Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-10-25
THE DEBRIS INQUIRY.
Incidents and Data Concerning the Sub
jsct and Investigation.

Incidents and Data Concerning the Sub
jact and Investigation.
The inquiry By the committee frem the
Board of Trade of San Francisco in relation
to the subject Of debris, its effects. local and
State, and as to the best method of oYercon-
ing the evil, has concluded its labors and re-
turned home. having left Grass Valley at 2
o'clock yesterday morning, and from Colfax
came down on the early overland train to this
city. The committee consisted of w. n.
HawleY, Chairman; James A. Gordon, Sec
rotary; William Blanding, Jules Cert, Moses
Heller, C. L. Taylor, j. B. Stetson and P.
B. Cornwall. Accompanying the committee
was General Rosecrans, member of Congress
from San Francisco, who took an active in
terest and part in the work of seeking
for the exact facts concerning the sub
ject under investigation with view
to aid in procuring such assistance
from the General Government as should be
found necessary and proper. The work and
method Of inquiry pursued by the committee
was satisfactory in the extreme both to the
representatives of the valley interests and
those of the miners. Complimentary ex-
pressions were heard from leading parties
upon each side of the subject as to the un-
biased and earnest manner in which the CON-
mittee proceeded with the investigation, and
of the practical ability and peculiar fitness of
every member for the task in hand. No
time was spent in diplomatic preparation,
bat Immediately upon arrival at the grounds
the subject was taken up by them, and in ad-
dition to personally viewing the effect and
CAUSE of the debris problem, all statements
were patiently heard, questions asked and &C.
casionally information sought by interroga-
tory propositions.
It may be said with credit to all concerned
that while the entertainment accorded to the
committee at all points was almost upon the
plane of royalty, there did not in any instance
appear the least design to influence through
hospitality, and upon both sides the only
purpose seemed to be to place the committee
in possession Of all the facts which the gray
ity of the case presents.
The visit to the celebrated brush dam on
the Yuba river was marked with much inter-
est. A large delegation accompanied the
committee and party from Marysville, and
several we've also present from the mines. A
long halt was made there and portion of
the party drove in their carriages to the main
break near the middle of the dam. The
structure is gone for two or three hundred
feet at the north end, where it joined the
bank, and a portion of the water from the
river passes through there. A tempo
rary bridge has been made across it
for the purpose of enabling persons
to drive along the dam to view it. The drive
is through dry desert of sand and very
heavy, the wheels sinking part way to the
hubs. Every one present agreed that the
dam would without doubt have stood uDin-
jured by the high water had it been con-
structed earlier in the season, and also that if
properly repaired it will be of great ad-
vantage in holding back debris. General
Rosecrans was confident that the structure
would stand ard be a success in holding back
debris to the extent of its capacity, which
would be very great The people from
Marysville and the farmers expressed them
selves as satisfied that the dam could be made
successful in helping the situation, provided
no further tailings were discharged into the
river above, and said the dam would without
doubt be repaired Immediately if this was
stopped, but unless it was there was no use.
The committee and General Rosecrans laid
much stress upon the necessity of its imme.
date repair, and that especially was this
necessary as a protective measure for Marys-
vile, as the present channel through the
end along the north levee was liable
to cause the river at the next high water to
cut the bank and come down against the city
from outside the levee. At Nevada City the
committee were shown series of small brush
dams constructed fifteen to twenty years ago
in a similar manner at intervals across a
small ravine, where placer mining was car
ried on above. The dams were about sixteen
feet high, and as perfect SIS when built. They
had all became filled and cultivated, and
grass is now being cut from them.
In relation to the effect that closing the
hydraulic mines will have upon business in
the mining counties, George Fletcher, Secre-
tary and General Ticket Agent of the Nevada
County Narrow guage Railroad, stated to a
member of the committee that the receipts
this year up to June for freights upon that
road amounted to 20 per cent. more than last
year, but Immediately upon the service of
the Injunction upon the hydraulic mines the
receipts at once dropped down to 20 per cent.
less than last year. Since then, until this
month, the receipts have been nearly the
same as last year, but since the mines again
started up the road is taxed to its utmost
capacity, and thirty-six teams are employed
hauling supplies to the mining country.
Judge Niles Sesrles stated that the present
county approximates 1900 600, but to stop
hydraulic mining would deduct FROM such
values S6,000,000 He said he did
not intend to say that the hydraulic mines of
Nevada county are assessed at that am punt,
but the destruction Of these, together with
the appreciation of property depending
mainly upon them for their values, would,
combined, aggregate sc, 000, 600, which would
be loss to the county of six-tenths of its
present assessment.
Upon the question of whether the river
beds will again cut down to their original
channels if the deposit Of tailings in them
should cease, it was stated to the committee
that mining upon Coon creek, in Placer
county, ceased about three years SINCE and
the bed of the creek has already cut down 10
its former depth. Also that similar result
has been noticed upon Honcut crack, where,
upon Mr.. Bryden's ranch, within three years
from the time mining ceased above, the creek
had cut down SO as to regain its former depth
and bed.
The committee has been placed very fully
in possession of the facts connected with the
debris problem in the localities visited by
them, and while the result of their investiga-
ton clearly demonstrated that each section is
surrounded with conditions and circum-
stances which do not apply, perhaps, to other
localities, and therefore that no general course
can be laid down applicable to all, and as de-
Gliding the debris problem, the report of the
committee will be watched for with eager in
terest by those of both sections visited by