The record-union., 1891-11-05
TROUBLED CHANGERS.
They Got Off Wrong, But Are Happy
Once More.
The Supervisors ReafIirm Their Oppo-
sition to Hydraulic Mining-An
Unexpected Report.

Supervisors of this county were about to
take step that. in their judgment, would
legalize hydraulic mining, and as result
the mountains would soon again bristle
with monitors playing their streams
against the hilIsides.
About thirty of these farmers, who had
become thus impressed from something
they had read or heard stated, invaded
the Supervisors room yesterday morn
ing an hour before the board met and
held sort of indignation meeting. 1t
was expected that the three Supervisors
who lately visited Iowa Hill and ex-
amined some mines there, at the solicita
ton of citizens Of that place and of this
city, would report the result of their
visit and it was the possible nature of
that anticipated report which had excited
the farmers
Ex-senator Routier was called upon to
preside over the meeting, and in his
opening remarks he referred to the feel
ing Of the farmers on the subject, and
said he did not believe the Supervisors
would agree to any request to permit the
resumption Of hydraulic mining in de-
fiance of the injunctions OF the United
States Courts. Such an act, Mr.. Routier
said, would amount TO the abandonment
Of all that the valleys had contended for
in the past, and of the legal victories won
in the courts.
Speeches were also made by John
Rooney. William Johnston, J. L. Camp,
j. NJ. Stephenson and others.
Mr.. Camp wanted a committee APP
pointed to aid the Supervisors in dealing
with the hydraulic mining question, and
offered resolution to that effect, but
subsequently withdrew it until they
should hear the report of the committee
that visited Iowa Hill.
The hour having arrived for the Super
Ylsors to take up their regular business,
the visitors took recess until 1 o'clock,
expecting that by that hour they would
know the result.
After they left the board-room Daniel
Flint appeared and was granted permis-
sion to present to the board, on behalf of
the Sacramento County Pomona Grange,
a memorial against the granting by the
board of permission to the hydraulic
miners of Iowa Hill to clean up ceE tain
mines in that vicinity
The memorial was very brief. 1t re-
cited the fact that large appropriation
was expected TO be made by the next
Congress for the Improvement Of the Sac
ramento River, and urged the board not
to grant the request Of the hydraulic
miners, for if it did Congress would not
make the desired appropriation.
on motion of Mr.. Jenkins, the com
munlcation was received and placed on
file.
THE AFTERNOON MEETING.
At the afternoon meeting there were
about thirty persons present, Mr.. Routier
presiding. Remarks were made by C.. a.
Jenkins, George Ohleyer of Sutter county
and others.
Mr.. Ohleyer explained the character of
the Antl-Debris Association, its work
ings and the results achieved. He said
names on the roll originally, and some
$780, 600 had been expended in the effort to
suppress hydraulic mining. In his opin-
ion there should be a similar organization
here to protect the American river. There
has been more or less hydraulicking go
ing on along that river, he said, for the
last ten years. and it should be stopped
The law should be enforced, and the bet
ter way to enforce it would be for Sacra-
mento to have an Anti-Debris Associa-
tion.
Mr.. Ohleyer then reviewed the work of
the courts in the hydraulic-mining cases,
and claimed that the miners agreed to
abide by the result of the famous Gold
Run case; but they had not done So
Referring to the request of the Iowa
Hill people to be allowed to clean up their
claims, he said he did not know what
these men would do, but on the Feather
and Yuba, wherever an attempt was made
with the work.
Mr.. Ohleyer commended the action of
the Supervisors IN visiting the Iowa Hill
mines. He believed they now understood
the situation better than before, and
would, in their action on the request, do
the proper thing. The chief object is not
to SO antagonize Congress as to endanger
the granting of appropriations for the
improvement of the river. On the
strength of assurances from Sacramento
citizens that hydraulic mining had ceased,
the Government had taken favorable ac-
ton, and 1t would be a sad thing now to
undo all that had been done, by allowing
hydraulic mining to be resumed. By re-
fuSing to do so the miners would under
stand that the Sacramento people mean
business, and would govern themselves
accordingly.
In response to a query from Supervisor
Greer, Mr.. OhIeyer admitted that the Su-
pervisors of Sacramento County had
done all in their power to suppress hy-
draulic mining, so far as he knew. The
employment of Attorney Devlin to aid
the board was, in his opinion, a wise
action.
Mr.. Greer said his desire was to have
the fact impressed upon those present
that the board had done its full duty in
matter. During the past year some nine
mines have been enioined, and in a few
days the board hoped to put stop to
those mines that are now secretly oper-
ating in defiance of law.
MIR. Rooney demanded. on behalf OF
those present, that the Chairman of the
board call for the report OF the committee
that visited the Iowa Hill mines.
Mr.. Routier, in courteous terms, re-
quested the Chairman TO call for the re-
port
Chairman Greer replied that the COM
mlttee were on the preceding day granted
a n
matter of courtesy.
Mr.. Routier said that when he was a
member of the Legislature he was ready
at any time to explain his position on
any and all questions of public import.
Mr.. Rooney made another of his ex-
citable harangues, demanding that the
board be called together and the report
asked for.
Chairman Greer informed Mr.. Rooney
that the board had adjourned until :
o'clock, and could not be called to order
before that hour, which statement had 3
somewhat subduing effect upon the more
excitable visitors, and they decided tt
wait for the hour of meeting.
THE BOARD TAKES A HAND.
At 2 o'clock the board was called tc
order. and Chairman Greer asked Super.
visor Bates, Chairman of the Hydraulic
Mining Committee, if he was ready tc
report.
Mr. Bates said he was ready, but had a
few remarks to make before submitting
the report. He said that a great deal OF
loose language had been INDUCED in re-
garding the committees possible action.
In the first place, a petition was filed
with the board from a large number oi
citizens of Iowa Hill asking the board tc
visit that place and examine the condi-
tion of some of the mines there with 8
view To determining whether or not the
same could be cleaned up near the bed
rock Without doing iniury TO the rivers