The record-union., 1895-10-16
GOVERNMENT And The RIVERS.
Views of the State Anti-Debris Asso-
citation,
Expressed In Letter to Congressman
Johnson-Collapse of
Debris Dam.

ISOLATION yesterday in this city, which
was presided over by ex-senator William
Johnston of CORTLAND in the absence OF
Chairman Morrison.
Manager Phipps. in his monthly re-
port, stated that several hydraulic mines
were making preparations for operating
this winter, but at tho present time the
rivers are all in fair condition, except the
Costumes. On this stream there is con-
siderable hydraulicking being done IN
the vicinity of Michigan Bar.
Mr.. Phipps also called attention to the
fact that the Valentine dam in Shasta
County, behind which had been collected
a large quantity of debris, had gone out
and let the slickens down into the river.
AS TO RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
The following letter addressed to Con-
gressmen Grove l.. Johnson by X. L.
Devlin. the attorney for the association,
was submitted by the author:
SACRAMENTO, October L. 1895.
Hon. Gr0Ue Il. johnson, Sacramento
DEAR SIR: Your letter addressed to the
State Anti Debris Association asking Tor
their views upon prospective Congress
sional legislation, and what they viii adj
vocate or oppose, has been duly received.
The subject matter was thoroughly dis
cussed at the last meeting of the EXecu-
tive Committee of the Association, and l
have been instructed to EN- body TO you in
this letter the views held by the associa-
ton. In compliance with such lnStruc-
tions, l beg to say:
l. 1t is needless to remark that we favor
the improvement OF the navigable rivers
of the Sacramento Valley to the utmost
possible degree, and their restoration to
the condition in which they were before
they were seriously injured By hydraulic
mining carried on on their water sheds
:. The improvement of the nayigable
streams of the nation is subject pecul-
iarly within the fostering care OF Con-
Rress. The nation Is III duty bound to
protect and improve Its waterways. and
by leg isIation and by the appropriation
OF vast sums OF money covering period
of many years has been engaged in this
work. The navigable waters OF the
L uited States are matters of public con-
Germ, in which the whole people have an
interest. They are highways of COM
merce, aIfording easy and cheap trans
portation OF the products of the nation,
encouraging and increasing commercial
activity among our people. and their i'm
proyement irreSistibly leads to wide
spread prosperity.
But the Improvement of our navigable
waters has nothing TO do with the re-
sumption OF hydraulic mining. Hy-
draulic mining is private business, the
same as black smi thing carpentering or
any other private pursuit. The question
whether this class OF mining Will ever be
resumed or not has nothing 10 do with
the improvement of the rivers. The i'm
proyement of the navigable streams, and
the resumption of hydraulic mining, are
distinct questions, and in our minds an
tagonlstlc propositions. The success of
one means the destruction Of the other
We shall condemn any effort that may be
made to have the cause of hydraulic min
ing attached to the cause Of river i'm
proyement, in order that the worthy
cause may carry with it the other. The
resumption OF hydraulic mining con-
Germs only those Interested in that de-
structiye business, and we shall oppose
any legislation affecting river improve
ment which is coupled to plan for the
restoration of hydraulic mining.
3. We are opposed to the erection by
the Government of dams in the streams
Of California.
II hydraulic mining is not sufficiently
profitable business to justify the hydrau-
lie miners Ia erecting these dams them
selves, the business ought to be Rban-
doned. The Government has no more
right 10 erect dams for the benefit of the
hydraulic miners than it has To- stock a
l.
PIGMENTS, and the appropriation OF pub
lie moneys for the purpose of aiding the
hydraulic miner would be a misappro-
priation of public funds. The tax for the
building OF these structures would fall as
heavily upon US as it would upon the
miners.
The erection of dams would not, in our
opinion, restrain the debris from the hy-
draulic mines above them. The finer
material carrla1 in SuSnanSIoD VyotI6 ia,
stages OF high water, pass over their
crest, and in later days the principal
damage To the river beds and to the ad La
cent farming land has been caused by the
inner material, which no dam can re-
strain. The dams themselves would be a
nuisance unless built of solid masonry at
an Immense expense. They would at
best be temporary affairs holding back
debris Tor temporary time only to
throw II down as an avalanche in case
they should break, and our experience is
that such dams as probably would be
built would be of only temporary dura-
ton. In the next place the question
whether or not these dams would hold
and restrain any considerable portion OF
the debris is at the best a speculative
proposition. Skilled engineers differ on
this point If the dams succeed in doing
all that is claimed, it Will result in no
beneilt TO US, and II they should not sue
coed, as IS our opinion. we would be the
sufferers. We certainly shall object as
strongly as We can to any such expert
ments being tried upon u.s.
j. We believe that permanent COM
mission should be appointed 10 have
charge OF the navigable waters of the
Sacramento Valley, and that a sufficient
sum OF money should be appropriated by
Congress 10 enable this commission to re-
Store the rivers OF this part OF the State TO
ar hi "a
OF San Francisco there are nearly 500
miles of navigable channels traversing a
country as rich and fertile as any on the
globe, aud the amount Of commerce now
carried on on these waters, and the
amount OF business that might be done il
facilities for transportation were in
creased, certainly Justiiles the Govern
ment in providing permanent commits
sion for their Improvement. The cOndi-
uons applicable to this part OF the State
are peculiar, and their counterpart can
perhaps be found IN no other portion of
tue United States. An artificial cause, or,
10 be more explicit, hydraulic mining,
mas brought these rivers to their present
deploraDle condition. and, lnasnuch as
the Government for years stood by and
saw this destruction go on before its very
eyes, we consider IL a matter Of common
justice as well as matter OF benefit 10 the
whole people, THAI il should undertake
the work OF their restoration.
D. hlle these are our views, and there
ID IN our mind no shadow of doubt as 10
their correctness, we are perfectly willing
10 leave the decision upon this matter to
such commission, or to any body of
Government engineers. We believe that
the WhoIe State OF California can, and
should unite in asking for a large appro-
priation Tor the benefit OF these streams.
ana II any believe that the erection OF
Dams VIII improve them. that Is q matter
we are perfectly willing to leave to the
judgment OF such a commission, taking
our chances upon their decision being