The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-21
The Recent Move of the
Valley People.
RALSTON AND YALE TALK.
The State Anti-Debris Association
Charged With Having Flopped
in the Matter of Mining.

committee of the State Anti-Debris Asso-
citation, at its meeting in Sacramento on
Monday in regard to the operation of the
Caminetti law.
The object !of these resolutions, as set
forth in the body of them, was to place
on record tile position of the Anti-Debris
Association on the Caminetti law.
Yesterday reporter of THE CALL
sought an interview with w. c. Ralston,
secretary of the State Miners Associa-
ton. for the purpose OF seeing how the
views of the anti-deoris people, as set
forth in the resolutions, might be regarded
by the miners and those supposed to be
guarding their interests.
Mr.. Ralston was inclined to consider the
decided action of the anti-debris people as
playing directly into the hands of the
miners, ana said that he did not believe
the action taken at Sacramento would be
looked upon with favor by even the ma
jority Of the antI-debris people them
selves.
This action" said he, has been forced
by few hotheads and soreheads. who
nave all along wanted to make a sneak of
this kind, but have been held back by The
fair-minded ones.
what the miners have all along desired
was to get the Anti-Debris Association to
clearly define its position on the Caminetti
bill. They must have either taken one
side or the other, because the measure was
so drawn up as TO preclude the posSiblli-
ties or halfway measures. The Anti
Debris Association now stands in the posi-
ton OF having receded from its stand,
taken when the measure was proposed to
have Congress decide the al-important
question of whether hydraulic mining could
be resumed or not
THE anti-debris people have gone on
| record time and time again as favoring the
rehabilitation of hydraulic mining, pro-
Vlded II could be done without injury to
| the streams in the Sacramento Valley.
They cannot deny this fact at this late day,
and say that the association has never en-
couraged the miners to believe that if re-
straning dams could be made to restrain
then the work of the association would
end.
THE Anti-Debris Association has prac
tically favored all the legislation that las
been had upon the matter. Before the
final passage of the Caminetti bill in Con-
gress thei1 representative in Congress,
| Congressman Berry, had several amend
ments added 10 the bill. The association
and Congressman Berry were both con-
suited in regard to all the provisions of the
bill before its final passage. and conces-
| SONS we're made by both sides so that the
| bill might conform to the Ideas of all par
ties MS far a S possible.
| Now, the fact of the matter is that the
! Caminetu bill is not satisfactory to either
side, but the miners have been content to
90 ahead and try working the mines under
| its provisions and let the results Of the
trial determine their future action.
"But the anti-deb ris executive conn nit
tee, composed of lot of ranchers, none of
them understanding anything about en-
| Oi ri m mi RI, al,
that they cannot trust the engineers sent
| out by Congress to Investigate the matter
and ascertain what sort of dam is needed
TO restrain the debris of the hydraulic
mines.
1.-THE anti-debris committee says that its
members know more about mines and
! dams than the experts who we're called to
testify before Congress in regard to thes-
things, and the committee is a set of
grangers with hay in their hair and valley
mud cliDgiDg to their clothes.
And they have the boldness to assert
all this after having agreed to abide by the
provisions of the law which they Jhem-
selves were instrumental in formulating
These grangers say that dams cannot
be built that will restrain the debris. The
expert engineers SAID that dams that will
restrain can be built. The law says that
the dams must be of a permanent char
acter and OF sufficient strength to restrain
the debris, and before they are used they
must be passed upon by expert Govern
merit engineers.
why are the anti-debris people not
willing to allow the miners 10 make a trial
OF the operations of the Caminetii law
before passing such decided opin on upon
its operation? Simply because there are a
number of the members of the Ant-Debris
Association who are opposed to hydraulic
mining from other causes than that of in
jury to the rivers of the Sacramento Valley
! Ihpre a hah ho
matter somewhere, and the time will come
when the people of California will be
aware OF the particulars, too.
The resolutions state that the assocIa-
ton reserves the right 10 appeal to the
courts II by the operation Of said bill
hydraulic mining should be resumed to the
injury of the association.
There is mighty little appeal the
ASSOCIATION can have from the courts in
the matter because the Supreme Court has
already had tussle with the hydraulic
miners, and one of the principal opinion.
handed down by tie Supreme Court of The
State IS that If the operating of the min e:
can be resumed without injury to the naVi
gable streams then the court will have nc
objection to the resumption OF operations
The action of the executive comm ittet
on Monday was simply intended as
menace TO the miners. l think it vii
react. 1t will serve to show the people o.
the State bow the Anti Debris Association
has gone back on all its former pledge.
, and stands, and is now taking a new stant
, in direct opposition to its former actions
Charles G. 7 ale of the Mining and Sci
I>eutific Press was also seen by a CALI. re
porter and echoed much of the sentimen
OF Mr.. Ralston In regard to the matter
, in thus present ting its position on tn,
, operation of the Caminetti bill, the Anti
Debris Association has flown in the fac,
, Of Congress, the California State Legisla
! ture. the Board of Trade, Chamber O
Commerce and Board Of Supervisors o
San Francisco, the same of Sacrament
,, and other cities. and Governor Markham m,
, he said.
, besides this, the present aetion is il
, opposition to the action of the association
! before the passage OF the Caminetti bill
|. for one. am glad that the association ha,
shown its hand. The people of Californi:
can now see both sides OF the case AM
ascertain the true inwardness of th
thing.
Governor Markham in his first messag
had the boldness to advocate movemeI
! looking to the solution of the hydraulic
+ mining question. The people of the Stat
through their several Boards of Trade AMI
? other commercial organizations favorsi
the movement. The anti-debris peopa
+ seemed then to fail in with the plans d.
| aYcs a1 httt hau oil he No.,