The morning call., 1892-02-28
PLANS OF HYDRAULIC MINING
Agreement Reached by the California
Delegates TO Washington.
CREATING 4 NEW DEBRIS COMMISSION.
Provision Of the Bill 10 Permit Mining.
lmpOuldil6 and Restraining Dams.
Appropriations Asked.
Special to THE MORNING CALL-

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27-After a SEEM
inglY interminable wrangle the delegates
representing the river improvement and
mining interests in California have agreed
upon plan Of action. A bill has been pre-
pared and has been indorsed by the mining
men, by Mr.. Devlin and by Mr. Ohleyer,
although the latter qualities his approval by
stating that he only examined the bill super
hcialIy and may have some amendments to
oifer The bill as agreed upon will be in
uoduced on Monday and is substantially as
follows: 1t creates a California debris com
mission Of three members, being United
States army engineers detailed by the Sec
Tetdry OF War. The commission shall, in
short supervise hydraulic mining In Cali
fOrnla and shall decide how and where i'm
pounding and restraining works shall be
built. Hydraulic mining may be COM
menced only after the plans Of operation
nave been approved by the commission.
The expense Of maintaining and protecting
any dams or other restraining works shall
be divided between the mne-owne using
the same. For violation of the rules OF
The commission, work by such hydraulic
miner snail cease as penalty. The luris-
Uctlor OF the commission IS to extend over
al hydraulic mining situated on the trib-
rivers. Their Office shall be in San Fran
cisco, and they shall organize within thirty
days after the passage of the bill. The United
States Attorney for the Northern District
shall attend the meetings and act as legal
adviser. Said commission shall adopt such
plans as Will permanently locate and deepen
the channels and protect banks, and also
adopt plans for the resumption OF hydraulic
mining without injury 10 the banks Of the
rivers; also survey and locate storage sites
and when the appropriations are made, re-
strain by dams or other methods all mate
rial lodged in the waterways, and in gen.
eTal they shall make such a study OF and
researches into tile hydraulic mining indus
try as science experience and engineering
skill may suggest. Annual reports shall be
made by the commission TO the Secretary Of
War
Provisions Of the Bill.
The bill defines what hydraulic mining is.
All work done by the mne-Owners shall be
by other than Chinese laborers. The said
commission ~, order that such material as is
now or may hereafter be lodged in the trIbu-
taries OF the Sacramento and San Joaquin
rivers resulting from mining operations,
natural erosion or other causes may be pre-
vented from injuriug said naviSable rivers
or such Of the tributaries of either as may
be n8vigaUle, is hereby directed and empOw-
cred 10 proceed without delay TO build al
such points. above the head of navigation,
IN SAID rivers or either Of their tributaries
as hereinafter indicated, or at anv point
calculated in the judgment Of said commits
sion to effect said object, the same to be Of
such material as will insure safety and per-
manenCy, or rs Indicated herein, such re-
strainlng our imp0undlng dams and set
Ting reservoirs, with suCA canals, locks or
other works adapted or required to complete
the same, as per the recommendation con-
tanned IN executive document 267, Fifty
dgSt Congress, second session. and executive
document -, Forty seventh Congress, first
session.
Amounts Appropriated.
such purposes the following sums
are hereby appropriated from moneys in
the Treasury not otherwise Appropriated
to be Immediately available for the
building and construction thereof and
requirement of sites therefor where
necessary so to do, at or near the places
named in connection with each sum reSpec-
lively. viz. For the erection of a stone dam
AZ Rattlesnake Bar on the American River,
500, 900; for the erection Of stone dam at
Van GlesOnS, on the Bear RIVER, $3.50 600
for the erection Of a stone dam at De Guer-
zero Point, on the Yuba River $500 900;
for restriction works on the Guba River,
below the foothills, $780, co., for the eTeC-
ton OF q stone dam on the main 1u6a
River at a point near the mouth IF Deer
Greek known as the NarTOWs. S30O,00 for
the erection Of such place or places on the
Feather River as the commission may select
such dam or other restraining works as said
commission may deem necessary, $50, 900;
for the construction and completion at such
place or places as the commission may deem
proper of any settling reservoir or basins
for debris or water, with necessary canals
and locks or such other restraining works
as may be necessary, $50, coo; for the eTec-
t0n of such dams or other restraining
works as the commission may deem neces-
sary on the tributaries of the Sacramento
River, in the vicinity Of Redding. $50, 600;
for the erection of dam at such place on
the Cosumnes River as the commission
may select, $40, 900; for the erection of
stone dam on Sutter Creek, above lone City,
$4,000; for the erection OF a dam or dams
near or above Jenny Lind. on the Calayeras
River, $4,000.
The further appropriation Of the sum OF
$4,000 is to be Immediately available to
detray the expenses and for other uses of
the said commission in carrying out the OBJ
:. .rtr . 1,