Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-08-25
THE KIND OF EELP WANTED.

The Gail assures the valley press that the
press of San Francisco will add its inhu-
ence for the reclamation of the Sacramento
river. We trust that the prediction of the
Cali will be fulfilled But we confess to
some doubt upon the question Two jour
mails of that city are committed against the
interests Of the valley already; a third is
of the same mind with the Cal a fourth
talks as if it favored compromise, which,
in the present situation, after all the issues
have been settled at law, sounds strangely
and suspiciously. Another still is silent,
and still another leading paper once
announced Itself for the valley, though it
has made no recent expression. The aid
needed from the San Francisco press is,
after all, in the nature of self-help since
The interest OF San francisco IN this mat
ter is in common with that of the valley.
To say she must take no part for fear of
loss Of trade in the mountains is absurd
for if her voice or silence would decide the
question of ultimate triumph of mine or
valley, San Francisco could not afford to
sacrifice the latter But the issue as to the
legality of that hydraulic process that
sends debris to the rivers has been settled
by the Courts, and anything San Fran
cisco may do cannot change it. The'ques-
ton for her press to consider now is
whether help, material and moral shall
be given to the valley in its appeal to the
Federal and State Governments to apply
remedial measures at once. For, consider
1t in whatever light we may, that is the
one immediate question. 1t is agreed, and
we have over and again said, that before
remedial work is begun, the cause of the
destruction Of the river must cease. But
suppose that in some one or q few suits to
enjoin mines, there is neglect to push the
prosecution, or that delay is secured
by the lawyers, shall we in
THE meantime sit IDLY by and
take no steps to enlist Government aid
in our behalf? Certainly not, for it will
take long time-a long pull, and very
hard pull, and pull of everyone of us all
together, to induce the Federal Govern
ment to do anything at all There is to be
a demand FOR an exceeding large expend-
iture-one contemplating, for instance,
the fortifying of the river banks for many
and many mile (but not the entire length
of the river, as Captain Payson enormously
stated, and when this is made it must be
in such form, and backed by such statistics
and showings, that it will command the at
tention of Congress. We must then be
prepared to resist the opposition of other
States which will oppose any considerable
appropriation for a river nearly destroyed
by the people of the State that beg relief
from the result of their own improvidence.
The struggle will have to be carried on
soTN4 years, for any present appropriation
will be but one OF what should be series
1t is absurd to suppose that the undoing
of the wrong of a decade and half is to
be accomplished in any less time. Putting
an end to the cause of the decline Of the
river need not and shonld not prevent on,
appealing at the same time to the Govern.
ment at Washington to begin immediate
inquiry into the situation, with a view o.
remedying it. This can be done. The cost
will be great, bat it is not to be thought
for moment that it shall not, for that
reason, be incurred.