Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-03-05
point in the case cited is flequently overlooked as


point in the case cited is frequently overlooked, as
' It has been in California
"But in older lands this view Is becoming more
and more accepted, that drainage works for large
areas Of country, as well sewerage systems for
Cities constructed by district cooperation upon
the principle that each piece OF property which con-
| tributes sewage drainage waters, to be carried
down and delivered at the ultimate oufal is inter
ested in the efficiency of every foot of sewer or
drain through which such sewage or drainage waters
| must run TO reach that point; and also upon the
correlative principle that all property thus depend
ent upon an Indispensable par of an important sys
] tem s interested in the success OF the works
| whole, and hence should bear portion of the cost
| OF their construction and maintenance.
Many cases of the application of this principle
IN the ordering OF public affairs might be cited the
community of interest is recognized in taxing unlm-
proved and unoccupied property meet the cost Of
constructing water works, as Is frequently done by
municipalities; and the operation of our public
schools depends largely upon tax revenues, collected
| from those who have no possible concern in the
/ working OF the educational system, other than
general interest in the welfare of the country this
latter to be advanced by cultivating at public
| pense, the minds of people who otherwise might
| remain ignorant
| Then again we have the dir, ct interest in the
navigabity of the rivers, which, of course there
exists over the region whence freights may be
aed or TO which delivered, by means of Them or by
means Of other lines OF travel whose freight rates
are affected by the rates therefore the rivers.
And still again there Is the principle OF anntlmate
| community Of interest existing between the by
draulio miners themselves and the mountain regions
| in which they are located.
| The Act to promote drainage has recognized these
principles, and in the outlining OF the district which
| has been formed the State Board of Drainage Com
| missioners was governed in their action by them,
as Will be seen by their record of proceedings pub
| lished last May.
! And finally we have recognition of the principle
OF direct benefits In the provision for special as
| sessnent ON each acre of swamp land reclaimed by
| the works to be carried cut in any inst snce.
"a IltN1t, of4 s,,st;
| principles of taxation embodied in this law,
| have lsasSsso: s--------.----.----- ,s,.s.
| First-A State tax OF fifty cents on each one
| thousand dollars in valuation.
| Seeond-A district tax in addition to the State
| tax, of similar amount
| Third-A tax or assessment on the water used in
| hydraulic mining.
| Fourth-An assessment for benefits Oh lands re-
claimed by the work
Now, Mr.. Speaker, suppose that State tax money
We're to be all used IN the rectifeation of the river
channes and in holding back the gravel which is al
ready in the tributary streams and threatens to
| come into those below and Destroy them Is there
member OF this Legislature that can say there is
anything unjust about that Have we not seen that
the State is in honor bound to do thus much-hound
| in h nor to the General Government and to her own
| citizens2
And again, suppose that District-tsx money and
that water assessment money were to be all devoted
to holding back the sands which flow into the dis
trict, would there be anything exceedingly unjust
about that! Have We not forced the community Of
interest SO we can not out recognize THIS lustt
Granting these points, let US see how the m tier
will stand this next year. The district tax and
miners water assessment under the Drainage Act
this past season produced about one hundred thou
sand dollars. IL stated by the State Engineer,
and by the President of the Board of Directors of
the district, in evidence before the Investigating
Committee that it would cost about twenty TO forty
thousand dollars per year to keep up the dams al
ready built. Now. since then believe one of them
has received more damage, and will put the
figure for repairs and additions at double the
amount stated by those who ought to know.
Suppose 1t will be necessary to spend $50 600 on
those dams this next year. there will be still
surplus OF $40 600 derived from the miners and from
the district to be used for other purposes with
the result of the State tax, to 90 toward restoring
the river channels.
