Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-02
ANTI-DEBRlS.
THE GOVERNMENTS POSITION
UPON THE SUBJECT.
Reply OF the Secretary OF War to
the Petition Of the Sacra-
inento Board of Trade.

1t will be remembered that the Sacra-
mento Board of Trade recently passed
resolutions, and forwarded them to the
Secretary of War, asking that the Govern
ment interpose its power TO cause the
cessation of hydraulic mining, and for the
reclamation of the Sacramento river from
its almost ruined condition, caused by the
flew Of mining debris. The following re-
ply, which was received yesterday, is self
explanatory, and will be of great interest
20 our readers
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY,
December %. 1885.
Joseph Stetf7as, Esq, President Sacramento Board
Of 1fdte, cfc.-Sik: have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt OF the petition dated the 18th
ultimo, and its accompanying papers from the
Sacramento Board of Trade asking the inter
yentlon OF the General Government for the pro-
lection OF the navigation of the Sacramento and
san Joaquin rivers, and other waters of Califor-
MA from injuries resulting from the discharge
OF hydTauIlc mining debris into the channels
IN reply, beg 10 inform you that the matter
has been referred TO the Chief OF Engineers, and
TO invite your attention to the inclosed copy of
his report on the subject, dated the Sth instant
1t Is not seen how this Department can properly
take any further action on this petition at the
present time. it having exercised its full legal
duty in having informed Congress of the evil
consequences OF the discharge of mining debris
into these waters.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
VIM Z. ENDICoTr, Secretary of War.
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERs,)
UNITED STATES ARMY,
WASHINGTON, December s, 1885
Hon. Nm c. ERdicou, Secretary OF U1ar-SlR ::
have the honor 10 return herewith the petit
ton, with accompanying papers from the
Sacramento Board of Trade ana Others referred
to this office, asking the Intervention of the
General Government for the protection of the
navigation of the Sacramento and San JOAQUIN
rivers and other waters Of California from in
jury resulting from the discharge of hydraulic
mining debris into their channels
A provision in Section of the River and
Harbor act of June H. 1880, directed the see
retary OF War to cause to be made such examin-
atoms ana surveys as may be necessary to devise
system of works to prevent the further injury
to the navigable waters of California from the
debris from the mines, and the estimates of the
cost OF such works, and report the result of such
examinations, surveys and estimates of cost OF
the proposed works, made in pursuance hereof
to Congress at its next session.
This duty was assigned to Lieutenant Colonel
G. II. Mendell, Corps of Engineers who sub
mitted two reports January 10 1851 and Febru-
airy ? lSo2), which were successfully transmitted
to Congress and printed as House Executive
Documents, No. &c, Forty Congress, third
session, and No. 93, Forty-seventh Congress first
session, and also printed in the annual reports
by this Office for the years 1881 and 1882
FROM these reports, the result of much labor
ana patient study, it is clear that the preserya-
ton ofthe river beds in question REQUIRES effect
I've restraint to be imposed upon mining detritus
ana mat under all circumstances restraint is
the first and essential step to any project
whether of alienation, preservation or i'm,
provement but as a measure of alienation the
construction was recommended of rest-oinino
dams on the Yrba, Bear and American rivers AT
certain designated points, for which an estimate
OF s0li,tt1 was submitted for the first years
operations.
The succeeding River and Harbor Act august
=, lSS2) appropriated ESQ 900 ." for the improve
ment ana protection of the navigable chaunels
OF the Sis'ramento and Feather rivers to be ex-
Pcnde1 under the direction of the Secretary of
war. Oi this the sum of $4,000 was i1nncdi-
ately allotted TO the maintenance of the sIag-
boats aid increasing the depth at certain points
on the Sacramento ard i. being presumed that
the protection provided for i'll the Act was based
upon the above reports, tue project was submit
ted 10 the secretary of War by t;s office for the
nppilcatif II OF the remainder of the apprppria-
ton towards the construction Of restraining
dams.
This project was not approved. Owing to
litigation pending before the United States
Courts of California to restrain four of the most
important mining companies from further oper-
ations under the present system of hydraulic
mining, the Secretary OF War decided to suspend
action looking to the building of these dams
The last action of Congress ON this subject was
a proviSo to the appropriation of $4,000 made
by the River and Harbor Act of July s. 1881 for
continuing the improvement of the Sacramento
and Feather rivers: that no part of said sum
or OF the money on hand TO tie or. di: of this
fund, except what may be necessary for snag-
g,ng and dredging operations. shall be used eX-
cept as herein provided until the St cretary of
war shall have been satisfied of the cessation of
hvdraulie mining on said rivers and their tribu-
taries 50
The discharge of mining debris into these
waters sui continues, and the Var Department.
having exercised its full legal duty in having
informed Congress of its evil consequences, it is
not seen what action can properly be taken on
these petitions at this time. Very respectfully.
your obedient servant J0HN NFV-ToY
chiefo OF Engineers Brigadier aud Brevet- Major
General --'J@1