Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-08
AN UNwARRARTABLg ATTACK UPON
COLONEL WENDELL


the accused. In the first place Colonel
Mendell has never been in position to
take the view which the Anti-Debris Asso- |
citation appears to take. He has never been
called upon to pronounce an opinion as TO
whether hydraulic mining ought to De
stopped, and had he gone out OF his way
to offer any advice upon that point ms
official superiors might very justly have
rebuked his action as an impertinence.
He was instructed to undertake exami'
nations and to make surveys to devise
"system of works to prevent further
"injury to the navigable waters of Cali
"fornia from the debris OF mines arising |
from hydraulic mining, and to trans
init report thereon to Congress at its
next session. This was his work, and, as
his report shows, he has performed it in
conscientious and thorough manner.
He was called upon to show how the
rivers could be protected. This he has
done, and now he is attacked because he
did not take the position that the rivers
could not be protected, and the deliberate
conclusions of science are sought to be
overridden and thrust aside in order to
make room for a haphazard and necessarily
crude judgment, based mainly upon preju-
dice, and unsupported by knowledge aud
experience. Mr.. Moulton evidently thinks
that he is much better judge than Colo
mel Mendell as to the possibilities of the
situation, and because ne, in the absence
of careful and intelligent examination,
which can alone give weight to opinions on
such subject, has jumped to the conclu-
sion that Colonel Mendell is all wrong,
nothing can satisfy him but the instant
removal of that efficient officer. Mr..
Moulton takes an extremely narrow and
superficial view OF the case, moreover. His
position is that the one remedy for every
thing is to stop hydraulic mining. Now
we do not hesitate to say that no man who |
has studied this question with sufficient |
care to make his ideas upon it of any value, |
would venture t. take that position. For |
it is an ascertained fact that the entire ces-
sation of hydraulic mining at the present |
time cannot solve the problem, inasmuch |
as we have to deal not only with the debris |
which is coming from the mines now in
operation, but with the accumulations of |
thirty years.
Upon this most important consideration
Colonel Mendell's report may be studied
with advantage Speaking Of remedial
works, he says If this system of re-
"straint had proceeded pari passuwith min
''ing during the past thirty years it can
"hardly be doubted that the condition Of
''the country affected would to-day have
"been much better than it is. A system
"begun now is obliged to deal not only
with the current action of the rivers, but
sis also compelled 70 contend with the ac-
"cumulated difficulties of thirty years"
Again, after describing the present condition
OF the rivers, he observes 1.-THE state.
"ment of the case presented in the pre-
"ceding pages seems to establish the me-
g cessity for measures of remedy or alle-
"viation, eusn in the event that no further
contributions be made to mining detritus
"in the beds of streams" The fact that the
stoppage of hydraulic mining altogether
and permanently cannot settle the ques-
ton, ia of itself sufficient to demonstrate
the folly and injustice of Mr.. Moulton's
position toward Colonel Mendell. The |
latter holds that In any case remedial
works will have TO be applied. The for |
mer, in the teeth of all the engineering evil
dence (which is the only evidence of any
consequence in this regard), insists that
there shall be no remedial works, and ac-
cuses Colonel Mendell of infdelity to his
trust because he has not stultified himself
by asserting that nothing more is necessary
than the stoppage of hydraulic mining.
Colonel Mendell has shown in detail how
the debris can be retained, in what quan.
titles, and at what cost. He has also
shown that the quantity now in the mount
ain canyons, and which must be washed
down in any event, is sufficient to over.
whelm very large area of the valley
lands. Mr.. Moulton, however, appears
willing to encounter all the imminent dan.
ger of this washing down of accumulated
debris, and in fact he seems to entertain
positive antipathy to all protective meas
ures other than the stcppage of hydraulic
mining. Colonel Mendell has not said any.
thing in regard to the propriety of stop
ping hydraulic mining, for the sufficient
reason that that question was wholly out
side the line of his instructions. He was
ordered to devise remedial and alleviating
works, and he has done SO. His orders
proceeded from the Secretary of War, and
according to Mr.. Moulton's peculiar logic
we suppose that official will next be
charged with being the confidential
"agent of the hydraulic miners.
We are surprised that the Executive
Committee of the Anti.Debris Association
should have permitted SO unjust and
hlOoeOhnAAS al neeoSh u poi al hoAoAooio
and efficient public officer to be made with
its approval and under its auspices. Such
evidences of blind and bigoted prejudice
can only hinder the purposes of the Asso-
citation by repelling fair-minded and intelli-
gent men. Colonel Mendell understands
this whole question as Mr.. Moulton will,
we fear, never understand it, and if the
farmers expect to succeed in their aims,
they will have to avail themselves of the
valuable conclusions of scientific men, In
stead of making vain attempts to coerce
science into pronouncing in disregard of the
facts. Colonel Mendell has made it clearer
than ever that remedial works will be
necessary in any event, and whoever sim
cerely desires the protection Of the valley /
lands must support that conclusion, wholly
irrespective of their opinions as to the pro.
priety or possibility of stopping hydraulic
mining.
WHAT Is A RECEIVER?