1t is a false impression, Mr.. Speaker, that the
whole State is TO be taxed to hold back the sands
now being put in by the miners. The money de-
rived from State taxation, and toe will 90 to-
wards recifyng the of the State in the past
it will go towards redeemng some of the States
pledges to the General Government concerning these
rivers it will 60 to do that which the State viii be
forced speak advisedly, Mr. Speaker it will go
towards doing that which the State viii be force 10
do in the near FUTURE and what II will dc, whether
you stop hydraulic mining and repeal this drainage
law or not
| conclude that the principles of this Drainage
Act in the matter OF taxation just that the OBJ
jects accomplished properly objects to be
pished by or with money raised the means are
raised under it.
And now, sir we c me tc the fourth question in
the politico- economical aspect of the case
a. Does 1.-THE act to promote drainage-con-
tain proper safeguards for its Just application and
honest adnlinist alton?
cannot see, Mr. Speaker, how the interests of
the people could be more guarded than they are in
this law. The money is expended by the public
contract system by these officers appointed By the
Governor. Contracts for works are necessarily let
to the lowest bidders, and performed TO the salts
faction OF the Board Of Directors and the engineers.
There is no more latitude given these Directors i'll
this respect than is given every Board Of Commits
soners | ever heard of. N more than is given the
City Hall Commissioners of San Francisco no more
than given the Park Commissioners of San Fran
cisco no more than given the Boards Of Directors
of i;her one of the insane asyums and not near
much as given the State Harbor Commissioners.
} have heard that great overs ght was made in
requiring the State Board Of Examiners audit
the accounts of this Board of Directors OF the drain
age district. Now Mr. Speaker, how absurd is this
proposition. What could the Board of Examiners
know of the affairs of this any Drainage Board
sufficient to enab e them to audit their accounts
unless they, the Examiners, made themselves famil
lar with the works, cOntrac and circumstances in
every caseE The Board Of Examiners is composed
of the Governor, Secretary OF State and Attorney.
General Could You expect these gentlemen to
visit the sceIe of the works Of this Drainage Doard
post themselves on prices and materials, etc, keep
the run of the bids submitte1 and contracts let
Why, sir this is the work for which special Board
is appointed, and to set one Board to watch the
other would be mere matter Of form, unless both
Boards were equally informed on the subject of the
business. | say this is an absurd criticism, and
does not deserve consideration. II there is any
way OF making this law safe in its provisions,
say, sir, let do 1t. But don't let raise cap
tious and fiimsy faults on proposition to repeal
where at best they are only applicable on a motion
to amend
Hurrying forward, Mr.. Speaker, for this is sub
ject of great scope, TO the final question on
the subject itself:
(e) If desirable, could the operation of this law
be suddenly arrested without great loss to the
people of the State?
l say, sir, it could not Here we have ten or
twelve large engineering works designed to accomp-
fish half dozen different objects in the great plan
for promoting the drainage of this valley lSee Part
ii. and ILL., Tin one) Report State Engineer, Jan
uary, 1871 These works prosecuted up to the
last moment of time the weather would permit OF
work in the field this past fall. Some of them were
completed, and some were not; and all were sub
jected to the ravages of unprecedentedy severe
winter There has been damage to them, there
would be to extent in any event and under any
circumst ances Left in their present condition. as
all OF US who know nything about practical work
should fully appreciate, these works will be de-
stroyed whereas, if they cared for and brought
to state approa hing completion, extended to
safe stopping points, as the may be- they will
accomplish good purpose, at least demonstrate
within the next two years definitely what be
} done in the several ways now attempted Would it
not be folly, ask, to stop this work Would it not
be crime 20 throw away the peoples money in this
way
shall vote not to repeal the Drainage Act and
| trust to the good sense of my constituents when
they are properly informed on this subject to bear
me out in my judgment believe, sir, that there
has been persistent effort made to misrepresent
this matter to the public. know that there is a
widespread misunderstanding of it, and do not
hesitate to take my stand on the side that know is
right and act in accordance with conviction, and
not as prompted by eowardice.
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Isn't it awful cold ?" queried Smith, as
L T. Il