Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-23
AMERICAN RIVER FRANCHISE.
Opposition to the Great Lumber Flume in
Ell Dorado County.
FL Dn-a6a parrIl;ao,I


The matter of proposed franchise upon
the waters of the American river is still be-
fore the Beard of Supervisors, who have
continued 1t till the June meeting for the
purpose OF permitting and encouraging a
full Investigation of the proposition and of
allowing all who wish to be heard concern
ing it to have that opportunity.
Mr.. G. w. Cummings, the gentleman who
was instrumental in making the survey for
tiume or railroad along the Ameri-
can river few months ago, the exact ma
ture not yet having been disclosed, was be-
fore the Supervisors at their late meeting,
and explains the plans of his company as
follows:
either the Folsom Water Power Company or the
Nstoma Company. 1t is a private enterprise
suggested by myself to other paroles, who viii
Folsom Water Company, near the town of Fol
som. They will build an extensive sawmiu and
sash, door and blind factory at that point.
ihey VIII also establish boom there to catch
ana hold tawlogs, for any person or persons who
may desire to float them down the several
pranches OF the American river. This will es-
tabilsh market at Folsom for sawlogs, but it
VIII not prevent their owners from mark etlng
them at other points should they desire to do so.
| made contract last year with the Folsom
water rover company fo- these privileges, pri-
marily that might avail myself of the water
power to be afforded there, instead of the more
expensive agency of steam.
The experiment of floating logs down both
the north and south forks of the American river
has been tried with financial disaster to those
VINO made the experiment, simply because they
did not understand the business, AID had made
no preparation to stop the logs
Ii has been demonstrated, however that logs
cannot be successfully hoated down any stream
without some preparation being made for their
passage: ms is especially the case with the
Amerlcan river. AT certain points rocks must
be blown out. AT others sheer ba
placed to keep the logs in the current and pre-
vent their being battered worn and broken on
the locks This preparation of the river will
cost a great deal OF money, and those who in
vest capital in this manner should be allowed
to collect reasonable and lawful tolls of those
who do avail themselves of the benefits of such
costly improve ments.
1t has been said that the granting of this fran
chise would interfere with vested mining and
water rights. This is not the case, directly or
indirectly. The river can only be used for float
ing logs at a high stage of water, when mining
Is impossible, and when the water supply is in
exhaustiple for all purposes. All the log-float-
Ing done on this river must be accomplished
within thirty days during the spring of each
year or 1t cannot be done at ALL
1t is not true that the fran hise desired con-
templates interfering with vested rights in dams
and bitches If in the preparation of the river
our company encounters dam too thinly Gov
cred at the floating stage to pass the logs over
without injury to such dam, a log chnte must
be built at the end of the dam through which
any interference whatever with the stability of
the dam, such chutes built at the expense of
the boom company.
With these explanations, let me sum I'D as
follows:
Firt-We are simply buyers of saw-logs, cord
wood, railroad ties, material for wood pulp, ETC.
second-We only ask the privilege of con-
structing " highway in accordance with the
law the last Legislature compelling us 10 take
such action, and we ask the privilege of charr-
ing moderate tolls Tor the use Of this highway
by those who choose to use it, and By which
your citizens may. while c.esripg their lands,
bring their otherwise yalueless wood products
probably to market, and carry bacl, to your
county the money received therefor
Inlrd-Ne 90 not own either lands or timber
along this highway. nor would we invest the
enormous amount of capital which would be
required to either control or own them.
fourth-We do not ask for any ownership or
control OF the water, nor for any right to divert
II from It's natural channels, por for any right
that VIII in any way interfere with any mines,
dams, bitches or other vested rights.
f1fth-We do not seek to exact tolls except
Tor services rendered by our employees or for
storage of logs, timber and wood IL our boom,
or Tor the use OF works or facilities which we
shall have created.
sixlh-We only ask permission for the use of
TINS highway during seasons of high water
when 1t could not be used for any other pur-
pose.
Seventh-We restrict no one from the use of
our boom, but only ask that persons who avail
themselves of its privileges shall pay the rea-
sonable toll which your Supervisors may fix.
This is the proposition of the company,
and it is one that is to be looked at from a
standpoint of loss and gain to the county.
We have heretofore opposed the granting
OF the franchise because we want it thor
oughly investigated, and because we fail to
see where the people are to gain by it, even
if the franchise is drawn so as to permit no
yexatlous control over the waters of the
stream. 1t is not the duty of the Super
Visors to grant such privileges unless our
own people are TO be benefited, for the
Board Is not expected to look out fer the
Interests of this wood company. 1.-THE COM
pany were putting property into the county
and increasing our assessment roll, it
wonld be entitled to much encol rAgement,
but there seems to be no general benefit
beyond the fact that owners of timber land
along the river will be afforded a market
1t has been cur observation that this land
has been obtained very largely by nom
residents, and the PROBABILITIES are that in
case the river is opened to float logs, the
timber will be slid out of the county, and
much OF the land denuded of its most
valuable feature without any increase in
the prosperity of our citizens We are not
mere obstructicnist, and If the timber
can be reached in no other way that viii be
more generally proitably to the county
and If the rights of all who derive benefit
from the stream can beprotected, we prefer
that the timber should reach market
rather than have it go to waste It will be
the duty of the Supervisors to investigate
these matters, and all those effected by the
proposed franchise should consult with
them. Up TO the present time we fail to
hear ofany beEeit except to non. residents.
and see no probable increase il cur taxable
property from the scheIne
No PILL or nauseatiDg potion, but
pleasant tonic and purgatiye is Simmons