The record-union., 1892-01-16

great Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys
and the adjacent counties and the City OF San
Francisco, California, in third annual session
assembled at Sacramento, January Is, 1892,
respectfully represent that, in compliance
with the provisions of Section = of the River
ana Harbor Act, approved September 10,
1890, special Board of Engineers was con-
stltuted 70 consider and report upon the
needs OF the Sacramento and Feather Rivers
and their tributaries in California, with a
view TO their future improvement.
The said, Board of Engineers did, by your
authority, make a thorough personal exam
lnatlon OF said rivers, and IN report transmit
/ ted to the House of Representatives by the
Secretary OF War, February 10, 1891, recon-
/ mend the appropriation of the sum total OF
S645,OOO for the improvement of said rivers,
while the Government engineers in charge
nave recommended the appropriation OF the
sum OF Sl46 200 for the improvement OF the
san Joaquin and Mokelumne Rivers and
! their tributaries, and $4,000 for the inn
pToyement of Petaluma Greek. in California
The Board of Engineers, after thorough ex-
animation, have reported that hydraulic
mining, the chief source OF injury TO the navi-
! gability of the Sacramento River and its trib-
utaries, has been interdicted by the Federal
/ Courts, thus rendering 1t possible TO gradually
and certainly restore said rivers TO their orig
inal value as navigable highways and TO
maintain SAID naVigaDility so long as by
draulic mining is not resumed in any man
ner which will allow further artificial erosion
| of gravel deposits to contribute detritus, to
| shCal said rivers.
The necessity for these appropriations was
made very apparent by the said report, and
we indorse in full the statements therein con-
| tanned. The Importance of these rivers to the
! commerce of California and the Nation can
/ not be overestimated.
! Wherefore we most earnestly request YOU to
| make the appropriations as recommended by
said special and regular Government euoi-
neers for the immediate and necessary i'm
/ proYements of said rivers in California with
out any reduction, and that the entire amount
/ be made Immediately available.
THE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
! The Committee on Resolutions reported
a series Of resolutions which had been
submitted. Some were amended, and as
adopted they read:
Resolved, That copies Of the memorial
adopted by this Convention be Immediately
! transmitted TO our Senators and Representa-
/ tlYes, and TO the members OF the River and
Hafbor Committee in Congress, and that our
delegation be hereby respectfully requested to
/ promptly present the matter TO Congress. and
/ use ali honorable means TO secure the appro-
/ priatiOnS recommended, in the firm belief that
{ such action will directly lead to, and result
/ in, the ultimate complete restoration of our
rivers to their original capacity as navigable
Resolred That an Executive Committee be
appointed, to consist of five members at large,
appointed by the Chairman of this conyen-
/ tion and that each county represented in this
/ convention to-day appoint one additional
member Of said Executive Committee.
ReSO{red, That we recommend that the Exec
| utlye Committee OF this convention be author
! lied toeOn er with the Executive Committee
OF the Miners Convention. for the purpose of
carrying out the objects expressed in the me-
mortal to Congress.
ReSoJued, That we deem it expedient that a
committee OF three be sent to Washington as
! speedily as possible to assist our Senators and
representatives IN securing the approprla-
tons recommended by the Government en-
| gineers. and we therefore direct our Executive
Committee to immt diately take the necessary
steps to select such committee of three, and to
raise funds sufficient to pay the expenses con-
nected with their mission to Washington.
ReSO{Ced, That the Boards of Supervisors of
the various counties, and other governing
bodies represented in this convention, be
requested to provide funds TO meet the eX-
pcnSeS Of the committee OF three, to be sent to
/ Washington, fer the purpose Of urging the
making of necessary appropriations for the
navtgable highways OF California.
When the resolution extending the
olive branch to the Miners Convention
was read one Of the delegates asked that
the Executive Committee be called upon
to explain the resolution.
Corcoran, as a member of that commit
tee, stated that it was considered adyisa-
! bic to confer with the Miners COnven-
ton, as that body was heartily in favor of
restoring and protecting the navigable
streams in the State.
Devlin of Sacramento offered an
amendment to the resolution which
changed the sense of the latter portion of
it, and read: For the purpose of carry
ing out the objects expressed in the
I
The amendment was unanimously
adopted.
The reading of the resolution referring
to the selection of a committee to go to
Washington TO wait upon Congress
caused considerable discussion Devlin
was in favor of authorizing the Elk
| ecutiVe Committee to select the commit
tee. He was strongly Of the opinion that
the Boards of Supervisors of the various
counties from which the members of the
committee hail would defray the ex-
penses to Washington. He suggested
that the Secretary of the Executive Com
mittee be instructed to supply the various
Boards of Supervisors with a list Of the
selected names, and ask them if they had
anything to suggest. He urged eXpe
diency in the matter, and cautioned the
convention against delay.
Rose of COlusa emphasized the advisa-
bility of selecting three capable men to
argue the matter before Congress. He
contended that if the amendment con-
ferring with the Boards Of Supervisors
was adopted that several weeks time
would be consumed, and result in the
committee being late in presenting the
memorial to Congress.
Manson of San Francisco strongly adj
vocated the propriety of quick and de-
ciSive action. He could not see the neces-
sity of sending 40 men to Washington
when only three were needed.
Berry was in favor of submitting the
list of the selected names comprising the
committee to the various Boards of Su-
pervisors, and ascertain if any of the
members were not on friendly terms
with the boards. If this was ascertained,
and provided no enemy's name appeared
on the list, the expenses of the commits
sion would undoubtedly be paid.
Corcoran believed that there would be
no trouble in securing financial assist
ance from the Boards of Supervisors in
defraying the expenses OF the commits
sion. 1t had been reported to him that,
with the exception of Sacramento and
| Yolo, all the Boards of Supervisors in the
State would gladly lend their co-opera-
ton to obtain the needed improvements
to the State streams.
This remark brought V. S. McClatchy
the Sacramento Board of Supervisors
would refuse to pay the expenses of the
commission to Washington.
IF that is the case, however" he con-
tinued, there is not Sacramento dele
gate here tonight who would not go
down to the bottom of his pockets and
bring forth sufficient money to defray the
expenses to Washington" Applause.
Supervisor Bates Of this city, in answer
to the accusation of parsimony made
against Sacramento officials, arose and
| said that the local Board of Supervisors
would be the first to head the list in pay
ing their pro rata of the commissions ex-
penSes.
Johnston of Sacramento did not believe
in splitting hairs at this early period,
and urged expediency to accomplish the
purpose of the convention.
Adams of Yolo could not speak for the
Board of Supervisors of that county, but
was willing to put up 5000 to defray the
expenses of the committee.