Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-05-04
Evening Session.

the Chair called on the heads of delegations
to have the list Of delegates handed in.
W. S. Green, of Coluss, from the Com
mitsee on Resolutions, reported as follows
WHEREAS At least 100 600 acres of the finest lands
OF the Sacramento valley have already been de.
sroved and hundreds Of thousands of acres OF such
lands are nov in imminent danger Of such destruc-
tion oy the uurestrGined flow of decritus from hy-
driulie mines the headwaters OF the several trib
utaries Of the Sacramento and san Joaquin rivers
and whereas, the said flow of detritus has already
filed the channels Of many miles OF the navigRble
rivers Of the State, and its continuance must result
very short time in tine complete destruction OF
said rvers and their tributaries throwing them In
broad shallow, muddy streams the fartst por-
ti0n Of the State, annihilatiBg not only the pro-
ductiveness of the lands, but cities, towns and vii
lages and whereas, the navigation Of the bay is
now Imperfect and the harbor itself must at no
distant uly suceunb to this devastating agency and
ruin overt Ike the metropolis of the Pacific thus
completing picture Of desolstion never before be,
held by the civilized world; and Whereas there are
bat few iLdviduals or eorpomtions, comparatively,
engaged in this species OF mining and Ahereas,
this condition OF things has already led to exodus
Of good citizens from the State, the end OF which
no see therefore, be it
Resolced, That il is the duty Of the Stats of Cal
i'ornia, as amoral person endowed with rights and
resting under obligations, to defend herself against
such fearful mutiatioD, and protect the people OF
the valleys in The peaceful and undisturbed enjoy.
meat of the fruits Of their labor.
E6Satred, Inat We lndorSe the action OF Attorney
General II 1T bringing suit against some of the
hydraulic ini.iing comp mics in the Dame OF the
Stt to test the right Of man in the pursuit of
wealth tc destroy the property of auotner, well
as the cOmciDn he lt2ge OF this and future gen
egations the navigabillty OF the rivers OF the
State.
ResolUed, That as experience has taught us that
the waters viii readily carry off, without serious
consequence, the washings Of quartz and drift min
ing, wish - say, in the most emphatic manner,
the miners OF the State, that have no contest
with anyone engaged in such mining.
Res0tced, That we have no contest with those by
draulic mines which take OF their detritus, but
1t is against those and those only which wash great
areas of earth into our streams.
Res0lred, That the political party that does not
recognize the lust principle that every man must so
worthy the support of the people.
ReSOiced, That the attention Of the press OF the
State, especially the metropolitan press, is called TO
the immense importance Of this matter, and to the
fact that ID has in our judgment failed to take that
comprehensive view of the subject which its i'm
portance demands.
ResotUed, That the people OF the Sacramento
valley demand OF the Executive, Legislative and
Judicial branches OF the government Of the Safe
that just protection of property for which gov
er ments are established and maintained.
Res0lUed That the contest already begun against
this system Of desolation and destruction OF our
State Is a sacred cause, and should en- lst the SYM
pathies and active cooperation of all her people
that the burden Of the conflict should not be borne
this great destroyer but should be shared by al the
people Of our great valleys; that in order to
force those who now at the front and concen-
tTate all efforts in united action, we do most ear
uesty recommend that the several Boards Of Super
visOrs present on this aston meet together and
take such iIn in the premises as will enable their
several counties to contribate that aid and encour
ssenept which only united action can bring and
we hereby pledge ourselves to the support OF such
action.
Resolred, That the action Of the Board of Super
visors OF Sacramento county in alng this Ccnyen-
ton together meets the unqualified approval OF the
people Of this valley
George Cone moved the adoption of the re-
port.
I. n. Hoag said the Convention was now
in temper to hear remarks upon the resou-
Sions.
W. $. GREEN
Was called for. He said he was not public
speaker The question before the Convention
was of greater importance than any other,
not only to the valley, but to the whole State.
The destruction of lands is destruction of
the State. The failure of q crop is but a
temporary loss. Suppose S5,000,000 of crop
is lost the State can bridge it over, and three
times that. e., for three years. But sup
pose real estate is blotted out to that amount?
ID ies not that show the difference between
mcnsyed loss and l0ss Of the soil? In one case
th re is opportunity to replace the loss, in the
other none. You can burn Sacramento down
and rebuild it. But destroy her land and she
csnuot be rebuilt. When the State consents
to the destruction of part of her lands, she is
ike RAN who loses one OF the members of
his body. Being a moral person she has An
obligation resting upon her, and that
is to protect her people in their
property The loss of the Sacramento
river as navigable stream, even
n lar,iS l-e ,x,o,,il optosl l,sc
to the State and her people. Colusa county
people are stockholders in the Sacramento
river and pay tribute for its use. So well is
this understood in Coluss that no one there
would refuse to contribute his quota to pre-
serve this great highway. In the Gold Run
trial the miners were ready and had their
witnesses ready. But the people, plaintiff,
had trouble to get them, and were at sea.
We want org auiz alton, that as effective work
may be done on our side. [Applause.l We
can atfJrd it, go great is our interest. Let
the Convention take hold of the matter and
if each citizen pays his quota it will be small.
Applause.
SENATOR DAVIS,
OF Yuba, was called upon. he had not at
tended with view of making speech. The
farmers in this matter should make the
speeches, as being the more directly inter
es.ed. Yet he was a small landowner, and
any one, professional man or otherwise, who
can witness the dAsolation going on and not
have bis moral nature aroused, is less than
human. tApplause. He came to California
to make Marysville his home. 1t was then
b autiful city, surrous ded by all the elements
of good society, wealth, and with a
| PROSPEROUS future. But see the result
there, where the mud and slickens
OF the MINIS has surrounded that
people and driven hundreds OF them to
| seek otner homes. He believed this slck
| ems question to be the most far-reech-
! ing aud important ever before this peo-
pls. fApplause. On its issue depends the
! life or death Of vast section of the State.
| It is g broad statement. but literally true. A
| few wears ago our rivers were clear and un-
| obstfucsed, our lands fruitful aud safe, aud
| we had all the elements Of great State In
produce. in the outlook for large population
| OF happy and prosperous people. Can the
stranger so Judge of us now? No; for he
| 6uds fair portion of the State almost de-
vastated and the people despondent. Marys-
vile was once known as the Queen City, with
! farye resources, and her vicinity the richest
and fairest in fruitful lands. Lock now and
YOU see but picture CT distress and desert
| Her Yuba il destroyed and its bed level with
her streets, while the largest inland steamers
that onos landed at her ~hsrves cannot reach
her. The lands are far beneath sand and
slickens. and not less than 100, 900 ares art
| destroyed, and large proportion Of the peo
pie have lstt, and impending ruin stares US il
fiy4 faca a nplause I We have hean tolf