Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-21
WHAT CAN BE DONE IN THE MOUNTAINS.

Desiring to give full opportunity fer the
free expression on the topic considered be-
] low, we reprint &n editorial from the
Placer Herald of the 10TH instant. The
Herald says:
The RECORD UNION, in an editorial last
week, debates the future prospects of the
mining population, and on the whole takes
view of their situation more hopeful than
the facts and conditions warrant. Taking II
for granted that hydraulic mining il by the
Sawyer decision closed beyond revival, il
argues in effect that the next thing those
people who have depended upon that in.
dustry should do, is to turn their attention
to methods of promoting the growth of the
mountain regions by agricultural or horti.
cultural pursuits, and thus improve their
condition and increase the population. This
kind of talk sounds very well in theory,
but in practice it will not work. With the
cessation of hydraulic mining in localities
where the people have depended on it al
most entirely, the only thing that can pre-.
vent general exodus OF the population
will be the working of the gravel deposits
by drifting, and unfortunately there are but
few hydraulic claims that are rich enough
to pay by this process. a miner is miner,
that Is his trade, and he is no more likely to
turn farmer so long as there is mining any
where to be done, than the carpenter is to
turn blacksmith so long as there are houses
anywhere to be built. Ii Sacramento should
begin to retrograde, and building should
stop entirely, would the RECORD. UNION
advise all the carpenters of that city to at
once possess themselves of land and go to
farming? If it did so, how many carpen.
tiers does it suppose would follow its ad.
vice? II, instead OF houses, there were
still bridges or fences to build, that being
in the carpenters line, he would, no doubt,
stay and build them. otherwise he would
emigrate to some locality where his partic-
ular services were in demand. This reason
ing is in accord with the laws of trade and
supply, which have held good in a | coun.
tries and at all times, and it is folly, we
take it, to expect the mining population to
upset the long established precedent and
form the one great exception. The soil on
the western slope of the Sierras at an alti.
tude corresponding with the location of
most Of the hydraulic mines is tolerably
fertile, and very well adapted to the pro-
duction Of potatoes, vegetables and the
harder fruits, SUCH as apples, pears and
cherries. A few of the present population,
more particularly those who have, at some
time in their lives, had experience in this
kind Of industry, may resort to cultivation
of the soil for livelihood but to exp ct
every miner to do so, regardless of expert
ence and regardless of Inclination, is not
| reasonable.
Another drawback to the RECORD.
UNIONS theory is this /: At present the
mining diiches would afford the best of
opportunities for convenient irrigation, but
the meager return that Ia likely TO be real
lied by the ditch-owners from this source
would hardly warrant them in keeping
their extensive and expensive structures in
repair, and one years abandonment of
most of the large mining reservoirs and
canals would so work their ruiz as to rem
der the probability of their future repair,
under ordinary circumstances, very doubt
ful. With the permanent stopping of n.y.
draulic mining, the owner, perhaps q San
Francisco capitalist, will tear up his pipes,
sell them for what he can get and turn his
attention to other pursuits nearer his home
the superintendent, abandoning his home,
for nobody will want to buy it, will gather
together his family and move off to other
mining fields the laboring miners will
mostly follow in his train, and to those who
have families the transition viii be severe
indeed, since In most instances their homes
represent their savings, and they viii not
be able to sell them for a dollar with which
TO aecure others. The village banker,
merchant, hotel-keeper and tradesmen
generally, finding their customers gone,
will be compelled to follow, and the change
will involve them necessarily in great loss,
Thus the exodus will 20 on, and places that
to day are thrifty and full of life, industry
and business, will, in very short time,
that is, if hydraulic mining shall be effect
ually stopped, present a scene of desola-
ton.
Coming back now to the RECORD UNION S
theory of the cultivation OF our mountain
coils, we will say that we have entertained
the belief and the hope that some time in
the future these Sierra slopes to an altitude
of from 5000 to 1000 feet will be covered
with orchards and gardens, varying in the
character of the product according to the
altitude, and dotted with neat and com
Portable and attractive homes. But to ex-
pect men who have followed mining all
their lives, and who have in most instances
grown old in the service, to work out this
change would be expecting too much. The
conversion of tree. covered slopes into highly
titled gardens and orchards requires plod-
ding patience just the opposite to the min
ers nature. To work out the change from
mining to an agricultural region of the
higher Sierra slopes will require, to great
extent. new population, whose aims and
hopes and experiences lead in the direction
of the object sought to be ACQUIRED, and to
secure this population will take time.