Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-07-22
STOP HYDRAULIC MINING AND I'M
PROVE The RIVER.

We repeat that the navigation OF the
Sacramento river is being rapidly de-
stroyed It IS the chief drainway Of the
State, and the one free highway of the
Sacramento valley. The filling up which
is sapping its life is artificial, and due to
hydraulic mining. Either one or the other
Of these things must take place: The ceSsa-
ton of work in these mines, or the stop
page Of the practice of depositing mining
debris and sands in the tributaries Of the
| river; or the absolute destruction Of the
river and its diversion from It's course, and
the ruin Of adjacent lowlands. As certainly
as that the earth moves, and the moon
wakes and waEes one or the other Of these
events must come about. With the cessa-
ton Of the cause Of injury to the river, the
danger Of its ruin viii, in part, be avert
ed, but not wholly. If the people wish to
save the river and retain their CONNER
cial independence, they must choke off the
| cause But when this is done, the results
Of past mining reposing in beds of tributa-
RES below canyons from which they came
are sufficient in quantity to impair river
navigation, and possibly destroy it. These
sands move down every winter IN greater
or less quantities, into the river and the
bays below it. 1t Is believed that this
debris may be retained by barriers until
it shall become harmless, and the
streams below have been conducted once
more between banks. Now, this reclama-
ton is the work Of the Federal Govern
ment, and not of this people It is its
bounden duty 10 prevent the destruction
of river navigation. But the late Secre-
tary Of War refused to permit the appica-
ton Of appropriations Tor such work unit !
hydraulic mining should cease to contri-
butte new deposits to the rivers, for
the reason that such works would be used
by miners as dams, behind which they
could store the new deposits. But it is
perfectly clear now that both reforms sjoutd
more together Hydraulic mining must not
make new contributions, say the Courts,
and while this decree is being made
effective by enforcement and new suits, the
Government should lie memoralized to
give immediate attention to the river To
the fear that any such reclamation would
| but give new lease to hydraulic mines to
Use the rivers and restraining works. there
is an unanswerable reply. Let the Gov
ernment, by the right it possesses and has
time and again exercised, forbid any
persons, miners or Others, to how or place
against, or between any Government
works, any sand slickens, or mining debris.
In countless cases the Federal Government
has entered on works, and forbidden trespass
upon them. If it can be induced to do 50
now in this case it will be one of the most
powerful agencies to prevent the further
! deposition Of mining Stun in the river or
upon low lands. 1t Is reasonable to believe
that this may be done 1t would be a
right thing to do. No one thinks for .
moment Of asking the Federal authorities
to construct works to give warrant for
the continuances Of the practices that
have 50 grievously injured the valley.
Bat it would appear that both good works
the stoppoge Of tie public nuisance and The
reclamation Of the rirer-can 90 on together.
The present Secretary Of War has not had
his attention called to our great necessity.
All the facts are of record in his Office,
but there is need that the reorganized de
partment should examine them, and apply
at once the much-needed relief.