Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-14
WHEATLAND GRANGE SPEAKS.
Resolutions Passed at the Last Meeting
Of the Grange, august 8, 1882.
The Wheatland Grange under seal of tia
lodge forwards the following resolutions to

the REcoRD-UNIoN for publication
WHEREAS, Certain private companies, currently
known as hydraulic mining companies contemplate
the use of the river canyons as receptacles for
hydraulic tailings and, whereas, II such design is
successfully consummated, hydraulic mining will be
prosecuted with renewed yiyor, rendering it reason
able to expect that in the OF thirty years full
one billion Il DOC. 600 ,00o) cubic yards OF material
will be thus accumulated; and, whereas, common
sense and science indicate that these canyons will
only be the temporary resting place OF this vast
mass Of sand and gravel and that its ultimate des
tination must be the fertile plains and the river
beds Of the great Sacramento valley, from Colusa
county to the bay, since the annual floods which
have worn out their granite basins through the
Sierra Nevadas, viii wear away these comparatively
frail dams and whereas, the alternatives presented
to the State by such presumptous use Of the river
cany IS their conversion into gigantic sideways
and the descent OF the material in the course OF
twenty or fifty years into the valley, filling its
rivers to the bri, desola ing now supporting
hundreds OF thousands Of population, and over
whelming the capital OF the State. the periodical
expenditure, by the State, for indefnts time OF
hundreds OF thousands OF dollars 70 fortiiy til sse
dams and avert the impending avalanche there
fore be il
Resolred, That such use, by private companies,
for private advantage, OF the river canyons entail
ing such constant peril upon the valley communi.
ties and such future expenditures upon the State,
is an unwarranted one inconsistent with the rights
OF the and future citizens of the State to the
rivers source Of benefit and not dreaded
source Of peril and
Rssolced That for the State to extend such pro-
ceedings and indulgence is Of questionable propriety
since it manifests disregard of the imminent dan
ger the welfare Of the State and OF questionable
favor since in ten the disastrous nature of the
poll will become so apparent to the public that it
will imperativey demand its discontinuauce mean
while relying upon that indulgence, these companies
will have made extraordinary outlays and now cut
off from realizing their profits, they will, indeed,
have suffered a great wrong at the hands of the
State in consequence of its short sighted policy.
Resolved, That therefore, public expediency, a
wise public fJethought and Justice, not merely to
the present aud future citizens of the State but to
the private companies themselves involved, demand
that the next Legislature shall make it INSIDE
meanor to dump hydraulic taiiings into the river
canyons into any places where 1t will be subjec
to transportation into the areas and river channels
Of the valley.
Resolved, That the business Of large area is Ian.
gushing, its property depreciating aud its people
becoming bankrupt, and dams will only occasion
disastrous lay. The only effectual remedy, and
the remedy which must ultimately be applied, is
the restoration OF the rivers to their normal uses
and gravel dumps. Such restoration alone will re-
store prosperity to both agricultural and mining
districts.
Resolved, That stone DAMS even were it possible
to make them immovably permanent, as it is not,
would not be efectual remedy. Cl5y and fine
sand constitute at least SO per cent OF the material
of the injury 10 the valley, rivers bays and lands
1t Is not pretended that the dams Will arrest such
elements in the slightest degree.
Resolved, That the people OF tie valley are en-
titled to water, reasonably free from clay and sand
to such degree TINT it will be reasonably d. for
domestic consumption and irrigation and will occa-
sion no more than reasonable disturbance in the
channels Of the rivers.
Resolved, That the appropriation by the National
Congress was exclusively for the improvement of
the Sacramento river and its branches for purposes
OF commerce and drainage: ami TO that end it pro-
yided for the construction Of dams for holding back
the ssad and gravel already In the canyons and no.
for the detention OF future debris for the hydrauc
companies.
Resolved, That II any of such appropriation be an.
piled for the retention of future debris for the nv.
draulic mpanies it viii have been cllpabIy Der.
verted from the purpose intended BY Congress-
Resolved. That the agricultural classes especially
the custodans for the State of the ultimate
Of material wealth. should discharge that trust by
taking active steps to cause all nominees for the
State Legislature to be pledged to this legislation re-
qutred for the preservation Of the rivers from the
threatened use.
Resosred, Thst We ask our sister Oranges as indi-
vidu d OF one great organization, to take steps
through resolutions and through active COMMITTEES
and individual efforts to accomplish this one practi.
cal measure OF uanscendent importance in the com.
Ing Legislature, and to secSre the employment Of
the national appropriation In that bona ide restora.
ton Of the rivers which viii promote eectually the
prosperity, not merely Of the agricultural but also
Of the commercial and industrial interests OF the
State. L. W. HUFFAKER,
Secretary.