Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-12

ESPECIAL BY TELEGRAPH TO THE RECORD UNroN.l
wAsHINeros, December Congressman Page
will next Tuesday introduce in the House of Repre-
sentatyes the following sefexplanatory bill CD the
subject of mining debris:
WHEREAS, A contest exists in the Courts of the
State of California between portion of the agri.
cultural community and the mining industry of that
State, by reason of the assertion BY the miners OF
the right to work their mines by the hydraulic and
other processes, which have been continuously in
since the discovery of the precious metals the
Pacific coast, which rights and use have been sane
toned by the laws and common usage during the
past. thirty years or more; and, whereas, these
rights and common customs net disputed by the
owners OF lands in the valleys below the mines,
a large amount of which have been injured by the
depth Of tailings debris from the mines; and
whereas, large portion of the agricultural lands of
said State are in danger OF destruction from the
suits Of said hydraulic mining, and towns and cities
on the banks OF the streams affected by the debris
are being destroyed and whereas the agricultural
interests Of California, the first wheat-producing
State OF the Union, well the labor Of our farm
era being destroyed by the debris covering up
their fields, gardens and homes; and whereas, the
results Of years of toll thus imperiled, and fam
lilies and communities threatened with impoverish-
ment and whereas the harbor of San Francisco is
being shoaled by deposits of mining DEBRIS and it is
only question of time when serious consequences
therefrom may impede the national commerce OF
that important harbor; and whereas, the State OF
California asserts the right to control the
rivers of the State under plea that mining opera
tons are damaging them; and, whereas, one or two
of the counties Of the State, and of the incor
porated towns have also asserted rights hostile to
the mining industry and whereas, the State of Cali
fornia through its Legislature two years siRce
enacted law to provide for drainage, having for its
object cure of the evils complained of and,
whereas, the Supreme Court of the State has
recently decided that the State had no
such power, thus leaving the contest between the
conflicting interests to continue; and, whereas this
contest, which is now pending in the State
and Federal Courts, involving vast interests,
will continue unless remedial measures
taken by the General Government, which
alone grapple with these issues by insti-
tuting a system OF public works; and, whereas,
the present contest continued will load to serious
results, prejudical In many ways to the best inter-
ests OF the nation at large and, whereas, the Con-
gress of the United States has, by various enact
ments extending through long series of years, en-
couraged and fostered the mining industry by the
reservation of its mineral lands from SALE except
for mining purposes, and also by specially providing
for the protection of water rights, reservoirs and
rights Of way for canals for water used in the Mines
as well as for the use Of timber upon public lands
for fba and hou ale cborer ba
miners double the price for mineral lands it has
charged agriculturists for farming lands; and,
whereas, by reason of such encouragement and
fostering influence the mining industry the
Pacific coast has attained enormous proportions.
in which industrious citizens have invested
their means to the extent Of at least two
hundred million dollars, which investment is Ia
jeopardy and is at present seriously embarrassed by
legal complications; and whereas, through this
mining industry in California alone not less than
twelve hundred millions OF dollars in gold has been
extracted from the earth, which sustained the ma.
ton in its time Of trouble well influenced for
our benefit all financial, commercial and other pur
suits and industries; and Whereas the largest known
gold deposit in the world, estimated to contain at
least three Thousand millions OF dollars is con.
tanned in the ariferous gravel channel in the State
of California, which can only be extracted by the
modes and usages in operation during the past
thirty years, and out of which is taken yearly at
least thirteen millions of dollars out of total
yearly gold product of nineteen millions; and
whereas, this yearly product will continue for
the next one hundred years or more, if
this gold producing interest is properly protected
and cared for by the General Government but which
is now seriously embarrassed by conflicting interests
and, Whereas it is believed that proper system OF
engineering works mot expensive when the vast in
teress at stake consdered) can be constructed
by the General Government without injury to any
interest but with benefit to all, by which the mines
can continue to be worked without detriment to the
agricultural interests, and thus keep up the yearly
supply of gold so essential to our prosperity and,
whereas, the gold which it viii pay to mine by
any known process is quite limited, and the agri-
cultural area practically unlimited and, whereas,
the policy of Government is now, and has been,
to protect and foster in all ways the production of
the precious metals and the mining in.
dustries connected herewith; and, whereas, it is
believed that the settlement of the grave issues
which have arisen in the State OF California, as to
the physical features of that State and the location
of the mines, is peculiarly under the province of
the General Government which has reaped such
vast benefits from the mining interests in that State
and to harmonic these interests, which it is conf
IDENTIFY stated by most able scientists and engi
neers can be done by the construction of proper
works at the expense OF the General Government /;
therefore
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of Repre-.
sentat;ves of the United States Of America, in Con-
gress assembled, that the sum of 100000 be and
the same is hereby appropriated out OF any money
in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated,
for the purpose of making such improvements
or works, under direction and supervision of the
Secretary OF War he may see fit, for the improve
ment of the Sacramento, Yuba, Feather and Ameri
can rivers and their tributaries, SO as to protect
them from overflow from the debris and the filling
up of said rivers and for the removal of the depos
its Of debris that now impede navigation, and also
to prevent the destruction of lands and property
adjacent to said rivers and to protect the harbor of
San Francisco from further injury from said cause.
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ALL cautious mothers should keep Kidney
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