The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-21
- HYDRAULIC MINING.

we publish IN another column cOmmu-
nication from Mr. Devlin, attorney for the
Anti-Debris Association. 1t is scarcely
worth while at this late day to enter
into controversy on the question of
mining debris or hydraulic mining in
California. The subject was pretty thor
oughly exhausted a dozen or more years
ago. at time when mining in this State
was supposed to be i'll condition of deca-
dence and agricultural and horticultural
pursuits were advancing. The valleys were
arrayed against the mountains in a legal
contest, which lasted some years and which
resulted in the hydraulic mines in all the
central tier of counties being closed down
by injunction.
While 1t is true, as our correspondent,
Mr.. Devlin, says, that there was no Con-
gressional enactment against hydraulic
mining, the effect was practically the
same. Injunctions from Federal and State
courts closed down the mines in all that
portion of the State drained by the Sacra-
mento and San Joaquin rivers. This was
due to the efforts of the associate Mr.
Devlin represents. But it did not appear
to be content to close down those mines
alone which were doing actual or ap-
parent injury to farming lands or navig-
able streams. 1t sought and obtained
injunctions against mines large or small in
such counties as Plumas and Sierra, per-
haps two hundred miles away from any
navigable streams and from where any
possible damage could be done. Mines in
mountain canyons and ravines, far distant
from agricultural regions, were treated in
the same way as those close to Marysville
or deep water. Hundreds and hundreds of
such claims are still under injunctions is
sued ten or dozen years ago. The men
who owned them were suddenly impoyer-
ished and rendered financially unable to
carry on legal contest.
The Anti-Debris Association, feeling its
power, seemed to have no conjunction
whatever and no judgment. Any by
.draulic mine, no matter how distant from
navigable streams or farming lands, came
under its ban. AS a result the whole
hydraulic mining region was gradually de-
populated, fell into decay, and the property
of the miners was practically confscated.
1t is of record in the report of the United
States engineers that the value of the
hydraulic mining property, reservoirs,
bitches, etc., involved in the contro-
versy was ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS,
while the value of the farming lands
really injured was only about 100000.
This, without taking into account the
question of the rivers at ALL All
this ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS
worth Of property was rendered use
less. 1t could not be utilized, worked
or sold. As to the annual product of these
= 4
The miners say that in the height OF their
prosperity the yield was $S,0O0,0oO to
100000 year. Mr.. Devlin says the
United States Mint shows the yield was
only about 100000 a year from this
source. The fact is the Mint statistics were
at that period much less accurate than at
this time and the miners themselves were
apt to be better authority than the Mint.
If, however, the yield were only $4,000, 900
year it was an amount we could i'll afford
to lose.
AS to the hydraulic mines being partly
worked out and their yield now less, it may
be stated that there are many hundreds of
acres of auriferous gravel yet untouched
which capital will open when it has assur-
ance of safety for the investment
After the hydraulic mines were closed
down ten or twelve years, the people of this
State began to realize that a mistake had
been made. The miners held a .conven-
ton and placed their case before the peo-
pie, asking relief. The farming com
munities of the valley were asked
to be present and came. Upon the
assurance of the miners that they did not
intend or desire to infiict the injuries com
planned of in the past, the opposing in
terests agreed to petition Congress for re-
lief to the miner. Mr.. Devlin was himself
one of the two gentlemen who drew the
memorial to Congress, stating the facts of
the case and asking for special laws for the
relief of the miner. In drawing that
memorial he was the representative of the
Anti-Debris Association and Mr.. Charles
Yale the representative of the Miners
Association.
At about the same time the Chamber of
Commerce, State Board of Trade and Board
of Supervisors of San Francisco, the Super
visors of many other counties and the
State Legislature itself, presented memoir
ais and resolutions to Congress asking for
special legislation which would permit