The record-union., 1896-02-11

islative halls were overrun by useless
clerks. watchmen and other appointees
who were in the way of each other. 1t
seems that the highest ambition of such
men is to loot the treasury. The Rec
ord-Union' ought to look into the rec
ord of certain Senators and members
who came from Sacramento after sixty
days session and were not only able to
pay off mortgages on their homes, but
to buy farms, etc.
BLACKLISTING
Tulare Register: 1t is strange that
those who hold the freedom of the press
to be a sacred right should be first
ready to cruelty individuals for opin-
ions sake. Newspaper blacklisting and
individual boycotting are alike weak
| weapons, although two-edged swords
that cut both ways.
BUREAU OF HIGHWAYS.
Los Angeles Times: Although the
law which created the State Bureau of
Highways gives only advisory powers
to these Commissioners, they have ac-
complished much good in the rather
| circumscribed field assigned them. Be
fore the good-roads movement can take
practical shape a definite plan of cam
paign must be decided upon. 1t is in
the work of mapping out this plan of
campaign that the Commissioners are
engaged. They should have the CO.
operation of all classes of citizens, for
the interests of all are involved in this
movement.
THE DESTRUCTIVE WORK OF
SLICKENS.
Red Bluff News: 1t is sickening to
read of the destruction of property on
Feather River by the slickens sent down
by the hydraulic mines on the Yuba
River. The Marysville Democrat"
says:
''The levee is broken in several places
south of what is known as the State
| levee, and it cannot be repaired until
after the spring freshets, as the water
continue to run though whenever there
| is rise in Feather River of a few feet
| Very little land inthat part of the town
ship escaped the ravages of the water
that poured through the openings in the
levee. Sand and debris are seen in every
direction, and in some places there are
large piles of driftwood. Carcasses Of
dead horses, cattle, sheep and hogs are
| to be seen scattered about the farms
that were inundated. The wheat that
one month ago appeared green and
thrifty is destroyed by the water and
sand so that very little of it will be
cut. A house on the land of Atkinson
| & Brewer, in which was stored a lot of
furniture and carpets, was fioated sew
eral hundred feet to the north and all
was destroyed. These are not pleasing
items to publish, in fact the least said of
| it in the newspapers the better, but no
person can do justice in short account
of it. There appears only one remedy
for the people in that part of the town
ship, and that is stronger and higher
| levees."
| And of what avail will stronger and
higher levees be? They will afford but
| temporary protection at best, for the
channel of the river will continue to
rise, and the next great freshet will
break the 1evees again, more country
will be overflowed and more valuable
| land be ruined.
| Yes, it makes us sick to think what
| that country was thirty-five years ago
and what it is now. Then the vicinity
| of Marysville was one of the richest
and fairest spots to be found in the
State. Splendid ranches of great fer
| tility were in existence that were long
ago buried with sand and silt and lost
for all time, and for thirty-five years
the work of destruction has been going
on despite the expensive attempts to
stop it, And it will continue to go on
as long as hydraulic mining is permit
ted This must have been made clear
to the dullest comprehension by the
recent flood, for it has been demon
strated that impounding dams are de-
fusion. Several of them that were
thought to be absolutely secure were
washed out and sent a great flood OF
slickens down into the valley to cover
up and ruin more rich soil.
WHY THE FUNDING BILL WILL
PASS.
Folsom Telegraph: The opposition
to the funding bill in California is
wearing itself out. 1t never did amount
to much, and would have made but
slight showing but for the personal
animosity of the Mayor of San Fran
cisco toward Mr.. Huntington. The best
public sentiment in California is in
favor of extending the time for the
payment of the debts due by the Cen
trail Pacific Railroad Company to the
Government. Mr.. Hilborn appears be-
fore the committee of the House in
charge of the bill to say that he thought
that the mortgage ought to be fore
closed and the railroads sold. When
asked if he thought it would improve
matters to have some other railroad
corporation own and operate the rail-
roads, he said he thought it would.
This is exceedingly weak as an argu-
ment against the extension of time for
the payment of the debt. Mr. Hilborn's
argument was the exchange of King
Log for King Stork. There has been
no proposition advanced which might
safely be substituted for the funding
bill Since Congress must do some
thing, and do it quickly, it follows that
it will pass the bill. The matter is
practically settled.