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

that right speedily, the Sacramento river,
as it now runs, will cease to flow. An
exceedingly heavy winter will expose the
stream to the peril of wearing its way
through the west bank at some point be-
tween this city and Knights Landing, and
sweeping across the low-land BASIN to the
west of us, leave Sacramento, so far at
least as navigation is concerned, a way
station upon a line of railway. Or, if this
does not happen, the river will continue to
50 fill up that it will only be navigable at
flood seasons. In either case the result
will be disastrous for Sacramento. The
longer river reclamation is postponed, the
more difficult it will be and the greater its
cost. No authority will ever undertake it
but the United States Government, and
there is no reason whatever why it should
not do it now. The demand that there
ment until miners cease depositing their
debris in the river means simply the de-
struction of the stream, for the laws
delays are proverbial, as also those Of the
Government, but the Government has tlle
power, the instant it resolves to do the
work, to prohibit its injury or destruction,
or any trespass upon it whatever, by by
draulic miners. That is to say, we are
convinced of the present pressing necessity
of beginning an agitation that will gain
the attention, both Of the governmental
departments and of Congress, and this need
not lessen activity in pursuing legal rene
dies meanwhile, but should rather stilnu-
late it to new vigor. If every hydraulic
mine were closed to-day, it would take the
Government from two to three years to get
to work upon the river. BY beginning
now, therefore, to agitate the question, we
may advance the reclamation by awaken
ing the Federal authorities at Washington
to preparatory steps at least.
The Farmer the Journal referred to in
the outset, quotes from the RECoRD-UNIoN,
these two paragraphs from distinct articles
under the caption Coming Down to
Business"
The public mind is becoming thoroughly pos
sessed of the necessity and ACCESSIBILITY of inyok-
ing the interference of the Government to pre-
vent the further destruction of nayigable waters
in California over which it exercises jurisdic-
ton. That the Federal Government can inter
pose decree of iniunction-not at all likely to
be evaded, and from the process of which there
can be no escapes certain. The people must
see to it that the Government is petitioned to
act in its own interest and that of the valley.
fla & were engaged in extending dump
of sawdust from their mill into a navigablc
stream which the Government was endeavoring
to keep open, clear out and prevent from filling
up does any one suppose that the proper Gov
eminent authority would fail to issue an order
| to A & B to cease doing damage by extending
| the dump? Precisely such an order must fol-
| low, and be enforced, regarding mining slick
| ems, if the Government can be induced to enter
upon the reformation of the river
The Farmer supplements the quotations
| with these remarks: Our readers will
observe in the above the very sentiments
advocated in this journal for the past six
months when speaking of the new prob
lem We are not vain enough to believe
the sentiments were uttered as an indorse-
! ment of our oft-expressed views, but as a
result of a candid review of the problem
now confronting the people of this State, a
fair discussion of which can lead to no
other conclusion. The Farmer is pleased
to know that such journals as the San
| Francisco Bulletin and Gail are now daily
advocating the same policy and treatment
Of the subject as has been heretofore held
by this Journal"