Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-06
material that would wash down with the


nrS1 n0CuS.
THE MATERIAL FIRST WASHED
In mining was light, alluvial soil and light
earth, easily moved by water when it was
carried into the stream. A dump of this
material would be easily carried away by the
current of the stream. The material in the
defendants mine is rock, cemented. and has
to be broken up and loosened by powder be-
fore it can be moved by water. More cubic
yards of earth were moved annually prior to
1860 than has been done in any year since
1870 Hydraulic mining was prscticed iu
Spain years previous to the discovery of gold
in California. The process is graphically de-
scribsd in the sixth volume of Pliney's Nat
ursl History, on page 90. We could hardly
give better description of hydraulic mining
to-day than is there given. The quantity Of
water used Ill early mining was as much as
that used now. The number of men used
and quantity of material moved was as much
as now. The river is getting
MUDDIER AND MUDDIER
Each year, and is caused by the natural
wash. This mud does not come from tie de-
PENDANTS mine. There is DO material in that
mine that makes mud. This muddy water
is caused by silt or washing from the soil.
Eighty years ago the Ohio was beautiful
ana limpid stream. its banks covered with
the Mississippi. and it is getting muddier and
muddier each year, because man. in pursu
ing his agricultural pursuits, is destroying
the surface of the soil The material
that comes from the defendants mine,
or the material from the deep blue
gravel channels, does not pollute or muddy
the streams. All the mud h)wing
in the waters and deposited on the banks are
traceable to the early mining. Ths defend
ants are not guilty even of discoloring the
water, and the experiment Of Allardt with his
glass tube plainly demonstrates that fact. Mr..
acknowledgements are very COL ficting and his
estimates were shaken on cross examin alton.
His statements to this Court, and his state
ments to the Government, as to the amount
of material removed from, and that still re-
mains in the niues. and his whole testimony
must be regarded with suspicion. Do we be-
lieve Allardt's statement in regard to the
amount of water used in the Gold Run mine
and tie quantity OF material removed? do
not believe it true, nor did any man that
heard him testify. Engineer Uren made
actual instrumental surveys. and Allardt's
figures were merely the estimates of man
who expected to be witness in the case.
Allardt's statement was made for and in the
interest Of those who employed him. His
testimony is not reliable-his conclusions are
cot reliable. The dumps of this
BLUE GRAVEL MINES
At Smartsville to-day are Intact, and they
hold back the light material that is washed
into the stream above. If the theory of the
plaintiff is true, these blue gravel dumps
would be washed out and carried down the
stream. The charge that mining has been
deleterious to the health of Sacramento City
the reports of Drs. Logan and Hatch re.
flute that accusation. The death rate, accord
ing &c their statements, is less now than it
was ten years ago less now than it was
twenty years ago less now than it was thirty
years ago. Their tables show that after each
dry winter the death rate was high, and after
a wet winter low. The fact that the water
in the soil is near the surface, according to
Professor Price and DIR. Simpson. is the
cause Of the excellent health of this COM
munity. The fact of the soil being filed
with water is not source of disease, but on
the contrary is a source of health. Adjourned
until 9 a. NJ. Monday.