The record-union., 1893-01-17
DRAINAGE AND RECLAMATION.
The Convention to be Held in This
City Tomorrow.
Lines on Which it Should work-yiews
of Engineer Manson and Others
on the Subject.

ing at 10 o'clock, in the Art Gallery, at
Third and 0 streets. 1t will be composed
of Supervisors and other delegates from
several of the river counties, who are to
consult as to ways and means to secure
the protection of the lowlands along the
Sacramento River from periodical inun-
dations.
David Lubin of this city returned last
evening from a missionary journey
among the counties concerned, his pur-
pose being to AWAKEN such interest
among the officials and the people as will
induce them to take decisive action in the
matter of river drainage and land re-
clamation.
lie reports that the people everywhere
he went seemed to be fully alive to the
importance of the situation and expects to
see large attendance at the convention.
FINDING FAULT.
A few days since George Ohleyer of
Sutter County published a communica-
ton in the Bee, in which he expressed
I these views
1T was only yesterday that I saw the
official call for the convention, and, while
1t was doubtless worded with the best Of
motives, there are in it omissions and
commissions that seem to me calculated
to produce antagOnisms in the cOnYen-
ton and prevent the accomplishment Of
! the very purpose for which it is called
/ In the first place, the call prescribes what
may be considered and what shall not be.
/ Then again, the call covers some ten
or twelve counties supposed to be inter-
ested in the navigability and preservation
/ OF our rivers and our menaced lands and
homes, and excludes the counties of
Glenn and Tehama. The purpose Of this
is not apparent and must have been acci-
dental.
Then again, we see the counties of
/ Nevada and Placer included in the call
| 1t is difficult to observe where interest in
! the rivers and valleys by these two coun-
/ ties warrant their deliberation in the con
vention over the two first mentioned
when it is a notorious fact that both
/ counties have shown positive disregard
for the welfare of the valley interests
MR.. LUBIN's REPLY.
In reply to Mr.. Ohleyer David Lubin
| Marysvllle Appeal the following, ex-
planning how Mr.. Ohleyer had mistaken
the aims and purposes of the proposed
! convention. Says the writer
"Glenn and Tehama Counties were not
rejected, but the committee was not sure
that they would join us. but the probabil-
tiles are that they have since been in-
/ NllCus 4Adu Ii Ubcu Vic 1ll5llllOn OF LnG
committee to call convention for the
/ purpose of Investigating and condemn
/ ing the cause or causes Of overflow and
flood, then, in that event, Mr.. Ohleyer's
criticism would have been in order.
Such, however, was not the case. We
may each of us attribute the cause to the
same or to various theories, with a greater
or less approximation to truth but that
in itself would not do away with the
stubborn fact of a threatening and dam
gerous and disastrous condition confront
ing us, namely, the water courses. What
should we do to prevent the threatened
calamity? A calamity likely to prove
more disastrous in its far-reaching re-
suits than any heretofore known in Cali
fornia.
Realizing the Importance Of the ques-
| ton, and believing that in order to avert
/ the great danger a supreme effort should
! be made, and realizing further that this
/ required a concentration of all converti-
/ BILE power, the committee therefore came
to the conclusion that at this juncture the
mere recital of real or alleged causes
would only tend to stir up contention
and opposition, whereas united agree
ment that the evil exists, and united ap-
peal to the chief possible sources for re-
lief, would in all likelihood bring about a
surer leverage for relief than any other
course. MIR. Ohleyer will certainly admit
this.
The intention of the committee in
asking the two mining counties to be
present was in the line of pacifcation, in
order that in agreeing with us as to the
| needs of immediate relief they would
] join us in our appeal thereby strength
! ening us in our position with our State
| Legislature and with the national Gov
ernment
'By so doing did the committee there
/ by wish to condone hydraulic mining?
/ BY no means. The Anti Debris Associa-
/ ton is not asked to.dissolve, nor did our
| committee wish to usurp its functions
| To have taken mp the condemnation of
! hydraulicking would, in the Judgment of
/ the committee, have been mistake as to
| the time and because it may not be the
! only cause for present conditions.
General Bidwell, for instance, claims
/ that the indiscriminate annihilation of
our mountain forests is as grave factor
in the creation of the present condition as
/ that of hydraulic mining, and l have
| found many intelligent people to agree
/ therein. Were we better informed ofwhat
| great efforts France and Austria are max
/ ing to preserve the mountain forests, and
/ the great cost of reaforestation, we
would, ere this, have had as an efficient
| Anti-Forest Destroying Association as is
! the Anti-Debris Association. Many
others again attribute much of the present
| danger to the vast amount of leveling
DONE
Hence you see at this juncture an in
quiry into the cause would lead to dis
| agreement in conclusion, and defeat that
unanimity Of action so much required 10
bring relief and just now if the conven-
ton can bring relief. Shall we reject the
chance?"
DIR. DIXON ALSO.
EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN There seems to
be an impression in some quarters that
the Board Of Supervisors in issuing the
call for the convention, which meets in
this city on Wednesday, to consider val
! ley drainage matters, made a mis-
take in limiting the work of the conven-
ton by excluding all consideration of
mining debris. 1t will be seen, when
fully considered. that the limitation was
wise.
The subject for consideration is solely
the question of valley drainage, and the
convention may well be called the Cali
tOrnia Drainage Convention" There is
in existence the California River I'M
provement Convention, in charge OF
questions of navigation and the securing
OF aid from the Federal Government.
Also, the Anti Debris Association, seek
ing to control and prevent the injury of
lands and rivers by mining debris, and
also a Miners Association, seeking to
rehabilitate hydraulic mining so far as
possible without injury to valley lands
and rivers.
Each convention has its special work 70
perform, and no one can hope to accom-
plish the best results by encroachlng
upon the work Of another. The work OF
the coming drainage convention is Of vast
and vital Importance, and the one ques-
ton Of drainage Of the valuable lands
now subject TO injury by floods will re-
quire the very best thought and effort OF
the able men who will compose the con
venGon.
The following letter received from