The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-07-11
Pacific Slope Budget.
llpIrons DELAWARE l.EpGER:-

| promised to write you something
upon the Debris Question" and since
the excitement of Commencement is
over there would be no better time than
now to fulfill it.
The war between the miners and farm
ers Of the Sacramento Valley continues
with the same iierccness az II existed
when it was first brought into the courts,
and whether the miners will or will not
gain compromise over the existing in
junction, it is not known nor will any
man venture an opinion or predict the
result, so that we may have some grounds
upon which to base our hopes. Hydraulic
mining has for years been dumping all
the gravel and debris into the rivers or
their tributaries, till it has chOkcd the
channel, impeded navigation, threatened |
the destruction of towns, farms and |
cities, and it has covered fertile farms |
with mud - feet deep. The farmers
gazed upon this waste once too often |
from their doorstep for their good it was
not to be borne any longer, and they real
soncd that the sooner the river was made |
to run in its channel, and prevented from
wandering for miles into the valley,
dropping its mud upon the fields, from
drowning chickens, cows, horses and
sheep, from carrying Off the outbuildings
and other property, the better would
| they enrich themselves. But to do this
it required the shutting down Of the
mines; for them to continue, it was use
less to do anything, for if levees were
built to protect property and towns, in
the course of time they would offer no
shelter, because the constant influx of
gravel would raise the bed above the top
of the embankment The Valley people
took up the cry of "Down with the
mines" The miners responded, "Well
flood the Changers out" In 1852 it was
taken into the courts The miners con-
tributed vast sums to employ the best
lawyers, bride the jury, bully the weak,
and rctard the machinery ofjustice The
farmers did the same. The lawyers waXed
fat and merry while the contributors
grew lean. Vast fortunes were spent in
this suit enough to set up The LEDGER
and allow its editors to travel the world
over. The farmers won it. The courts
passed an injunction upon all hydraulic
mines. In consequence the immense
mining region in the northern counties
is dcpopuating, property is shrinking
below cost, stagnation is creeping into
5 business, and in short, the villages lool;
as if some alarming pestilence had driven
, the inhabitants away. Justice enters
5 into this question and the miners ask fol-
5 Il fair trial If it can be shown by fair.
ness to both parties that the business
: transacted, the immense labor employed
f the capital invested and the industries
$ supported by the mines, will over-b balance
a the profit derived from the farms, whicl
/ are endangered from high water; then i
/. is plain that the mines should work ant
= the farmers run their chances. But the
,. courts have decided otherwise in the face
+ of the above facts. There is no dOub
VI but it must be settled by the Suprcm,
II Court, and until then it shall be Tough
d to the bitter end. am growing II littl
II angry, so it will be better to have fey
=. pleasantrics, which will not fall 50 heay
IT lily upon the indulgency of TIE LEDGER
e readers as do fiery invectyes.
re Marysyillc with population of 5,OOl
II is situated at the junction of the Feathe
1t and Yuba rivers, 20 miles from this plac
rs my home), has always been regarded
m the stronghold of the anti-clckcrs part,
pit consequently the miners do not low
n them like brothers. but on the contrar,
ne hail every misfortune with delight, 10,
at rapture which bclalls its citizens. 1t
he at present surrounded by Il high levee
m prevent the high water Of the rivers
IN winter from flooding the streets ten M
Is twelve feet deep. But Marysyille has IL,
Ill always enjoyed such Il nice strong en-
in bankment, and in time past has had i
OF levees break twice, and the citizens hay
r. enjoyed the pleasure of sailing up an
ic down the streets in Il boat. The mine
nd relate with relish the trials which. Il
by people have undergone, especially Il
s. storekecpers. Times were good for Il
he poor man because he could buy damag,
ri, goods for song and which We're us 20,
ire as before the flood, for his use. III
DIV water covered the floor or 10 feet de-
hg in the first story, and as soon rs the da
'as ger seemed imminent, the mcrchaI
Ike hoistcd everything into the second tlo'
his This amused the miners they knew tn,
ed labor made all this extra work, and
we course enjoyed the joke. But they syi
Id pathized with the housekecper who h
re- to remove furniture, carpets, chairs, be,
be- clothing and crockery to the housetop
lie save its ruin. But the table has be
Ihe turned; the miners now suffer; ourpalI
RAJ DAYS are over. Gen. Grant will have
ing occasion, or any one else, to again c
no. Californas gold fields the strong boz
oie the U. $. Treasury. But readers y
l'"- must not suppose that all the mines
TO- closed. Some of the owners are dispO'
Ing to run the gauntlet with the law, and
iah' work the mines slyly,-that is wi
our there is no enemy in sight to tell
ara authorities. Consequently in favored
seN calities, far up in the mountains VIII
nm all the people are in sympathy with
ush miners, they have good chance to
ing the mines without being found out.
'he to prevent this the yalleyites have org
re- lied an association solelyto see that
the law is carried out. Assessments are
lem led upon the members and the none
Z IN employed to hire lawyers, and TO
eral men to act us spies. But men who