Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-08-17
THE RIVER, DAMS AND MINING


" The condition of the Sacramento river is
such as to demand the speediest possible
action by Congress. Time was when sea-
going ships could sail up to Sacramento;
now iat-bottomed steamers run aground,
and man can step into the water at Y
street and walk across the river without
wetting his shoulders. The river
IS shoaling everywhere, and carrying debris
down to form deltas in the bays. AL the
Port Costa wharf, where formerly vessels
drawing twenty six feet of water came to
discharge, there is now less than eight feet
Of water at high tide, and at ebb tide none
at all. 1t needs no elaborate
showing of facts in detail TO indicate how
disastrous must be tho consequences to the
State il prompt measures be not taken to
prevent the closing to commerce of this
natural highway. Something very differ
ent from small annual appropriation to
Keep snag-boat and dredgcr at work is
required to meet the necessities of the
case. It is incumbent upon the Govern
ment to adopt a comprehensive plan for
tho restoration of the river, and to
spend money literally to carry it out"
And it adds more to the same
effect, and says, finally, that the de-
bris viii wash down for years TO come. If
not impounded. That is all true, but the
i'ost does not probably mean that the
remedy shall stop there. For we assure
our contemporary'that the people of the
valley never viii consent-nor should
they-to the erection of any Government
works TO be used, Or to serve as barriers be-
hind which hydraulic mining processes
! mag be carried on, or to sc-re as checks for the
descent Of neag debris deposits The work of
hydraulic mining must be prosecuted only
when those who conduct it take care of the
debris of the mines on their own account.
and unde'' no circumstances acAdterer deposit
u IN the fiters or their tributaries. This
Shonid be thoroughly understood by the
San Francisco press and everyone else.
Government aid is needed, and now most
OF all, and must be had, but as an aid to the
stoppage fapublic nuisance, and not to the
end Of permitting the continuance of the
practice Of making drainways and avenues
for The slickens aud debris, Of the tributa-
RES OF the rivers, or the caarons and water
sheds that drain into than If this is not
explicit enough We do net know the use of
words. Some of our Bay city contempora-
ries manifest disposition to defend sort
of compromise, by which Government
drains may be used as permits
sive aids to hydraulic mining
Whatever may have been thought of such
plans once, they are not now tolerable to
the valley. Eventually restraining works
works to convert the already deposited
debris into immoyable land-must be
erected, but they should not be attempted,
and we believe will not be, for the purpose
OF warrant to the continuance of a pub.
nc nuisance, as iouling the streams with
mining sediment is Government inter
ference must be asked. We are unworthy
aid If we do not ask it. but it is to be in
reference in the fullest and broadcast and
most comprehensive sense to prevent fur
Their damage, to enioin further and to cor
rect past injury. In the mean time the
counties most Immediately threatened have
appealed to the Courts, will do so TO a
greater extent, and will and should avail
OF every legal right to prevent the utter
destruction Of the river and low lands. 1t
is pitiable, shameful and reproach to the
State that they should be compelled to tax
their people to do this, but no other course
is left open to them.