Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-05-29
THE SUPERVISORS CONVENTION

Next week an important consultation is
to be had in this city between the Super
visors of Yolo, Sacramento, Yuba, Suffer,
Butte, Colusa and San joaquin, relative to
bringing litigation relating to hydraulic
mining injurious to the Sacramento, San
joaquin and Feather rivers, to a speedy
close, and the prosecution of such new
measures as may he deemed necessary.
If mining debris was damaging two or
three years ago, it Is more 50 now. If
hydraulic mining causing the debris-depo-
sitions was dangerous to the rivers and
valley lands at the time of the trial of the
Gold Rum case, ii is more 50 now. The
sooner the whole subject-matter at issue
concerning hydraulic mining deposits j.
brought to final judgment in the Courts of
last resort, the better For that reason
We approved recently of the suggestion for
a sweeping action, to include all parties
contributing to the destruction of the riy-
ers and adjacent lands There is nothing
to be gained 10y postponement. The longer
doubt and uncertainty as to the final out
come prevail, the more damaging it is to
the people Of the valley. The menace of
possible overflow by water and by slickens,
anchors our towns and cite, TO inactivity,
deprcsSe- values, checks investment and
limits enterprise. 1t is the doubt and IN
certainty on the subject that is the chief
drawback to the progress of Sacramento
to-day. We are told that when we stop
the injury to the rivers by legal means, we
shall receive adequate governmental aid
in the restoration of the streams,
and the removal Of present de
posts. That this is an unjust not
to say cruel, Judgment, goes without
saying Il is not the fault Of the people
of the valley that the rivers have been
chicken, shoalcd and made subject to ex-
traordinary oyerflowS, and well nigh non
nayigablc They have not had material
part in contributing to any filling of the
rivers, since it is patent to the senses that
the matter flowing in the streams is Of a
character found mainly in the mining re-
gions. The mining interests should favor
comprehensive litigation and speedy judg-
ment They, no more than the valley in
,dustrieS, can afford the punishment that
dong delay, doubt and uncertainty now in
fict. There should be, and need be no
conflict or feeling on that head-the two
great interests ought to clap hands over
any prospect Of speedy determination. If
the Convention OF Supervisors shall resolve
to push the question against all the hy-
draulic mines flowing debris into the rivers
or their tributaries, the miners should not
receive the announcement Ill ill-Splrit.
Comprehensive litigation must come sooner
or later, either in detailed action, or one
suit in which all defendants may be joined.
There are four things that must be accom-
plished. and il is but the wisdom Of folly
TO close the eyes to their truths, TO wit:
ne OBSTRUCTION vi llC nav ASA'iN 'tANt'i'H
and adjacent lands, no matter from what
cause, must be prevented for the future
the dispositions in the rivers must be moved
,out by restoring the streams to their great
est carrying capacity the mining debris
in the upper canyons must not be permit
ted to come down upon US; the menace to
valley lands and towns of overflow and OF
burial beneath sand and slickens must be
removed, no matter what the cause. Until
all these are accomplished, thevalley section
cannot attain full development; its towns
and cities cannot progress and their peo-
pie cannot feel that sense of permanency
and security so necessary to prosperity and
the npbuilding and development of the
country. These truths are undeniable,
and their force must be apparent to the