Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-19

RESTORATION OF the TlNSIs W bHeA oi'6'
purity on the ground this would involve
the abandonment of mining altogether.
Yet with this reminder of their own delara-
tions before them, and in the teeth OF
Judge Temples decision, the Wheatland
farmers now ignore their previous under
taking, and assert that they will not cease
from litigation until they have destroyed
the entire mining interest Of the State, in
Guiding quartz, drift and seam as we'll
as hydraulic mining.
This is a strange new departure, and it is
for the men who adopted the resolutions
at the Wheatland meeting to explain, if
they can. the apparently irreconcilable po-
sitions they have taken at such brief inter.
walls. For many months past all the
organs of the extreme anti.debris side have
labored to persuade the quartz and drift
and seam miners that there was no hos
tility to them that only the hydraulic |
miners were opposed or would be; and |
that therefore it was not necessary for the
OkuCI nluCIo 10 nahC Chust Win
the hydraulic men. Now, however, this
pretense is flung aside, and it is boldly de-
clared that every kind of mining must stop
Judge Temples decision seems to have
operated as touchstone to test the good
faith of the professions made at the late
Anti-Debris Convention, and very remark
able are the results Of its application. But
apart from the singulsrity OF the new de.
parture of the Wheatland farmers, it is
quite obvious that there is anything but
unaninity among the anti.debris people in
regard to the situation developed by Judge
Temples decision. The Wheatland farm.
ers declare themselves not satisfied with it.
They denounce any and all dam projects
and they say that they must have COM
plete and absolute publication of the rivers.
At MarYsville there seems to be divided
sentiment, some being in favor of a COM
promise, and the more rabid taking the
Wheatland position. The Colusa Sun
thinks the decision may be made the basis
of an agreement between the contestants.
Even the Suffer Farmer is of a very similar
opinion. But the resolutions adopted at
such public meetings as have been held
still breathe threatenings and slaughter.
The anti-debris organs have with curious
haste declared against joint Convention,
but it is perfectly evident that even if the
farmers will not enter joint Convention
it is in order for them to call another Con.
vention of their own side, for the purpose
of reaching an understanding as to the ma
ture of their future debris creed. The
position taken at Wheatland the other day
is clearly one which cannot be adhered to.
A deliberate proposition to put stop to
all mining would change the character OF
the controversy at once, and bring into it
new factors OF sufficient Importance to en-
danger the position of tine farmers. No
appeal to public opinion upon such pro-
gramme could be made with any hope of
success, and the only result OF the attempt
would be to create reaction of very
damaging character. Nor is this the only
consideration which may be urged against
the Wheatland manifesto. 1t is therein
announced that the one thing needful is
the stoppage of all mining. Now this is
an egregious error. The stoppage of all
mining tomorrow would not suffice either
to protect the valley lands or to clarity the
waters of the rivers. The best engineers
on the coast have estimated that there are
$50, 600, 600 yards of debris in the upper
channels Of the rivers, and that all of this
will come down. The same engineers est.
mate that even if not another ounce of
debris were put into the river beds, it
would take from five to seven years to get
rid of the accumulations already there.
It follows from this that las the RECORD.
UNION has always insisted), it is necessary
to take measures for impounding the debris,
whether or not hydraulic mining is
stopped. Those, therefore, who denounce
all dams, and clamor for nothing but |
the stoppage of mining, evidently do not |
understand either the situation or their |
own interests. They understand the lat |
ter so little, in fact, that if they had their |
way we should be willing to wager that |
within six months they would be demand.
ing the dams they now decry SO fool.
ishly. The plain truth is that dams
are necessary and indispensable, and if |
the miners do not build them the farmers |
will have to do the work themselves and |
that this necessity is wholly independent |
of any judicial decisions or processes of |
Court. The farmers will make a fatal |
mistake if they imagine that Judge Tenn
pies decision has given them everything |
that is necessary for their protection.
They heed protection against the debris
already in the river beds, and because they |
cannot do without such protection it is |
their interest to seize the present juncture |
for settlement of the case. They are
false friends to the valley who try to per.
suade them that litigation alone is suffi,
cient for their needs, and they have read
Judge Temples decision to very little pur.
pose who imagine that it leaves the miners
no standing ground. The first thing to be
done, however, is to retreat from the |
untenable positions involved in the Wheat
land resolutions /; unless indeed it is the |
pie to include all mining in their assaults. |