The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-06-08
growth.
RETIREs FROM THE CONTEST.


The EI Dorado Republican thinks it
improbable to debate the hydraulic min
ing question with the REcoRD-UNIoN,
because it cannot believe that we are sim
cere. If that belief is really fixed in the
mind of our contemporary, if il believes
that Interior motives prompt the RECORD
UNION, and that il is aotuated by other
than the truth, it is wise to withdraw
from the debate
We entertain the belief, however, that
the retiracy of the Republican is because
of inability to answer the RECORD UNION
or substantiate its own statements as to
the causes of river degeneration. Our
contemporary in closing its columns
against the subject practically strikes it's
flag, since the truth never retreats under
fire.
In It's final article the Republican re-
iterates that the fine silt will come to the
rivers, no matter what steps are taken to
impound it, and we agree with it. But
it holds that this fine silt is in large part
contributed from agricultural lands. 1t
ignores the fact evident to the senses
that this agricultural silt is not found in
our streams in any appreciable amount,
and even were it found in large degree
the fact could in no wise excuse or palli-
Of ba hr 6ro 1io in,
contributing his sand, gravel. silt and
slickens.
The Republican charges that the people
of the valley and the RECORD UNION
would drive the people out of industry
in the mountains, in order that small
tracts of swamp land may be reclaimed.
The RECORD UNION has held to nothing
to Justify such a charge. 1t has never
COMPOUNDED river protection with swamp
years held that the Government can have
and take no concern in the reclamation
Of low lands. It's efforts are to be directed
solely to the protection and reclamation
OF the channels of those free highways,
the heritage of all the people, the navi-
gable rivers of the State.
The Republican returns to its scheme
of filling the State low lands with the
DRIFT from the mines. But it should
know that the State has no low lands to
fill of any moment that il has not en-
tered upon any such scheme, nor has it
proposed it. That when it does do so it
will be ample time to discuss such plan
OF action. But we are by no means bound
in the present emergency by the posi-
bility of what the State may possibly do
in the far distant future. We do know,
however, that neither State nor Federal
Government has given to the hydraulic
miner license to use the navigable rivers
as sluices through which to convey
slickens to low lands, nor has either
| miner to fill the swamp lands or under
take their reclamation.
The Republican says that it has urged
State and national cooperation to secure
the filling of the low lands with mining
debris, but its statement is confession
that such schemes have not met with
favor to this date in Sta to or Nation. We
regret the inability Of our contemporary
to debate the question without impugn-
ing motive. If the RECoRD-UNIoN is
grossly or at all in error, the truth will
down it; the Republican should not con-
fess incapacity to marshal it. But we
submit in all kindness that it has done
that very thing; that in all this de-
bate it has relied wholly and only upon
dogmatic assertion and the advancement
of theory, while the RECoRD-UNIoN has
for every fact alleged given proof and
pointed to the physical evidences of the
evil of which it complains and the patent
and injurious results daily flowing from
it.