Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-22
THE DEBRIS QUESTION.

The DhbhlS QubSIlONs
EDS. RECORD UNION In your editor.
ial of June 19Lh, you take occasion to severely
condemn the resolutions lately adopted ~
our citizens. Although we must all admit
that Judge Temples decision is exactly in
accord with what has been the tenor of your
advice since the debris controversy began,
yet it seems to me that you have erred in so
vigorously condemping Us of Wheatland.
wish to state few facts, which will, L think,
account I" for the singularity of the new de-
parture of the Wheatland farmers" as you
please to call it. 1t is no new departure for
US to oppose compromise. We have ever
beer ayerse to it. Let me quote from the
resolutions adopted by the Wheatland Grange
on April LIST of this.year;
WHEREAS, In disregard of our rights to protec-
ton, and to the interests Of the State interested
parties are seeking to bring about Legislative action
that would be but deceitful remedy and a compro
mise and sacrifice Of vested rights in the valley;
Resolred, That compromise is superfuous term
when applied to our debris question that we have
IN common with all men right to the integrity oil
property, and that it is the first duty Of the
Courts and the Government to secure that inviola-
bility of property rights
I am pleased to say that our people, while
not looking at the matter just as the RECORD
UNION does, have nevertheless been able to
steer clear from compromise and its attend
ing pitfalls. Compromise, as has been often
reiterated, is superfiuous. To compromise
mutual concessions must be made. The by
draulic miners have practically nothing to
concede and we cannot nor will not concede
to the hydraulic miners that they may cor
rupt the water with fine sand and clay,
and continue the destruction which has so
long been caused by their suspensory matter.
We have stated in our resolutions-and it is
true-that more than 30 per cent. of the dam
age has been, and will be in future, done by
the suspensory matter of the hydraulic debris.
We are not acting in bad faith nor condemn
ing Judge Temple wholesale. We are thank.
full for, and entirely satisfied with, the
Judges findings of law and the correspond
ing part Of his decree. While we recognize
our Indebtedness to him for his services, yet
we cannot, consistently with our past express
sions and losses, nor with our present pros.
poets, accept in good faith any attempt at
compromise nor any remedial measures that
will not fully relieve US of the valley from all
risks. The basis upon which Judge Temple
proposes remedial measures is, in our opinion,
untenable. He has said that it is illegal to
dump ta;lipgs in the rivers, yet he suggests to
the hydraulic miners that they put obstruc-
lions at some point in the river above Alder
creek, aud then they will be allowed to COM
mence dumping into the river again. In say
ing that I'VE are entitled to the use
of the rivers in their natural purity,
and will not be content with water c,rrying
in suspension even the fine sand and clay "
of the hydraulic mines, we only assert our
right to pure water, and say that we will not
be satisfied with water carrying in suspension
the fine sand and clay of the hydraulic debris.
do not see how anyone could so misconstrue
this as you seem to have done. This resolu- |
ton implies no hostility to any class of min |
ing except hydraulic. We heartily indorse |
Convention at Sacramento, and assert, |
without fear of proof to the |
contrary, that there is nothing contra
dictory between those resolutions and |
the ones you so severely condemn. All the
sediment deposited in the rivers from drift,
quartz and placer mines does not pollute the
water. We have never been disconnected
by the workings of such mines. We have no
grounds of complaint against them, and il
they are foolish enough to believe that we of
the valley have "wsged war upon all kids
of mining" / can only say that they have
seriously misconstrued cur acts and our inten-
tions They should know as well as we do
that, in the eyes OF the law, their operations
upon the rivers could not be held illegal We
never have, and do not now, complain of any
mining except hydraulic and it is not in good
taste for the hydraulic miners to try to take
advantage of the fears Of brother miners"
in order to enlist them in opposition to the
farmers. Nowhere in our resolutions do we
assert that every kind Of mining must stops"
and l may say that we would all be glad if
hydraulic mining could continue; but
when it cannot coexist with the rights
of citizenship and property then it must
cease operations. Those hydraulic mines
which can secure settling reservoirs, and thus
restrain all of their debris. are under no OBJ
legations to us. and can not be restrained from
working. But those mines which can only
restrain "bowlders cobblestone, gravel and
the heavier sand" will never be allowed to
work unmolested as long as we Of the valley,
have any rights before the law. 1t is not in
the power Of Judge Temple, or any other
judge, to decide that we must be content
while the hydraulic miners corrupt the
water with mud and render it less suitable
for domestic and other purposes" We are
not alone in this matter. The Marysville
appeal is in the front. Mayor Bingham, of
Marysville, says: "No compromise" So
does ex-Mayor Stone. The Suffer county
Farmer, while congratulating the people,
overlooks the compromise clause of the |
decree; but we predict that she will
not be hoodwinked by any proposition
from the hydraulic miners for recon-
ciliatiop. In the river and harbor bill
an appropriation OF SolU,UUU asked Tor
by the engineers fer the improvement of Cali
fornia rivers, was denied on the very logical
ground for objection, that " California people
filled them up by hydraulic mining" They
have taken the true position, and until the
State refuses to allow her rivers to be used
as easements for hydraulic mining debris it
is useless for US to look to Congress for relief.
We are not opposed to dams in their relation
to materials already in the rivers, but we do
unhesitatingly condemn as impracticable and
dangerous any attempts to license future
hydraulic mining by only impounding the
coarser material in the river canyons. 1t is
incumbent upon the General Government to
undertake the rectifcation of our rivers and
our protection from the debris in the rivers
after hydraulic mining in its destructiveness
and illegal phases has been suspended. But
until such time it is useless to expect Con-
gress to come to our relief. M. Fl. burst.
Wheatland June 20, 1882.
AN OPENING DAY.-As the Fulton Market
has been horticultural show Of itself this
season, and the fruits displayed there have
excited the admiration of all by their fresh
ness, quality and prices and whereas, the
proprietors have handled more cherries, cur
rants, Strawberries, raspberries and small
fruits this season than ever before therefore