Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-21
FURTHER PRESS EXPRESSIONS CONCERN
ING JUDGE SAVERS DECI,IoS.

Upon the subject OF the recent decision
in the Woodruff case, the jacksonville
Pgjaronian says:
United States Judges Sawyer and Deadly
have decided adversely to the hydraulic
miners in the famous debris case. From
legal standpoint the decision of the judges
may be correct, but it cannot be denied
that the miners also had grounds for their
position. The debris that is annually
washed down the Iubs, Feather, Sacra-
mento and American rivers has done I'M
told damage, has ruined large sections of
farming land, has impoverished many
farmers, deprecated values of property in
the Sacramento valley counties, has in
creased taxation in those counties, is
growing menace to the farmers of that
section, has obstructed navigation of
streams, and thus prevented competi-
ton for the carrying trade, and has
retarded the development of the Sac
ramento valley. But the miners are
the pioneers of the State. Long be.
fore farming had attained any degree
| of Importance in California the miners
were burrowing the earth and washing
down mountains in their search for gold.
In the pursuit of this hazardous enter
prise-mining-they have invested millions
of dollars. Dependent upon these mines
are thousands OF men and their families.
| Gravel mining cannot be profitably con-
Quoted except by hydraulicking. That
means debris, and that debris, when rains
come and streams are swo len, is washed
down on the valleys. TIE decision Of
| Judges Sawyer and Deadly is a death blow
| to hydraulic mining and the stoppage OF
that industry will throw thousands out Of
work, will make their homes vslueless,
will close the great water mining bitches,
and will destroy the vast capital invested
in gravel mining. The question is vexed
one, and its final solution means death either
to gravel mining or to farming in the Sscra-
mento valley. 1t has been and is question
of importance, and Sacramento valley
farmers feel joyous of the victory they have
gained. But the mountain canyons are
| filled with debris, and even If the mines
are closed down it will be many years be-
fore the mountains will cease deluging the
valley with slickens at the annual flood
time. Two interests of great importance,
two sections representing entirely different
classes, have been arrsyed against each
|
most bitter feeling has been provoked. 1t
has been desperate struggle, one that was
inevitable, and the decision is, we believe,
legally sound; but to one who has seen the
land wasted by slickens and has seen the
great slicken sources of supply, the vast
amount of people deriving their support
from the mining interest, it seems that it
was a question exceedingly difficult of
solution. 1t may benefit the valley coun-
ties, but it will injure Plumas, Shasta,
Butte, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, Ell Dorado,
and other mining counties
The Reno Gazette thus comments on the
effects OF the decision on Nevada county :
California has been enjoying season of
real prosperity, and her cities have felt the
influence very much, but she will expert
ence temporary change for the worse,
unless we are very much mistaken. The
setback to hydraulic mining viii certsinly
be felt. a county like Nevada cannot be
taken out of small State without being
felt, and Judge Sswyer's decision pretty
nearly wipes Nevada county off the map,
! for the time being. Her mines have EN-.