Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-17
A MAIN CONSIDERATION.

There is already satisfactory evidence
that the Governors message on the debris
question has stimulated discussion of the
subject, and though too much of the cur.
rent comment shows that the topic had not
been previously studied by those who now
undertake to handle it, there is ground for
hope that closer attention will be given to
it henceforth. We observe, however, that
most of the journals which have COM
mented on the message have failed to carry
away from its perusal one of the most i'm
portant points contained in it, namely.
realization of the fact that the problem
cannot be solved by putting stop to hy-
draulic mining. It is quite impossible to
consider the subject intelligently, or to any
useful end, if this fact is not continually
borne in mind, for it must affect every
suggestion that can be made in the pre-
misses. Some of our contemporaries have
read the Governors message so carelessly
as to conclude that the only question at
issue is whether or not hydraulic mining
shall be stopped. In reality this is
little more than side issue. The
surveys of the engineers have shown
that there is now in the canyons OF
the mining counties an enormous mass of
debris-mostly heavy quartzose sand
which must in the natural course of things
all be washed down into the valleys sooner
Or later, unless steps are taken to confine it
where it now lies. The washing down of
tins sand, and the effects which must result
from that washing down, are wholly indie
pendent of anything that may or can be
done in regard to the hydraulic mines. If
these mines were never worked again the
sand would still continue to come down,
and would still produce the disastrous re-
suits of which some experience has al
ready been had. It is, therefore, alto
gether aside from the purpose to argue as
though the stoppage of the mines ould
solve the problem. Again, if the hydraulic
mines are stopped, who is to bear the ex-
pense of preventing the downfow of the
sand with which the mountain canyons are
now filled? Would the journals which op-
pose the present method of raising the
revenue for these purposes put the entire
burden upon the owners of the valley
lands whose property is threatened with
destruction? That would be to make
them pay for the laches of the miners, in
the first place; and in the second it would
so impair the value of their holdings as to
render further attempts at cultivation I'M
profitable Moreover it is not true that the
owners of the valley lands are the only per-
sons concerned in preventing the downfow
of the debris. Their interest in the matter,
though considerable as regards themselves,
is comparatively insignificant as regards
the whole question. The result of the IN
INSTRUCTED downhow of the debris must be
to ruin the Sacramento river, and to de-
stroy ultimately the bay of Suisun and the
harbor of San Francisco Is it pretended
that the farmers of the Sacramento valley,
and the property owners of Marysville, Co
lusa and Sacramento, are under obligations
to preserve the navigability of the Sacra.
mento river and the integrity of the harbor
nf San Francisco ar their oJun ayperce9