Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-09-08
TIE PROPOSED DEBRIS RESTRAINING
DAMS, THE PRESERVATION OF VAL
LEY LANDS AND RIVER NAVIGATION.

a question exciting deep attention in
the Sacramento valley, especially in re.
gions contiguous to the Sacramento river,
is that involved in the proposed erection of
"Debris Restraining Dams" The public
sentiment of the valley residents, as re-
Elected through the resolutions of official
bodies. has been recently made newly man
ifest. and is enphatically opposed to the
construction of dams at Government; ex.
ponse, in whole or in, part, except upon the
condition that the works shall not give Ii.
cense to the continuation Of hydraulic
mining. The proposal is to erect on the
Yuba river work or series OF works to
hold back as much SIS can be restrained of
the debris that is now in that river and
WILL into it, and by descent, into the
lower streams. This proposal is advoca.
ted by the people of tee mountain mining
sections, and by come in the valley, who
claim that it will prove an adequate pro.
lection to the valley lands from any menace
which would arise by reason of the depcsi-
tion of debris in the Sacramento, Featker
and Yuba. By both sides it is admitted
that the debris deposits row in the tribs.
taries of the Sacramento, will wash down
into the river below, unless restrained by
artificial works. But these, most valley
residents claim, will be .nseless If the
prosecution of mining will add to
the deposits, and hence they hold
there should be no construction of such
works with view to the placing behind
them of new deposits. This is & fair state
sment of the Immediate issue relative to the
dams. Recently the Secretary of War,
<Yho has contfo, of the congressional ap.
preparation for tie improvement of the
navigation of tic Sacramento river, sent
80 this coast one .of his subordinate.o officers
to ascertain the santiment of the people
relative to the construction of these dams.
This officer was, sS be himself informed
us. charged with gathering information
from the members OF Congress elect and
those of the present Congress, from dead
ing citizens in both mining and valley seo-
tions, from local Legislators, and mining
and agricultural capitalists. To these he
had three questions te PROFOUND relative
to the expediency of erecting the dams,
and the interrogated party chose which he.
would respondto, and the affirmative or neg
ative reply was by the Officer recorded. It
is not known to what extent he prosecuted
his inquirieq, but it soon BECAME evident
that the people of one sectten were not
satisfied with this method of ascertaining
the public sentiment, and as q result local
boards were called upon to SPEAK for the
people, and in the valley section this has
very generally been done. This IL fair
statement of the facts relative to the mis-
sion of Colonel Wilson, of the Wax De-
partment
We thus have the Bhole matter of the
debris restraining dams again before the
public bar, and it is therefore timely te
consider the question coolly. and with that
del;beration its Importance demands. Ger.
tainly, where there is SO wide diversity
of opinion between the people of the val
lev and the mining sections, sDd where
there is division between engineers
as to the adequacy of the proposed works,
It is Of the first Importance TO ascertain
certain facts which must control the Whels |