The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-02-15

The San Francisco Chronicle, in refer
ring TO the debris question now before the
California Legislature. uses the TO blowing Ian
guage: "Ihe most singular anomaly in leg
islation is the advocates of the hydraulic
mining. They virtually say we know
that hydraulic mining is filling you streams,
so that they annUt be confined within their
banks, and that immenso damages have re-
suited, and are constantly occurring in conse-
quence Of the prosecution Of this particular
business. Of course we, Ohe hydraulic
mit"rs) are the only gamers, and the poor
devils OF farmers are heavy losers. We are
sorry for the farmers and really think that
therefore we favor u law by which the whole
state will be called upon to pay about $780,
100000 to allow us to go Oh with our work
of destruction THIS is not strained, and
represents the position of tie debris men
accurately.'
The Chronicle has evidently forgotten that
it was the mining, and not the agricultural
interests, that induced the early settlement
of that state that for years all other int err
ests were subordinate to that of mining that
in the years 40 and so, when the streams of
that state We're perfectly free from mining
d~etritus, the flood extended over as great an
area of country as the present one does, and
that the floods of '52 and '53 and go and 81,
did incalcuiable damage in nearly every val
ley, at which times hydraulic mining had not
heen carried on to al extent sufficient to fill
to any very perceptlble degree, the beds of
streams with detrttus from the mountains.
We say it must have forgotten these facts,
it wouId not assume the position it does upon
the question.
1t Is clear to every one who has lived in
California, that whether hydraulic mining be
continued or discontinued, nothing can save
the Sacramento and o;her valleys of that
state from periodical overtiows but a system
of substantial levees lining the banks of the
rivers. Whether they shall be built by
counties Or by the state, is a question for its
legislature to decide, butthat they must be bull
in order to save the finest of its agricultural
lands from destr uction is an indisputable fact
In all mountainous countries in which
SHOWS fall to a great depth, overlows of theil
streams will occur and their valleys will be
inundated. Montana is no exception to this
rule as the periodical submergence of some
of its valleys ~testifies. Sooner Or later its
farmers will be forced to meet the same
question with which the farmers of Catifor.
MIA are now wrestling. 1t is only a question OF
time when they will be confronted with 1t.
Hydraulic mining is only in its infancy in
this country. There are thousands of acres
of placer mining ground in the territory that
only await the advent Of capital to convey
water upon them from our rivers. WheI
this shall De done millions of cubic yards O
sand, ''slickenS" and "slums" will be dis
charged into the beds of our streams to the
great detriment of the lands upon their bord.
ers. There are only rwo ways to successfully
meet the threatened evil. One is by control
ling the detritus by cribs and dams and thu!
preventing it from entering streams ant
the other is, by combining it within the stream!
when once there, by a system of leyees. 4
little judiciOus legislation at the present tint
may save much litigation and destruction o
valuable property in the future.