Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-01-12
DEBRIS.
rHrsrY-KINTH DAY OF THE sEIcKEYs
CASE IN COURT.
Testimony of Judge o. P. stidger. william
F. Knox, and other
Pioneers.

The slickens case-The People of the State
of California Va. The Gold Run Ditch and
Mining CompanY-was resumed at $50 a. N.
yesterday, in Department Two of the Sups-
rior Court, Judge Temple presiding:
Anthony Clark resumed the witness stand,
under eross-examination Of George Cadwala-
der-The underground on the hillsides has
been consumed by FIRE several times. Wit
ness described the different roads in the
county, giving thsir location and length
Canada Hill is the fartheat point reached by
wagon road. It is situated at point fifty
miles distant from the function of the North
and Middle Forks of the American river.
The mining at Damascus, Last Chance and
Secret Ravine is very extensive. I am en-
gagged in drift mining in the ONO claim, near
Forest Hill The grade in bedrock fumes
varies; soma have only four inches to twelve
feet, others have as much as twelve inches.
l am not very well acquainted with the mines
at Iowa Hill. They are gravel mines. Shirt
Tail Canyon is from ten to fifteen miles in
length.
a. A. freeman sworn. Direct examina-
ton (by w. G. Belcher)-D1y residence is in
the city OF Oakland, and my occupation
that of draughtsman for the Central Pacific
Railroad Company. Witness identified the
profile made by engineer Wilkinson of the
section of the California Pacific Railroad be-
tween Washington and Dsvisville, showing
the openings made by the company through
their roads, to enable the oyerfiowed waters
to escape
Cross-sxamination 10y Mr.. Hartl-I did
not make the survey myself, but am satisfied
as to its correctness.
MIR. Belcher then offered the profile IN evil
dence, stating that Mr. Wilkinson, who
made the survey, is absent from the State at
this time. I understand he is in Washing
ton Territory, on business for his employers.
The notes of that survey were checked by
Mr.. Freeman, and we think his testimony as
to its correctness is sufficient.
Counsel for the plaintiff objected, on the
ground that the engineer who made the SUI
yey should be produced.
W. F. KNOX
Recalled Direct examination (by A. P. Cat
I'M Witness described the sloughs that ex.
listed in 1850 in the city of Sacramento
Tules grew in the city south Of o and 2
streets. The lowest point within the city I
think was on Fifth street. In those early
days was a carpenter and builder Wit
ness described the high waters Of 1853 |
During the time Of oYerHows about thirty
blocks between Third and Sixth and o and
streets are flooded [ was Street Commits
sioner of this city from 1874 to 1880. The
construction of the drainage canal was under
my direction. We established grade from
the outlet of the sewers at II street to tide
water, at Suodgrass slough. There was high
ground between Hooker and Beechs lakes, and
we cut the canal through this TO depth of
20 feet, and so feet wide on the
bottom. Prior to the cutting of this canal
the drainage was into the Pocket, and it
could not escape from that except by evapor-
alton, or drainage into the river. The fall
in that canal in les entire length is seven
feet The drainage canal has not as yet been
completed as projected. The drainage of the
city has been greatly assisted by the con-
struciion of this canal. If the canal was
completed to Snodgrass slough it would lower
the surface Of the water In Beach's lake, and
this would add greatly TO the efficiency of the
city drainage. The water of Burns slough
is carried out of the city through Thirty-first
street by means Of canal made during the
last season.
Cross-examination (by George Cadwalader)
The sipage water gets higher and higher
in the ground every year. 1t fills the drain
age canal and low places, at times, quite full.
The fall on the surface, from the American
river to Y street. was formerly considerable
The city has expended great amount Of
money in perfecting its drainage system
All of the high grade is severed, and con-
siderable portion of the low grade Main
sewers run through the odd-numbered straets,
and sewers through the alleys connect the
even.numbered streets with the mains. The
natural drainage of this city was into sloughs,
and was very good. When the rivers are up
there is considerable water il Burns slough.
saw the mouth of Snodgrass slough in 1861.
At that time I saw no mining debris at its
outlet. This drainage canal cost the city
from $50, 00O to $50 600. The Y-street levee
cost from 81, 000 to $4,000.
Redirect examination (by A. p. Catlinl-
There is net fall enough In the canal to en-.
able you to flush it. The sand found in the
canal think comes mostly from the washing
of the streets.
O. P. sTIDGER
Sworn. Direct examination 10y A B. DID
ble)-I came to California in 1919, and at
present am a resident OF North San Juan,
Nevada county Came to Sacramento city
in November, 1S49. / found at that time the
Feather river much discolored from the
effects OF m n;rg, and the waters of the Sac
ramento slightly SO. | crossed the American
river, near the city, with an OK team, at a
place where the river was about 450 feet
wide. l engaged IN keeping hotel, and also
was merchandising for a short time. My
hotel was wooden building, story and a
half high, about sixty feet long, and was
situated on the corner of Sixth and K streets.
There was an active navigation of the river
at that time. Vessels carrying mining
supplies were arriving and departing daily.
Sacramento was q mining supply camp.
Witness described the prison brig, and stated if
any further information regarding that vessel
was desired he would refer to Mr.. McClatchy
of the Bee. He having been confined on that
vessel for o term, undoubtedly knows more
about it than any man living. During the
food of 1S49 and 1850, the water at my place
on the corner of Sixth and X streets was
eight feet deep. The name of my hotel was
the Connecticut House | measured the wa
ter at the time Of the food. A man died at
my place during the overflow, and we gave
him water burial somewhere near Y street.
We placed pole at a point where we an
chored the coffin, intending when the water
receded, to give the remains decent inter-
ment. When the waters subsidized the pole
and coffin could not be found They had
been taken away by the current of that terri
bic food. Another party, in conveying
corpse in boat for a similar intermeut,
met with an accident and one of the party
fell into the water and WAS drowned. Wit
ness described in graphic manner the suffer
ing ard hsrdships experienced by the people
living here during that food. The extent of
the overflow, as he describes it, was simnlv
immensel left Sacramento in February,
1850, and went TO Marysville in small
steamer Marysvilie was just beginning to
assume the proportions of town, ard had
population of about l. 600. The houses were
all cloth or canvas, with one exception one
enterprising pioneer had put up wooden
building. Witness described food he had
observed at Msrysyille.l Msrysville was
originally mining camp. I have been more
or less engaged in mining since 1919. My
first mining was on the Feather river, in
Butte county. drove an OK team for some
time, and engaged in freightiug supplies to
the mines. At Bidwelrs Bar, and Long Bar,
and bar Immediately above them, there
were in 1919 more than 5000 miners. The
Yuba river in the neishborhood of those
bars, in 1850, for distance of seven miles,
was mined in 1850 by about Z 000 miners.
They displaced about six cubic yards of m =
terial per day to the man. The material was
dumped into the river channel. The river
mining ceased in 1854. The immense amount
of debris or tailings dumped into the chan
nels of the rivers, filed them to such
great depth that the miners were
driven out and further river mining was
practically impossible. l call all mining