The herald., 1896-01-18
TIE ACCUMULATED DEBRIS
Has Devastated the Rich Sacramento
Bottom Lands
And the Navigation of the River Is De-
stroyed No Legislation Is De-
rnanded by the People

Associated Press Special Wire
SACRAMENTO, Jan. 1.-THE Anti-Debris
association has sent long protest to the
members of congress against the passage
of any bills by congress aiding in the re-
sumption of hydraulic mining through ap.
preparations from the general govern
1nent. The association at considerable
length goes on TO note the great devasta-
ton by mining to the rich lands along the
Sacramento river, and it has almost en-
tirely destroyed the navigation of that
stream by deep draught vessels in the
summer months, and at times even TO the
lightest draught vessels.
The association also calls attention to
the DEGREES of the courts which recognize
the evils of hydraulic mining and to the
vast sums that have been spent by the peo-
Pile of the Sacramento valley in battling for
the enforcement of the DEGREES. Beaten
on every hand through the courts, the
miners now appeal to congress to legit-
imiZe that which the courts have con-
demned. The government of the United
States, says the association, is committed
to the preservation of the navigation of the
state. Hydraulic mining is a menace to
that navigability. Hydraulic mining is
no right to aid private business.
Hydraulic mining is now aided by con-
gress under the Caminetti act, which pro-
vides maximum penalty of 5000 and
imprisonment for one year for its viola
ton. The hydraulic miners now want con-
gress to amend the acs and make the max
lmum penalty $500, taking away from the
courts the power to imprison.
The association declares that this shows
bad faith by the hydraulic miners. The
present law was procured at their instance.
1t they have any intention TO obey it they
should be only too glad to have n sufficient
penalty imposed to deter others who pro-
pose to violate it, The fine of $500 would
be mere bagatelle to the hydraulic
miners. who would violate the law every
working month and afford to pay the pen
alty. 1t the government proposes to spend
public money to aid hydraulic mining. it
will commit the government to the expen-
diture of millions upon millions. for the
erection of one dam alone would cost an
enormous sum. The amount now asked
for by the miners. though not very large. is
only drop in the bucket to what they will
ask, and what will be required to carry out
their plans il undertaken by the govern
ment.
The hydraulic miners now can erect
dams and, if they restrain the debris with
out iniuring. the people below, they can
ever. to force the government to pay what
they ought to pay for themselves. This
would establish precedent whereby any
man in any other business could call upon
the government for aid. The government
is asked to pay these enormous sums for
restraining works, which at the best are
purely experimental. Government en-
gneers have so declared and have stated
that as such dans would be entirely in the
interest of the miners, the cost therefor
should be borne by the individuals inter-
estei.
kiTht dams indorsed by the California
Debris commission have broken and de-
posted their debris in the rivers. In the
case Of Woodruff VS.. North Bloomfield. it
was decided tha. anv attempt by egisla-
ton 10 impair the navi .aoility of the riv-
efs or iniure the rights of land owners
Woul be unconstitutional.
Tho LEGISLATION asked for by the miners
is not 'luuded or desired by the people
OF Caiiiot" Ia. 1t is desired only by the
miners and those who are directly inter-
ested in t!ln'n. The hydraulic miners form
but snai proportion OF the population of
California. This class of business is car
rled on principally by corporations. many
OF whom are formed in foreign countries.