Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-14
PRESS OPINIONS CoNCEREING JUDGE
sAwYER'S RECENT DECISION.

rivers, but those along all other streams lead
ing out OF the mining districts of the State. "
After reproducing RECORD. UNION dispatch
from Grass Valley upon the subject, in which
this sentence occurred: 1t is deplorsble
outlook for the hundreds of families who have
depended upon the mines for their daily liv-
ing, end who will now be forced to seek other
fields of labor, the Republican adds: From
experience the writer knows these " hundreds
of families can turn to the hills the greedy
foreign hydrsulickers would have washed
down upon the fertile valleys for their ''other
fields of labor" 1t is well-established fact
that nc section of our State is more pro-
ductive. from an agricultural point of view, than
these very foothills The vine and fruit tree
fourishes there as it does nowhere else, and
the wine made from the mountain grapes
commands higher price in the market than
does that from vines grown in the valley.
The fruit is larger, sweeter, and obtains o
reader sale than the fruit of the valleys.
More tons OF hay can be mown to the acre,
more bushels of grain raised, and the
climate cannot be surpassed under the
broad canopy Of heaven. Let these
hundreds of families turn to husbsndry for
their support, and they will find that they
can make better living, have stesdier work
and certainly be more Independent than they
ever were as serfs OF the foreign corporations
owning and operating the hydraulic Mines
The Judge admits that mining is a very i'm
portant industry to Cslifornia-ss does every
one-but he also assumes that where one dol
lar is taken from the ground in mining enter
prises, thousands are taken from it in agri-
cultural pursuits. And what is more to the
point, the latter leaves the ground in a coudi-
ton to be worked again, while mining not
only destroys the earth Immediately around,
but that also over which the tailings spread
by reason of the action of the water. The
decision is q Just one, and should receive the
appreciation of every right-minded and right
thinking person in the land. TIE case will
be appealed to the Supreme Court of the
United States, but we believe the higher tri-
bunal will concur in the judgment of the
lower Court.
The Santa Rosa Democrat Saws. The dsci.
sion is ruipous to a large number of peonls
thoussnds of whom are taxnavers who arc on,
gagged in a legitimate pursuit that has been.
in wears gone nv the NET Of the Federal and
State Governments. If Sawver's decision is
sustained by the Supreme Court millions of
dollars worth OF property will be destroyed,
and number of Furnishing mining towns
completely wrecked. 1t was a question,
however. whether hydraulic mining should be
discontinued or hundreds of thousands Of
acres OF valuable land ruined. and the rivers,
bays and harboss OF the State threatened
with destruction. A decision either way must
effect many people and cause much suffering
we oeleVe the question has been properly
settled, however much We may sympathize
with those who suffer by 1t. The cass will be
appealed to the Supreme Court, ard Sawyer's
decision may be reversed after all, but we
think there Is not much doubt OF Its being
sustained. Until 1t Is decided by the highest
tribunal the mines will not be abandoned,
but operations will simply be considered as
temporarily suspended. Should Sawyer be
sustained much valuable mining property
will have to be abandoned, for it is hardly
possible to lmpound the debris. The loss ea-
tailed Will amount to millions OF dollars, and
the question Will then arise whether the cut
ferers Will nos be entitled to BE- reimbursed
by the Government. They are engaged In 8
calling sanctioned by law, and have relied
upon the Government that gave them the
right for protection. The probability Is that
heavy demands will be made for damsges,
and not without justice.
The Virginia Enterprise takes this view Of
the results that will follow the Sawyer decis-
ion: The recent decision by Judge Sawyer,
by which q great industry in California, ex-
tending from end to end of the State, is killed
for the advancement of the interest of few
persons in isolated positions in the valleys,
will most as uredly breed trouble and lend to
bloodshed. The miners of California, and
the inhabitants Of the many mountain towns,
will be rendered desperate by the wholesale
RUN that will be brought upon them in case
this decision is allowed to stsnd. Men who
had built up homes in the mountains before
a pillow mad touched the ground in those sec
tons the Johuny-come.lately Inhabitants of
which are now complaining of "slickeus,"
are not likely to leave the roof. trees that
have sheltered their heads for nearly half a
century, and go forth into the world in their
old age as paupers. Next spring, when the
men of the valleys begin to go up into the
mountains to take possession with their iiocks
OF sheep and nerds OF cattle, the war will BE-
GIN. Inc mountain men have long borne
this encroschment with but an occasional
grumole, but 1t 10 not likely that they will
now long submit to 1t. These who venture
up into the mountains next season, driving
their nerds over the people they have beg
CARED, VIII not be likely to ind 1t as profit.
able nor things as comfortable as formerly.
The Nevada TTanscrtpt says: 1t would be
difficult to find in all the law reports a more
partisan decision than that of Judge SAWYER
recently delivered in the debris case of Wood
ruff ys. The North Bloomfield Mining
Company Ell ale. Sipce the inception Of this
case in his Court, until the close Of the de-
livery OF MS InOeG uoJusG ana partisan DC
clsIon, his preJudlces against the miners has
been so prominent IN al. ways that 1t has
been the subject OF frequent comment.
The learned Judge ha7, 10 our mind, enunci.
ated some new aud startling propositions OF
law, as heretofore Understood In this State
and elsewhere. Not content with upsetting
every point made by the able and numerous
counsel Tor defendants, ne also found every
question OF TACT against them, and as II he
had MOI engulted the unfortunate miners
deep enough, ne brought Niagara Falls into
the question, IN order to prove that debris
dam on the Guba could not possibly stand.
The Contra Costa Gazette says: The recent
decision of Judge Sawyer 10 one OF the most
important ever rendered in this State By
Federal Court. 1t affords immediate relief
to the entire Sacramento valley, and Is
guarantee OF future protection The full sig
nihcance ~ TINS decision can hardly be appre-
ciated by the Boy counties. Our farms have
not 6een devastated, cur orchards and gar
dens buried from sight, cur homes made des-
olate and our beautiful valleys changed into
cSeeriess wilderness by thaV silniy monster,
slckens' but we Kno" ShSs through lts cp'
erallons Ioe rivers OF our 9ts'e were rapidly
oecohlloB unnavi SAois' anu that ueoris seri-
ooSif threatened Navigation upon Ihe very
pays themselves
The fresno Dc1tocrot makes this editorial
comment Inc recent decision OF Judge
sawyer granting Perpetuai injunction
r.