Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-07-18

llb hhAlSl NtuLOL bt ca lJtIlCFA " NSiAe -H-J
"chanccs on the effectiveness OF dams. y
What is meant here by the expression
taking chances - Judge Temple has de-
cided that il the miners build dams which
will hold back the coarser debris from
the mines, they can go on with their
work. Having built their dams they
| must 90 into Court and make a showing Of
! their effectiveness. The rest is matter OF
detail. 1. is 10 be presumed that IN such
case the Court would appoint experts
| professional engineers, no doubt to ex-
anime the dams and ascertain whether
they answered the purpose for which they
were built. The question of the solidity
and permanence of the structures would
naturally enter into the investigation, and
upon the ensuing report the Court would
act. Ii it was favorable the miners would
/ get a release from injunction. But it
ought to be obvious that no matter what
the authority upon which the decision of
the Court is rendered, it cannot be infal.
] iAbAp' 4 LD OANA4SAk Vi IihuCG ulusL III IdSt
enter into it, as it enters into all human
acts. Human judgment, however aided
by experience and special training, is never
beyond the reach of error. To say, there.
fore, that the people OF the Valley cannot
take any chances on the effectiveness of
the dams is equivalent to saying that they
will not be satisfied with any dams that
can be built.
1t is evident, however, that those VINO
are so dreadiully afraid Of taking any
chances in regard to the dams, are put
ting themselves in position to take a
great many more chances in another direc-
ton. For unless dams are built this
Summer all the decisions of all the
| Courts between San Francisco and Wash.
ington cannot affect the probability that
a wet winter will bring down enough
debris to cover up Marysville and to de.
stroy the farms of the leading members of
| the Anti-Debris Association. 1t is no
| doubt possible that the dams proposed may
prove less effective than is hoped. But
| there is no room for doubt as to the fact
that if no dams are built the people of the
Valley will be exposed to great danger
next winter; that they are taking
"chances' infinitely great, on that side,
compared to those which alarm our con.
temporary of the Sun SO much, on the
dam question. This is a practical ques-
ton, and it is also pressing one. The
decision of Judge Temple by itself cannot
protect the valley lands during the coming
rainy season. That is the first point to be
reflected upon. II therefore a blind oppo-
sition to the construction of any restrain
ing works this summer is exhibited by
the Valley, and ii that opposition is sue
cessful, it will result in preventing the
erection OF any dams, and so the Valley
will be kept altogether without protection
when the rains come. We are sure that
the farmers will not assert that that is
safe situation to look forward to. Yet if
we were to judge from such papers as the
Marysville appeal, we should be forced to
the conclusion that the people of that town
and the surrounding country were par
ticularly anxious to be deprived of all de-
lenses against season of high water.
Anti-Debris Conventions, political tom
tom beating, passing of resolutions, choos-
ing of candidates, are all utterly powerless
to protect the Valley as the case stands
Litigation, injunctions, suits, are equally
unavailing. Each and all of these methods
of recourse are as idle as beating the air
against the debris now in the upper river
channels, and only waiting the rains to
come down upon the Valley. Now we say
that it is the first duty of the Valley to
guard against this danger, and that it can.
not be guarded against il the Valley people
set their faces against compromise. The
course which the Marysville appeal repre-
cents is one which may easily entail ruin
upon its patrons, but which never can set
tie the question. The Colusa San speaks
the truth when it says that "the Temple
"decision is not everything for our side"
That decision is, as we have said before,
compromise decision. If, therefore, it is to
be accepted by the Valley as the basis of
it's future action, it must be accepted on
the distinct understanding that it looks to
compromise. Again, the apprehensions
expressed by our contemporaries as to the
efficiency of the dams, are unreasonable
They seem to think that the miners may
get them to accept some very Ineffective
kind of restraining works, and that in 90
doing they will have lost their rights before
the law. But this is perfectly vain fear
Nothing but actual experiment can demon.
strate the effectiveness of the dams, and if
they fail to perform the work expected of
them, all the rights of the Valley will in
stantly revive, and among others the right
to stop the working of the hydraulic mines
1t is really the miners who must take
the chances, not the farmers. The miners
are to construct dams on the condition that
if they are effective-and only in that
event-they shall be allowed to resume
work. They may spend hundreds of thou
sands of dollars on the works, and then
the dams may prove Ineffective. In such a
case they would have lost their money, and
they would not be able to resume work. 1t
is they, therefore, who must take the
chances, and not the Valley people.
The latter in fact have no reason to fear
the dam proposition. 1t can hold only if
it affords them the complete protection
Judge Temple has decided to be their right
under the law. Ii it fails the miners must
stop working But for the immediate pro-
lection of the Valley it Is certain that re-
straining works are absolutely required,
and unless some sdch works are built this
summer, next winter may intlict greater in.
jury than any preceding one upon the
farmers. That consideration we assert to
be the paramount one at this moment. All
others must be subordinated to it. And
since the farmers have nothing to lose and
very much to gain by agreeing to the i'm
mediate prosecution of the dam system,
they will be certainly ill-advised and very
unfaithful to their own nearest interests if
they do not drop the nonsensical talk about
compromise being treason, and apply them
selves, like practical men of shrewd CON-
nonsense, to the plain requirements Of the
situation.
THE STATE AND NATIONAL BOARDS
OF HEALTH.