Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-13
A SUICIDAL POLICY.


That plan fell through because there was
not public spirit and foresight enough in
the press and Legislature to recognize the
Importance of it to the entire community.
Next litigation was resorted to. but itiga.
ton never could or can effect other than
partial relief, for the sufficient reason that
there are $50, 900. OO0 cubic yards of debris
in the streams already, over which the
Courts can exercise no jurisdiction. II
Judge Temples decision is made the basis
of future adjustments, the hydraulic
miners will have to build dams below their
property to hold back the .ailinga. But
even if every miner had dam, and every
dam was doing its full work, the problem
of the $50, 600, 600 cubic yards of debris
already in the streams woald have to be
solved. That is question which, as every
intelligent man can realize at glance. has
absolutely nothing to do with the stoppage
or continuance of the hydraulic mines. 1t
is danger which no Court can provide
against. 1t is dan ger altogether beyond
the capacities of attorneys to deal with.
1t is danger which de6es injunctions, and
yet which will have to be faced if the PEG.
pie of the Sacramento valley are to hold
their own.
Through the active exertions of the Cali
fornia delegation in Congress, and perhaps
mainly through the efforts of Congressman
Page, an appropriation OF 5000, 900 was
inserted in the River and Harbor bill, for
the improvement of the Sacramento and
Feather rivers. 1t was understood that
this money would be expended in taking
care of that vast accumulation of debris
which the Courts cannot touch. It was
to have been expended, that is to say, not
in helping the hydraulic miners las has
been alleged with equal mendacity and sta.
pidity), but in afording to the occupants
of this valley that protection which they
could not obtain in any other way. Let it
be thoroughly understood that in the
absence of any remedial measures the
accumulated debris already in the streams
must come down upon the valley lands
and that there ia enough of it to destroy
those lands. The necessity of securing
protection against this danger, therefore,
must be apparent to all who are capable of
reflection, and it must be equally clear to
them that this protection is necessary in
dependently of any possible or probable
results of litigation. For it will be very
little consolation to men who are ruined by
slickens to be told that certain mines far
up in the mountains have been or will be
enjoined. Such assurances will not CON-
pensate the injured farmers for the loss of
their property, destroyed by slickens which
has been deposited in the streams long ago.
In the interests of the Sacramento val
ley it follows inevitably, therefore, that
every assistance ought to have been given
to the Representatives at Washington " no
were laboring to obtain the az preparation
referred to. No matter what was the
result of the litigation against the by.
draulic miners, it was clear that the dis.
posal OF the accumulated debris was
separate and distinct and at the same time
urgent problem. The miners, even if they
all built. dams, could not hold this debris
back. There was nothing, in short, to pre-
vent it from coming down, unless Congress
could be persuaded to undertake the work.
Well, Congress was induced to undertake
it, and actually made the appropriation.
And in all probability the relief works
would have been well advanced by this
Time if-the statement is their own-some
people claiming to represent the interests of
the valley had not assured the Secretary
Of War thai there was no necessity for any
works of the kind And now these PEG.
Pile have the inordinate effrontery, or the
Incredible imbecility, to come boldly for
ward and take credit to themselves for a
piece of work which exeels anything we
have ever heard of for sheer and unadulter-
ated folly, provided that it is not rather
The outcome of deliberate treason to the
people of the Sacramento valley.
We do not think that it is necessary to
10 more than direct the attention of our
readers to the salient facts of the case.
No elaboration can add to the glaring alb.
'urdity OF the excuses put forward for
this colossal piece of idiocy. 1t is but too
evident that the persons who undertook to |
lefend the valley have betrayed it, whether
or through mere incompetence
matters little. 1t was the duty Of who
aver represented the valley to secure the |
argest appropriation possible for the i'm.
of the Sacramento. OF that |
there could be no question in any sane mind.
It was their duty to obtain the construc-
lion of engineering works to hold back the
accumulated debris. Of that there can be
40 doubt in any sane mind. Yet row we |
are told, with almost incredible faulty,
that pressure was brought upon the Secre-
sary of War, By the alleged friends of the
Sacramento valley, to prevent him from car
rying out the ,oork ,ohich every one knoscs to |
be absolutely necessary to the salvation OIL
he region And when these people are
criticised for their amazing action, what |
is their excuse and their justification
They say that no kind Of dams are of any
use. If that be true, then assuredly the |
valley is doomed, for nothing
but dams can hold back the accumulated |
debris, and if that debris is not held back,
our farmers may as well pack up aud leave.