones own relations to others.
l have SAID that the general principles OF the
Drainage Act appeared to me so sound as to Justify
my approval Of that measure The manner in which
the boundaries Of Drainage District No have been
aligned by the Commissioners having been the sub
ject of some criticism and apparent misunderstood
ing it may be proper for me to recall the fact that
the law provides that each district shall include
territory drained by one natural system OF drain.
age" To have followed this literally would have
compelled the inclusion of the whole area which
drains into the Sacramento valley, and which by its
waters certainly contributes 10 the damage and
complexities the problem. To We done this, how
ever, would have so increased the difficulties of De-
fning rational boundaries that these might have
seemed the mere arbitrary c1price5 of the Coumis-
sioners rather than the carefully asceraned limits
of natural district. It is possible that the true
principle would have heen to tax the whole area
alike; bu. the measure WIS a compromise, and it
was necessary to observe that principle. Some por
tons OF the valley, for example, are more directly
interested in navigation than other portions For
IRENE upper parts Of the valley, and for the same
reason Lake county, though it really drains through
the Coast Range into the Yolo basin was omitted.
come now to the question Of the necessity for
some sustained and systematic treatment of the
rivers. am not prepared to express an opinion
upon the remedial measures which are proposed by
the engineers. 1t is for you to determine what
course shall be taken in regard to them and it is for
you to judge whether they meet the requirements
CT the situation. But consider it my duty to point
out to the best OF my ability, the need which ap-
pears to exist-the imperative need, may say-for
some scientific and comprehensive mode of treat
meut. The reports of the State Engineer, and
those of the Consulting Engineers Captain Eads
and Colonel Mendell, contain many serious and
even startling expressions in this connection. They
concur in declaring that there must be we'll de.
vised, carefully planned, all-embracing system Of
remedial action, and that nothing less than this
will arrest the very grave dangers which
menace the State. They tell us, as the
result Of their elaborate researches, that the
lower river channels raised by the deposits of
sand in them; that the upper river tributaries are
given torrential character by the increasing
Steepness of grade impaired to them in the same
way that consequently they bring down their food
waters more swiftly and in greater volume than
ever: and that the lower river channels, being
choked with sand, less able than ever 10 receive
and carry this increased volume of water They
tell that while through these agencies the flood
hight is being raised every year, and the difficulty
of guarding against disastrous foundations CORE
spoadingly increased, the stopp2ge OF the hydraulic
mines would neither remove this great evil, nor
abate it even for the moment in an appreciate de-
gree. They say that the cauols of Fl Dorado,
Placer, Nevada Sierra, Yub1 and Plumas counties
are vast reservoirs Of s1nd, which has been depos-
tied in them by hydraulic mining operations
during period extending from 1854 to
the present time. This sand-heavy quartz
detritus-is they state, COM g down grad
ually but surely into the valleys. The river
channels are lrea1y filed with it. and nov the
main body is being slowly pushed over into iha 49,
Ieys. It's progress during the first part Of its jour
ney attracted attention. 1t had been flowing for
five years before any harm was anticipated from H.
But now it has passed the region where it could Do
injury, and it is pressing forward The engineers
affirm that il this heavy sand is allowed to cover tie
valley lands their destruction will be absolute They
say, further that even if the hydraulic mines are
stopped it will continue to flow for years and they
aver that the damage already done and in progress
is great that only thoroughly organized plan of
operations can save the valleys from this Eruption,
and redeem them for the uses of civilization.
Ii the engineers are thus positive as re ards the
reality and extent OF the dangers and injuries to be
feared, they are however equally assured as to the
practicability OF applying remedies. They con
fideht that though no complete cure for the damage
already done can be obtained save through the heal.
ing hand OF Time, it is quite possible to prevent the
further extension OF direct damage, and to arrest
the extension of indirect damage in the
future. The larger rivers, they hold, be made
better THAI they ever were by proper treatment, but
it must be systematic and continued
Whether, therefore, you acquiesce in the con-
illusions of the State and Consulting Engineers as
to the merits of the particular methods which they
whether you conclude that some
other plan would be preferable, trust it may ap-
pear as clear to you it does to that the ques-
ton is which the State must undertake to deal
with promptly, resolutely, and intelligenty. 1t is
not necessary to point out to you that the con
illusions OF the engineers rest upon actual nvesisa-
ton into the entire range OF phenomena con.
cerned; that they are governed by professional
experience of what has been accomplished else
where in similar directions and that there is, all
things considered, quite remarkable unanimity of
view among these scientific men in reg ,rd to the
general principles to be adopted These are consid-
erations which will doubtless occur TO you natu-
rally, and which viii be given due weight. The
main duty Of the hour, the relief of the State from
the perils with which i; is now threatened by the
results of hydraulic mining, is my chief concern in
YOU
can conceive no occasion for legislative action in
which the interests of the State could be more ex-
pressy involved than here. l have endeavored to
show you that cannot regard the subject as one Of
merely local Government, nor indeed do think
that careful examination of it in all its bearings
can lead any candid inquirer to a narrower eOnclu-
sion You in fact called upon in this to dc
eide the fare of the Sacramento valley directly,
aud of very much wider interests indi-
rec.iy You have seen that the property
values concerned on all sides ae very
great The question is one which involves humid eds
Of millions OF dollars, and the prosl Gritty OF hundreds
of thousands of people. It is impossible to deal
Ii. h ly with 30 grave and ching matter and
shall therefore not seek to excuse the length #
this naess;se | have endeayored to treat great
question ittingy to lay before you, as susciuctly
vet as clearly as possible, the many and various
siderations and circumstances pertaining to it to
advance such facts as were best calculated