The morning call., 1891-02-22
THE DEBRIS
QUESTION.
How Hydraulic Mining Could
Be Resumed.
Report Of the Army Engineers Detailed 10
Investigate the Matter-ApprO-
priatiOnS Needed.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

WAS HINGToN, Feb. 21.-The Secretary of
War to-day submitted TO Congress the re-
port OF the commission appointed nearly
two years ago for the purpose of making
thorough investigation into hydraulic min
ing along the streams tributary to the Sac
ramento River The commission was conf
posed of W. II. U. Benyaurd, w. III. Heuer
and Thomas H. Handberry. United States
Army officers, and, for the purpose Of de.
fraying all expenses connected with the in
vestigation, the Secretary of War was pro-
vided with an appropriation Of $4,000.
The commission was instructed to ascer-
tain if some plan could not be devised
whereby the present conflict between the
farming and mining sections might be ad-
justed and the mining industry rehabili-
tated, and for the complete examination of
the injured navigable river channels, their
tributaries and the lands adjacent with a
view to the improvement Of the rivers. The
rivers assigned to the commission for in
vestigation were the Feather, Yuba, Sacra-
mento, American, San Joaquin and their
tributaries.
The report submitted consists mainly of
information concerning the mines and the
depreciation of certain farm lands, which
information was secured by the State of
California and furnished to the commits
sion 1t gives history of hydraulic min
ing and the trouble arising from it to GER
tain agricultural sections resulting in legis-
lation and Federal Court decisions that put
an end tn bVirauiic mining in nartaip cao
tions Of the country under consideration.
The report says that should the decisions
of the courts he reversed hydraulic mining
operations could be renewed by building
structures in the canyons to protect the
farm lands from the coarse material. Stone
dams or barriers could be constructed at
such height as the local conditions might
suggest; the sluggish water would allow the
coarse material TO go to the bottom and
carry along with it much OF the fine sand.
This is considered costly solution of the
trouble, and the barriers, in the judgment of
the commission, should be constructed at
the expense OF those interested in the
mines.
It is deemed most expedicnt to construct
low dams at first, allowing pebbles and
sand to fill in above; then add another sec
tion to the wall. slanting it up stream, Civ
ing to it strength, and. by various steps,
break tie fall of water.
To establish their position the board cites
as authority Colonel Mendell's dams in
1uba River, and, in addition to the present
dams OIL that river, recommends that some
be located on the South Yuba at Jones Bar
On the Lower and Middle Yhba dams
should be erected at Freemans bridge and
Emorys crossing; also, on Lower Deer
Creek, near the mouth of the North Fork,
and arrOsS State and Cannon creeks.
1he report recommends a dam across
Bear River at Van Geissens, 100 feet high /; a
dam across the north and south forks of
American River near the mouth. Where
there is trouble from overflow along the
sacramento River it is observed that the
plan would be to reduce the width of the
channel as this would increase the current
and deepen the channel sufficiently to pro-
vide room Tor water at food periods with
out interfering with the farmers who are
eoncerned in their riparian rights. In order
to reduce the channel at points where the
overflow difficulty is experienced, the COM
mission recommends brush mattresses pro-
lecTinG from the banks at a gentle angle,
forcing the river back to its old channel
The expense incurred in carrying out
these recommendations would be fully war
ranted by the Improvements in navigation
and the saving to the farmers. This eX-
Hense should be borne by the Government
To clear the channel of the river would cost
about 100000 Yuba River should be sup
piled with dam at Daguerres Point, costing
from S30o,000 10 100000. The commission
was unable to find any necessity for a dam
across the San Joaquin.
Feather River, as far up as it is inviting
Tor navigation, should be provided with
brush mattresses, which in order 10 put it
In good condition suitable for navigation.
would cost about S5o0,G00, and afterwards
an additional $4,000 would be required an
nually 10 keep it in order until dams on its
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