Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-02-15
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE.
IcoNr1NuED FROM FIRST PAGE.l

mote drainage under this debris Act. l say, let
strsngle this infant before it gets old enough to
draw another breath. Let US put 1t at rest under
the Bear-river dam, where its muddy waters will
sing its requiem and the willows VIII grow
over its remains and remain monument OF
the folly OF the State Engineer and OF our
own folly, il placing upon the statute books the
bill under which these dams have been Constructed
That il nv Judgment believe the people residing
In these valleys and the miners in the mountains
will be better of Let matters remain undisturoed
until this system of diking the river banksiand
carving the debris into the bay and so on into the
ocean is adopted, and this question settled to the
satisfaction Of all concerned We have it from the
reports Of these engineers that to carry this debris
down into the bay OF San Francisco Will not work
any injury to that bay 1t will fill up the mud flats
of Suisun bay aud San Pablo bay and some others but
the deep channels of that bay wa.hed by the tides
will be cleared of the debris and it will go out into
the ocean, where there is more room for it than IN
this valley. That is what | think We ought TO do,
and that we all ought to unite in carrying forward
that proposition Why, Mr.. President, in front OF
the city OF San Francisco, between there and Goat
Island where there have been millions and millions
of cubic yards OF mud, which had been dredged
from the wharves and dumped between the CITY and
Goat Island from fat boats it has not filled
the channels an inch see from the
statement of the Harbor Commissioners, that
the channel has not been filed a single
inch. 1t remains the same depth there now
that it was when they dumped the first scow there
What has become Of this drainage mud 1t has
been carried through the Golden Gate it has not
worked any harm. Then let us take the advice of
engineer Eads let us put this in the hands of the
Government where it will be conducted by such
mining engineers as himself and Colonel Mendell,
who recommended and ndorsed that plan, and
then this State will get relief. and it will not be
burden to the taxpayers OF California That is my
position upon this question; and that relief | am
willing to grant and do all in my power to aid in Sc
curing Therefore have explained my position upon
this question. have given my reasons why sup
ported this bill last year. and have given them why
| do not support it now. | see my friend from
Sacramento is little anxious. He Is getting eager
10 catch the Presidents eye and expect he is going
TO throw at me San Quentin as soon as he gets up
but ! am willing and ready to receive the shot. |
know San Quentln has received very large appro-
priations, and she requires still larger ones, but you
know she has under her protecting care the wild
birds of s cramento as well as from different parts
Of the State
believe it is conceded that this debris Act, the
repeal Of which is nov before the Senate, will
ceive a very large majority. AS Senator Davis has
said the fat has gone forth that it will be repealed
by the Senate and transferred TO the other depart
nent OF the Legislature. | do not know how they
stand in there but trust ii will receive the same
majority that it does here But il rumor is correct
if Madam Rumor can be relied upon, the question
hangs IN doubt. There are many in that house like
the freshman in Count, when he was asked II he was
guilty not guilty, answered. Sure, your Honor,
how can tell until hear the testimony" They
waiting TO hear the testimony, and let us to-day
pass this Act repeal this bill, send it TO them and
let them hear the testimony and they will pronounce
Judgment upOn il