Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-11-10

4
mode Of work and discharge of debris. The present
system Of hydraulic mining dates from the invention
! in 1870 OF the =" "Chief," eannon-shsped machine
which rests the ground and receives the terminal
| end Of pipe through which flows within given
| time so per cent more water than that furnished
for the entire supply OF San Francisco BY the aid
of friction rollers it can be rapidly turned in any
direction, and be managed bya boy. 1t projects
an eight or nine inch stream of water distance
| of 800 to 400 feet, and with such enor-
nous power as to readily move rocks weighing
several tons. The machines are called Monitors,
and Little Giants, and several used at times in
single mine, and in addition TO running all day.
operated at night by the aid OF electric lights.
Aurierous deposits from 100 to 800 feet in depth
are washed down to the bedrock, and the whole
mass OF slum, sand and small rock is discharged
through sluices. in greater less quantity, d.
rectly or indirectly, into the channel Of the Yuba
river The reservoirs from which this water is
drawn are situated al the foot OF the Serras, and
bitches conducting it to the mines are in some in
stances forty TO seventy miles in length Channels
for the discharge debris have been exoayated for
miles in length through the bedrock There
works have cost very large sums of money,
of the North Bloomfield, Milton, Eureka Lake,
American, Excelsior and South Yuba Companies in.
formed the committee that about s12OoO, ,O00 has
been expended til t alone. The total capital in
vested in hydraulic mines is estimated to be $50.
000, ,000 and it is represented that the amount of
gold produced annually from these mines in this
State is about one.eighth of the present aggregate
product of the world. The committee passed
through many mining villages and towns all show
ing evidences Of thrift and prosperity Comfortable
schoolhouses were seen in every village and the
orchards and gardens surrounding tie houses of the
miners betokened degree of comfort unusual for
any laboring class. 1t was apparent that consider
able population directly and indirectly derives its
support from working these mines, and their stop
page, even temporarily, would entail much hardship.
CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF The HYDRAULIC
MINES
On this ridge satisfied the committee that the fill
ing of the Yuba and the consequent inundation of
the adjacent lands is wholly due to the debris dis
charged by those mines into its upper channels;
yet they saw enough to satisfy them that the hy-
draulic mines being operated are not entirely
responsible for the damage done to the agricultural
lands Large quantities of debris were seen stored
has been done for many years past, and are
swept down more or less by the heavy
mountain rains OF each year, helping to
swell the sand tide upon the plains below. The
committee carefully examined u point on the Yuba
river below the junction Of all its forks and Deer
creek, where it was represented to them, series of
rock dams might be constructed, which would I'M
pound the debris OF the hydraulic mines situated on
those forks for many years to come. The problem
is engineering one, and they have the authority
of Colonel Mendell, of the United States Engineer
Corps, and of Mr. Hail. State Engineer, in saying
tina. such dams are practicable, and will retain
very large proportion of the debris OF those mines
and improve the condition Of the river below
REPORTS OF ENGINEERS.
In the report OF Colonsl Mende to the Engineer
Department, under date of February 90, 1880, he
estimated the cost OF sufficient number of dams to
impound 35, 900 cubic yards of debris to be
S222, ,G25.
In the report OF Engineer Hall, made in 1880, it is
estimated tina. there are 36 500 cubic yards OF
material washed annually into the canyons OF the
Yuba and its tributaries by the hydraulic mnes
About ten per cent of this or 1882 $50 cubic yards
is believed to rest in the canyons above. By reason
OF the material being exceedingly large and heavy
rocks, abou. thirty per cent, or c. 69?, $50 cubic
yards, is believed to be OF such fine material that IL
will be carried cut in suspension, and
not be stopped by the action OF the dam,
thus leaving sixty per cent of the whole,
or lS 3o5 900 cubic yards, annually, OF character
(sand AMI grave) which will be deposited in the
reservoir So 1t will be seen that TO afford proec-
ton beyond period of two or three years, q fur.
ther series OF dams will be necessary. The miners
believe this plan will be effeetual, and as poo, OF
the sincerity of their convictions, express their
willingness to construct the necessary dams at their
own expense. AS TO Bear river the necessity of nl-
pounding the debris is as great on the Yuba but
the committee have no information whether sys
tenn OF dams can be applied there or not
THE FULE LAND QUESTION
The committee aware that it has been sug-
gested that the tule lands south of Bear river and
west CT Father river can be used as recepaces for
the deblis Of the Bear ard Yuba rivers. This
would most probably help the Sacramento river,
but falls far short of solving the question in hand
The safety OF Msrysyi le and the adjacent country
requires that the mining debris be retained by
proper dams as near the location of the hydraulic
mines as praot cable, SO that the danger can be met
in agricultural pursuits and business occu.
patton, whose property is in jeopardy, de-
manding in no uncertain tone security against fur
ther damage. The construction and maintenance
Of their levees, unsafe barriers at best, would
this have exhausted their but for the extreme
fertility of their lands They stand but little
more, and they must have relief or abandon their
homes. Mining and agriculture are two
arteries IN OUR BODY PoLITIo,
And neither can cease TO pulsate without imparing
its vitality. The whole State is to some extent
party to this contest 1t cannot see without appre
hension thousands of its citizens arrayed in two
parties each believing that the claims asserted by
the other wholly destructive OF their respective
rights and interests. Every effort must be made to
end this dispute and the committee appeals to the
good citizens of either side to ivest themselves of
all extreme views and lend their influence to fair
settlement Of this vexed and dangerous question.
What is necessary them is FOR duly accredited repre-
sentatves OF the mining and agricultural interests
to come together in spirit of concliat on and with
desire to adopt some plan by which safe and
speedy conclusion may be reached to protect the
property and pursuits OF both parties for all time to
come. The committee recommend that security
against future damage, and that sPeedliY, must De
given by the miner and accepted By the farmer as
condition of his Withdrawing further opposition to
work on the mines. How that security is to he
guaranteed, whether by stoppage of their work,
and for what period such stoppage is to continue,
are questions which can be adjudged only by free
conference, such as alluded to. The committee sim
cerelY trust that by such result sltisfac-
tory to both parties may be reached.
The committee would respectfully and earnestly
represent that they have been deeply impressed
with the magnitude and importance OF the questions
at ssue the diversity of interests and the impera-
tive necessity OF immediate concert of intelligent
and scientific actionof the parties in interest The
WE'LL being and prosperity not only Of the parties
more directly interested but of the State ITSELF re-
quire their speedy solution some basis which
viii allow the prosecution without conflict OF the
mining and agricultural interests
THE COMMITTEES RECOMMENDATIONS.
The committee, therefore, having that in view,
would respectfully report as their conclusions:
Frst-That ali property and property rights ought
to be respected and protected.
Second-That the true interests of the State re-
It.