Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-08-05
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

The San Francisco Cal asks us certain
questions. We take the privilege of seq
regating the points of its able article
and of giving the necessary answers in or
der. The CAL says:
The RECoRD-UNION continues to call upon the
Government to save the Sacramento river from
the destruction that threatens it. It asks in
effect for governmental declaration and action
against acts tending to destroy a heritage of the
people, which is a trust in the hands Of the
Federal Government The cal will support any
lawful means of suppressing the evil COM
planned Of The action which will best suit us
is the action that win most promptly stop the
filling up Of the river. 1t might be well how
ever, to come to an understanding as to the de-
tails of the policy to pursue. The late Secre-
tary of War refused to expend the money appro-
priated for the improvement OF the Sacramento
river, because the work which had partially
destroyed the nayigability of the river was still
going on. Our contemporary admits that CON
dition of this expenditure should be a cessation
OF the work that has done the damage. Now
how shall we proceed to obtain governmental
declaration against hydraulic mining
We reply, by petition to the Govern
ment. To that end, the people of Califor-
MIA, in their individual capacities, and by
their organized commercial, business and
agricultural bodies, should exercise the
sacred right Of petition. And we now sug-
gest a call for a Convention of
advice to that end, to be held at
an early day in Sacramento. For we as
sure the Gail and the people that the dan
ger to the river, and of its speedily coming
to that state when it will no longer be
navigable, and the probability of its diver
sion from its bed, and the threats to San
Francisco Bay, are greater than has been
stated by any one at any time.
The President of the United States is
squarely upon record in favor of preserving
the navigability of the rivers of the nation
Why should not his Administration, acting
upon the determination already uttered by
the Federal Courts, prohibit the destruc-
ton of the rivers and bays? Why should
not the Government be informed by the
people of the pressing need for this action !?
What prompter action is to be conceived of
than that the Government can take?
VIII it be sufficient for the Secretary of War
TO announce that he proposes to commence the
work of reclamation, and warn miners not to
persist in work that viii help TO fill the river
up?
Yes, sufficient as n predatory step
But while we have insisted upon this, be-
cause we are not prepared to denounce the
people of the mountains as disloyal and
outlaws, yet it is in order to point out that
the Government may make its order of
injunction without even contemplating re-
clamation work, which, however, must be
engaged in sooner or later, no matter what
else is done, or abandon the river.
Would such declaration be accepted with
out Federal force to sustain it?
We have that respect for our fellow-cit-
lzens of the mountains, unfortunately in
volved with an industry the prosecution
OF which is opposed TO the habitableness OF
the valley, the navigability of the rivers
and the bay of San Francisco, to warrant
belief IN their patriotism and loyalty and
obedience to the commands of the sove-
reign authority when made.
But If moi, it will be safe to leave
the Government TO its own devices to COM
mand respect for It's DEGREES.
Without Court decree it enforced its
orders against trespassers upon trusts in
the Indian Territory. Without Court de-
cree 1t required the railroads to construct
drawbridges ever insignificant tidal creeks
IN Solano and Alameda counties. With
out Court decree 1t drove out 10000 peonle
from southern Dakota, turned back tbe
settlers from the Black Hills, burned their
abandoned wagon trains drove ont the
cattle men upon the southwest plains, and
DESTROYED hundreds Of miles of fencing
and has over and again prohibited OBJ
structions in rivers and lakes of the west
and enforced the removal of those already
placed
The Government may proceed through
its Courts by its own law officers. or il
may accept the decisions already made as
conclusive of the principle involved, and
issue It's orders direct.
If it can be induced to do so, it will he
the "mightiest add to the people of the
few counties now taxed to pursue judicial