The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-04-10
FOR FARMERS AND MINERS.
The Full Text of the Much aIked-of
Caminetti Bill.
A Congressional Measure Which 1t is
Claimed VIII Do Justice to Both
Farmers and Miners.

The REcoRD-UNIoN has published
heretofore all the important points of the
Caminetti bill, but the following contains
the full text of that measure, and should
be of interest to both valley and mount
ain people:
representatives OF the United States of Amer
lea in Congress assembled, That a commits
sion is hereby created TO be known as the
California Debris Commission, consisting of
| three members. The President OF the United
states snail, by and with the advice and con-
| sent OF the Senate, appoint the commission
from ofncers OF the corps OF engineers, United
| states Army. Vacancies occurring therein
shall be filled in like manner 1t shall have
the authority and exercise the powers herein
after set forth, under the supervision of the
Chief Of Engineers and direction of the Secre-
tary OF War.
| Section q That said commission shall Or
| ganize within thirty days after its appoint
ment by the selection Of such officers as may
| be required in the performance OF Its duties,
| the same to be selected from the members
thereof The members of said commission
shall receive no greater compensation than Is
now allowed by law to each, respectively, as
an officer of said corps Of engineers. 1t shall
also adopt rules and regulations, not incon-
| sistenL with law to govern its deliberations
| and prescribe the method of procedure under
| the provisions of this Act.
Section g. That the jurisdiction of said
| Commission, in SO far as the same affects min
| Ing carried on by the hydraulic process. snail
| extend TO all such mining in the territory
| drained by the sacramento and San Joaquin
| River systems in the State of California. Hy-
| draultc mining, as defined in Section hereof,
| directly or indirectly tnjurtng the nRvlga-
billty of said river systems, carried on In said
territory other than as permitted under the
| provisions of this Act, is hereby prohibited
| and declared unlawful, 10
| Section 4. That it should be the duty Of
| said commission to maintain and adopt such
| plan or plans, from examinations and surveys
1 ulr " m uHp md frrT oAh nj
aminations and surveys IL may deem
| necessary, as will improve the nayiga bility Of
all the rivers comprising said systems, deepen
their channels. and protect their banks. Such
plan or plans snail be matured with IL view Of
| making the same effective against the en-
| croachment OF and damage from debris result
| ing from mining operations, natural erosion,
| or other causes, with a view OF restoring,
| near as practicable, and the necessities OF
| commerce and navigation demand, the navi-
gability OF said rivers to the condition exist
| Ing in 1860, and permitting mining by the
| hydraulic process, as the term Is understood
in said State, to be carried on, provided the
same can be accomplished without injury to
| the navigability OF said river or the lands ad-
| jacent thereto.
| survey and determine the utility and practi-
cability, tor the purposes hereinafter indi-
Gated, of storage sites in the tributaries of said
rivers and in the respective branches Of said
| tributaries, or in the plains, basins, sloughs
and tule and swamp lands adjacent TO or along
the course OF said rivers, for the storage OF
the object of using the same by either or all of
these methods to aid in the impro vement and
protection OF said navfga6le rivers by pre-
venting deposits therein OF debris resulting
from mining operations, natural erosion or
other causes, or for affording relief thereto in
flood time and providing sufficient water to
maintain scourage force therein in the sum-
mer season; and in connection Herewith to
! investigate such hydraulic and other mines
Us are now or may have been worked by
methods intended to restrain the debris and
material moved in operating such mines by
lmpounding dams, settling reservoirs or other
WISE and in general TO make such study OF
and researches in the hydraulic mining in
| dustry rs science experience ana engineering
skill may suggest as practicable and useful in
| deYistng method or methods whereby such
| mining may be carried on as aforesaid.
Section .. That the said commission shall
from time to time note the conditions of the
nayigable channels OF said river systems, by
cross section surveys, or otherwise, in order
to ascertain the effect therein OF such by
draulic mining operations as may be per-
united by Its orders and such as Is caused by
erosion natural or otherwise
Section z. That said commission shall sub
init 10 the Chief of Engineers, Tor the informal
ton of the Secretary OF War, on or before the
fifteenth day OF November of each year, u re-
port OF its labors and transactions, with plans
Tor the construction. completion, and preser-
walton OF the public works outlined In this
act, together with the estimates of the cost
thereof, stating what amounts can be protita-
bly, expended thereon each year. The Secre-
tary OF WI ar shall thereupon submit same to
Congress on or before the meeting thereof.
Section 8. That for the purpose of this Act
hydraulic mining" and mining by the hy-
draulic process" are hereby declared to have
the meaning and application given to said
terms in this state.
proprietors, or in case OF q corr GRAFTON its
manager or agent appointed for that purpose,
owning mining ground in the territory in the
State OF California mentioned in Section 8
hereof which 1t is desired to work by the hy-
draulic process, must file with said commits
SIGN verified petition, setting forth such facts
| pr1IN viii "a he
scribed by said commission.
| Section 10. The said petition shall be ac-
companIed by an instrument duly executed
and acknowledged, AS required by the law of
the said State, whereby the owners of such
mine or mines SURRENDER to the United States
the right and privilege to regulate by law, as
| provided in this Act, or any law that may
| hereafter be enacted, or by such rules and reg
uIations as may be prescribed by virtue
| thereof, the manner ana method in which the
debris resulting from the working OF said
mine or mines shall be restrained, and what
| amount shall be produced thereirom; 1t being
understood that the surrender aforesaid shall
not be construed as in any way affecting the
right of such owner or owners TO operate said
mine or mines by any other process Or method
| now in use in said state; provided that they
shall not interfere with the navigability of
the aforesaid rivers.
section II. That the owners of several min
ing claims SO situated as to require common
| dumping ground or dam or other restraining
f works for the debris issuing therefrom in one
or more sites may file joint petition setting
ments of Section 8 hereof; and where the
owner of hydraulic mine or owners of sev-
eral such mines have and use such dumping
, sites for impounding debris settling
reservoirs, which sites are located below the
mine of an applicant not entitled TO use the
same, such fact shall also be stated in said Pc
, tition. Thereupon the same proceedings shall
= be had as provided for herein.
Section 12. A notice specifying briefly the
contents OF said petition and liking a time
previous to which all proofs are to be sub
United shall be published by said commission
in some newspaper or newspapers of general
circulation in the communities Interested in
the matter Set forth therein. II published in
a daily paper such publication shall continue
for at least ten days; If in weekly paper in
at least three issues OF the same. Pending
publication thereof said commission, or a
committee thereof, shall examine the mine