Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-08-31
Some Of Times Changes.
Rapid Decline Of q California City.

Some Of Times Changes.
Rapid Decline Of a California City.
Mr.. Joseph La>k. an old resident
of Mary.ville. California, is spend
ing a few days in our city visiting
his ncphews, the proprietors of the
/ White House Store. He is a gen
tlcman Of fine conversational pow
er-, thoroughly imbued with the
enthusiasm which distinguishes old
time CalifornianS. and is truly loyal
to the Golden State, notwithStand-
ing he sees to the northward the ell
cmcnts which will soon place us in
determined rivalry with those who
have been the past thirty five years
absolute masters Of the situation.
While he regards the prosperity OF
his State AS assured, he did not at
tempt to disguise the fact that some
portions are threatened by an evil
quite as depressing as prospective
drought and much more certain in
its disastrous effects. This terrible
infection is slickcns."
! Probably some of our readers who
have not seen the volrlminous re.
ports Of the litigation in progress
from this cause. will be at some
loss to define this term. Slick
ems" is the debris of gravel and
sand which flows from hydraulic
mining. 1t is washed into the riv-
ers in such immense quantities that
it forms bars which gradually fill
up the channels, and in the course
Of time forces the watercourses
from their beds, inundating the
tule or low lands and depositing a
thick layer Of sand which is per
manent barrier to vegetation. Thus
We see how the vigorous prosecution
OF legitimate enterprise may
sometimes ruin other industries
with but little hope of relief or re.
dress. The misfortune Of Yuba
county, and especially of the city
Of Marysville, springs from precise.
ly the cause which a few years age
was her main reliance and strength
AS long as gold was extracted by
primative methods, the farmers
prospered, trade increased, and all
the industries incident to thriving
community grew apace; but the
time came when the rocker and the
slnice-box were superseded by the
hose, and hydraulic mining dis
placed all other methods in such
placer diggings as commanded a
steady flow of water from an eleva.
ton. This discovery led to the de.
cline of settlements in the valleys
contiguous to the foothills. The
evil was unforeseen and no provis.
ion was made for its mitigation
even if means could have been de.
vised to avert the calamity. The
fuba river, which had been navi.
gable for larger vessels, is now SC
shoal that the smallest light-draught
steamers with difficulty ascend its
tortuous course. The city has been
protected from the inroads of water
and sand BY costly levees, but be.
sides the expense of their maintain.
ance All occasional break involves q
serious loss of property. Taxes
have steadily increased while the
business and population have grown
less. a municipal population Of
5000 in 1865 has dwindled down
t" about 1000 at the present time
Lots which then sod for 500 o,
$500 per foot now sell at 5000 and
les. AS an instance Of this depre.
citation Of value, the United States
Block affords a fair illustration
Built in 1855 at a cost Of $4,000,
covering an area of 60 by 100 feet,
it WAS lately sold for $4,000.
The effect upon the farming in
/ terests Of Iuba and Suffer counties
has been scarcely less marked.
Thousands Of acres Of the richest
soil have been rendered practically
worthless, and have been given up
to Cinnamon, who constitute the
final plague which is literally eating
the people out Of house and home
Many Cslifornians, from this and
other causes, have drifted north.
ward, and the loss is our gain, but
the exodus from the plarue.str;ck.