Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-02-03
RIVER DESTRUCTION AND CONGREs-
SIGNAL INTERFERENCE

Referring to the statement of the REC
oRD-UNIoN that hydraulic mining is
active upon the American river and its
tributaries, and our insistence that the
Federal Government should be importuned
to aid in the work OF stopping it, the San
Francisco Gail says: As a matter Of law,
it is probably true that the Federal Gov
eminent might assume the work of stop
ing this destruction Of navigable rivers
As matter Of fact, it is plainly apparent
that the Federal Government will not do
anything of the kind. The State has to
stop hydraulic mining-not mine here
and there, but hydraulic mining every
where. Its further prosecution is incom-
patible with the well being of the State"
We are not willing to concede that the
Federal Government will not edo any
thing Of the kind" That has been said
about great many things that the Gov
eminent subsequently did do. There is no
sufficient warrant for the assumption that
Congress viii finally refuse. Gas matter
of fact it has not refused, nor has it been
asked. 1t has declined to appropriate
money to improve the Sacramento river,
until hydraulic mining shall cease. But
Congress by such declaration of power and
Willingness to improve, tacitly admitted
It's power to remove distractions from, and
to prevent injury to the navigable rivers.
The Government is the aggregated will Of
the people Of the Republic. That will is
expressed through the legislative medium.
I pom that the people may move with the
purpose Of securing action suited to their
wants. Now, let US suppose Congress TO
be convinced as fully of It's duty to pre-
vent injury, as to remedy that already
done. Would it not be reasonable to ex-
pect the desired prohibitory mandate to
follow? We claim that Congress has not
been memorialized upon this branch of the
subject in the proper manner; that impor-
tunity has been wanting, and that it is not
unreasonable to hope for such interference
as is demanded, when proper and impor-
tunate showing has been made to that body
Our members of Congress should renew
the effort to secure a Congressional injunc-
ton upon hydraulic mining. That evil is
as much the result of the neglect of the
United States as of the State of California,
and it is possible to make this clear to
Congress. We cannot, indeed, understand
what sound and reasonable objection any
Eastern member of Congress can make to
the appeal to forbid the deposition in
navigable streams of matter that destroys
their nayigability. Confessedly Congress
has the power to forbid, why then should
it not? What reason can he given for its
supposed refusal to do so-but which, in
fact, has not been declared?
The CAL concludes its article in these
forcible. timely and unanswerable sentences
regarding the duty of the State in the
premises; THE fact that certain coun-
ties on the Sacramento river are the most
directly affected does not relieve the State
Of its duty in the premises. If foe were
approaching San Francisco by sea we
would not expect the State to remain in
active because the interior could not be
reached until the city had been destroyed.
San Francisco should not now remain in
active because the valley of the Sacra-
mento lies between the city and the in
yading fOer