The record-union., 1891-09-28
AT IOWA HILL.
The Supervisors Committee lnspects
the Hydraulic Mines.
The Miners Only ASK For Permission
to ''CIean Up''-LiKeIihood of
Favorable Report.

citizens from Iowa Hill, Placer County,
appeared and presented petition on be-
half of the people of their locality re-
questing Sacramento County to withhold
temporarily its proposed action looking
to the procurement Of permanent in
functions against the Iowa Hill hydraulic
mines.
The petition was a lengthy affair, and
contained most complete statement Of
the condition of affairs at Iowa Hill-as
the miners looked at it.
THE PETITION.
The gentlemen who brought the petit
tion also addressed the board on the same
subject. They set forth first that
the supply OF water in the Iowa
Hill section is very limited, the
sources of supply being from ravines
situate from ten to fifteen miles above
there, with a comparatively small area Of
watershed, the previous main sources Of
water supply above having been cut Off
by the fumes being burned and bitches
broken and filled up, with no encourage
ment in the present situation of hydraulic
mining To make the necessary repairs.
Second-That the periods in which the
several companies are engaged in hy-
draullc mining do not on an average eX-
ceed sixty days for each season, and that
the gravel operated upon is coarse and
cemeuted so that buta small quantity can
be removed. Third-That the gravel and
debris from said hydraulic mining flows
into Indian Canyon, a tributary Of the
North Fork of the American River, and
is deposited in said canyon at a point
about seven miles above the junction Of
said river. The said canyon having "a
very light grade, nearly all of said gravel
and debris so deposited in said canyon
remains there indefinitely, not affected
by any winter treshets, as the head and
source of said canyon being but about four
miles above the point of said deposit. the
area OF drainage into the same is very
small; and as most of the heavy storms
are accompanied with snow at the head Of
said canyon, which, within mile of the
head rises quite abruptly TO an altitude Of
about twelve hundred feet above the
point OF deposit of said gravel and debris
therein, the accumulated water does not
have any material effect in the removal
OF said gravel and debris from said can
yOn. EOuTth-That the hydraulic mines
III this section have Of late Years been
worked in a limited manner with small
heads OF water and but short period OF
time each season; the gravel being coarse
and heavy (the lighter deposits having
been previously removed, the gravel re-
naming is small in quantity, and Of such
q character that the damage to arise from
the working and mining the same would
not be appreciablc. Fitth-Ihat there is
a considerable area Of bedrock in the sew
eIal mines covered with heavy, coarse
gravel of a depth OF from two to ten feet
which contains considerable gold, and
which could be mined of without caus-
ing damage TO any party or parties stu
aled below. Sixth-That q similar case
occurred in which a mine was enjOined
AZ Iowa Hill by the County of Sacra-
uientO by reason Of a false statement Of
tie facts connected Herewith, when the
Supervisors came UP and personally
viewed the premises, and finding the
fj.cts OF the case had been misTepresented,
E.ey caused the injunction TO be removed.
TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES.
The Iowa Hill people were not content
to let the whole matter rest with their
petition, and begged the Sacramento
Supervisors TO visit the mines, and see
for themselves that a true statement OF
tle condition of affairs had been made.
The board promised the miners that
they would inspect the mines, but neg
Il cted doing so for some time At the
last session, however, a committee con-
s.sting of Supervisors Bates, jenkins and
lack was appointed to go to the mines
l. was also understood that, if possible.
the remaining two members OF the board
Hopld accompany the committee. Friday
lust was agreed upon as the day for start
ing, and word to that effect was sent to
Iowa Hill. The party left on the noon
train that day, and consisted of Super
visorS Bates, Black, Jenkins and Miller,
Robert y. DeYlin, the boards attorney in
the injunction cases, and representatives
Of the local press, including a RECORD
Union reporter.
Chairman Greer found it impossible to
accompany the other members, as he is a
delegate to the State Grange, Patrons of
Husbandry, and Saturday was the day
xed by the local Grange for imparting
ii delegates some important instructions
regarding the State meet.
At CoiiaX the party was met by NJ. r.
GleesOn of Iowa Hill, who had come to
escort the visitors oyerthe fifteen or more
miles of rough mountain road which led
10 the mines.
Superintendent Mather, of the North
bloomfield mine, near Grass Valley, was
st the depot on his way TO his mine, and
took occasion to give the Sacramentans
his views on the hydraulic question. He
said he appreciated the position Of the
I.eople in the valley, yet it did seem cruel
10 starve out the miners. If said he,
"a man goes into a strange couutry-a
place which is absolutely without inhabi-
1lnts-and builds up an industry. the sue
cess of which attracts other people there,
and these people locate all around him,
and then
COMPLAIN OF HIS PLACE
As being a nuisance, and have him
close dout-is it just? It does not seem
50 to me. Well, the hydraulickers are in
exactly the same position. They built up
the very communities that are now
stamping them out of existence; and
thcy are not even to be compensated for
their iosses.'
John Kneeland, an old-time resident OF
Eoifax. and who is interested in the min
ing section. also paid his respects to the Su-
T.ary-iSpl-- and rptTp3tpN tbapl q ''c,iyp h g.
sinners half show" Gentlemen" he
.aid. california is and should be all one
family, and it all sprung from mining.
now, let's have peace in the family"
Others who met the party at ColfaX,
and guessed the object of the trip, also
1ooll occasion TO speak to the Supervisors,
and exhort them to be generous to the
miners.
The trip over the mountains to Iowa
IIill was a rough one. and ii was after
O'Clock that night when the party arrived
there On the way over, however, the
grandeur of the mountain scenery more
1han compensated for roughnesS of the
road. The road descends for several
miles until il crosses the North Fork OF
the American River, and then asconds,
skirting along the great, deep canyon
through which the fork winds \ fine
view OF the stream was had from both
sides of the canyon, and Mr.. Glecson
asked the Supervisors TO look sharply for
tailings in the bed 9 the stream. There
were none to be - IA fact which con-
siderably surprise u. bates.
THEIR s. oNG POINT.
.sFIow is it, asllei Mr.. Bates, that the
fort, has no debris an 1t here, while the
American is full OF ~
"Well.n said Mr.. Gleeson, "the debris
in the American comes from some other
locality. The Iowa Hill mines however
Z irefn l.