The record-union., 1892-02-29

The commission can acquire by con-
demnatlon or purchase any land neces-
Sary for construction or storage, or for
right OF way, or 10 secure material, such
as stone or timber. Public lands can be
used by notifying the Commissioner of
the Land Office, who will withdraw it
from entry, and the use OF ravines. water
courses. storage sites, ETC., is declared q
public use. The commission can call on
the Secretary of War or the Secretary of
the Treasury, with his geodetic survey,
for assistance at any time. When work
is TO be done the commission will adver-
tlse Tor bids. Tit is not done by contract
hired labor will be used. Under no cir
cumstances will Chinese labor be toler-
ated.
The bill concludes by empowering the
commission to proceed at once to build at
available points above the head of nayiga-
tionsuch inlpounding dams, settling res
ervoirs, canals, locks or other works as
may be necessary TO protect the rivers
from debris already lodged in their tribu-
tarles, or which may lodge there hereaf-
ter. 10 do this the following appropria-
tons are proposed: Stone dam, Rattle
snake Bar, American River, 500, 900:
stone dam at Van Geisen's, Bear River,
SloO,GO0; stone dam at Deugere Point,
4uha River, S300,0 dams and restrain
ing banks on the Feather River. $3.50, 900:
such place as the commission may deem
fit of any restraining works, Sl50,0
dams IN the tributaries of the Sacramento,
in the vicinity OF Redding, $50, coo; other
dams, $4,000; stone dam on Suffer Creek,
above lone City, $4,000; dams on the CAL
averas River, above Jenny Lind, $500, 600;
for the use of the commission, immedi-
ately available, $50, 600.
This bill, which has just been finished
by Mr.. Caminetti, is thought to be the
best that could be prepared, and it will
probably be introduced on Monday
Mr.. Ohieyer reserves unqualified APP
proval of the bill because he wants to
hear from his co-workers in the anti-de-
bris society.
From letters and kilograms received
from the coast both Mr.. Devlin and Mr..
Ohieyer believe that some people there
have mistaken the idea of their mission
here. 'We were sent here" said Mr..
Devlin to-day. 'by the Sacramento River
Convention. This convention has had
meetings in previous years, and has sent
delegates to Washington to work for an
appropriation for the improvement Of the
rivers. This is our sole errand here now.
Our convention was held in December,
and III January the miners held con-
vention in San Francisco, which we at
tended. At that convention scheme
was adopted by which hydraulic mining
could be resumed without damage to the
farmers or impeachment to navigation.
Like good citizens, WE favored this plan,
as we would favor any plan that would
add to our wealth and greatness without
interfering with the rights of others.
Shortly after our arrival here we APP
peared before the proper committee and
made our arguments, and now have only
to interview the individual members and
try to get as much as possible in the bill
to be introduced by the River and Har-
bors Committee, which bill, [ believe is
now being drawn up. A committee from
the miners convention followed us, and
we agreed to work together in harmony,
that is, we will help them and they will
help us. That does not mean that we have
forgotten our original mission. We are
here, first and last, to get an appropria-
ton for our rivers. We are doing all we
can to assist the miners committee, but
we will not tie ourselves UP in any ar
rangement that would defeat our original
object that is, if the miners do not sue
coed in attaining their object we will not
be so placed that we must fail, too
we want an appropriation and will
fight for it, no matter what Congress does
with regard to hydraulic mining. Here
totore, when we have asked for money for
river Improvement, Congress has said:
Why should we give you money to clear
out your rivers when YOU Immediately
proceed to clog them up again p and the
appropriations have been refused. This
year it is different. We can prove to them
that hydraulic mining has been stopped,
and unless party policy interferes. we
ought to get something; not as much as
we ask for, but still something"