The morning call., 1893-06-09
LAW VS.. SLICkENS
The Debris Commission Is
Organized.
HOW TO OBTAIN PERMITS.
Three United States Officers Detailed
to Regulate Hydraulic Mining.
lmpounding Dams.

The California Debris Commission is
now reality.
1t was organized yesterday; Colonel
George H. Mendell is president. Major
William Il. Heuer is secretary and dis
bursting officer, the third member being
Lieutenant Colonel w. II. II. Benyuard
Office at room SO, Flood building, until per-
manent quarters can be obtained.
The Camnetti act provides that the
President shall appoint three commission
ers, who shall have entire control of hy-
draulic mining in this State where any
navigable streams are affected, directly or
indirectly. Such are the powers granted
to the commission that all hydraulic min
ing is absolutely controlled by them, and
permits which they may grant can be re-
yoked ut any time.
President Cleveland appointed the gen.
tlemen before mentioned, but they had no
desire to umpire hydraulic mining In this
State and they called to their aid a United
States law which prevents an army office
from accepting civil position. The cues
tinn was referred to the Attorney-G Gener-
aPs office at Washington, and Wednesday
an answer was received from acting At.
torney-General Maxwell, who holds that
q
tall and the commissioners must serve
Being detailed for this work as army Off
GERS the comm Ssloners cannot resign, and
Yesterday they met ana formally organized
the Debris Commission. The commission
adouted rules for its guidance and also reg.
latlons concerning the applications for per-
mlts to operate mines.
There are about 400 mines affected nv
the Caminetti act Before anv hydraulic
mine ca be legally operated the owner
must tle an APP lIeatiun with the com mis-
sion; the applicant must describe his
mine and explain his proposed plan OF
dealing with the debris. Permiss on
must then be obtained from the War De-
partment to advertise the petition. day
will then be- set for hearing the applica-
ton and an opportunity given for any to
contest the application. A commissioner
will then proceed to the mine and max
an examination to ascertain if the III iner'
nlgns for impouDding the debris are fea-
Sible.
Should his plans be approved he must
build permanent restraining dam under
he direction OF a representative of Oh e
commission. When the dam is completed
it must be examined by member of the
board, and If found satisfactory the COM
mission Will give permit to allow mining,
After miner makes application TO con-
duet a hydraulic mine from four TO eight
months will probably elapSe before he can
begin operations. The owner must sat-
isfy the commissioners that no consider
able amount of debris is escaping over his
dam, and the commission can order oper-
ations suspended at any time If il appea rs
that the tailings are not properly dis
posed of.
The commissioners do not anticipate a
very pleasant term of Office. 1t is well
known that debris VIII pass over a dam
IN suspension, and it is impossible TO I'M
Ound taltings in a manner satisfactory
alike to miners and farmers. A gentle
man who is well acquainted with the
subject thinks the CamInetti law Will be
productive OF a great deal of trouble, and
that it will be unsatisfactory to valley
and mountain.
mo dam that ever was devised will act
as complete restrainer," said he. "a
considerable amount of debris is ALWAYS
held in suspension, and is bound to GO
over any dam. In stormy weather the
amount of debris that Will be carried
down and over the dams cannot be calcu-
lated. But the effects Will be seen in L e
lower valleys. So long a the ground in
the mountains is torn up and washed into
the ravines, so long will it reach the
plains below, and ali the dams imaginable
Will not remedy the matter"