The record-union., 1897-01-15
FOR RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
Conference Between Miners and River
Representatives.
propositions Looking Toward the
Preservation and Deepening of
the Rivers.

The conference of the Assembly Com
nittee ON Mines and Mining OF the
Senate Committee on Mines and MIN
ing and the Committee on Puplc
Works was held in the Supreme Court
room yesterday morning, the room
originally designated being found mad
equate to hold those who attended IT,
in addition to the members OF the COM
mitteeS.
Major Gillette, President OF the FED
eral Debris Commission, was present
by invitation to give some lnfornlatlon
concerning the big dredger Whlch II Is
proposed to use in dredging out the
river.
The meeting was called to order by
Assamblyman Seward, who SAID IL had
been called to consider important MN
sng measures as we'll as dredging meas
ureS.
The most important mining measure
is the bill introduced by Senator FrlSh
and himself, for the appropriation or
5000 900 for the Improvement OF the
rivers. 1t was not a new appropriation,
but it was thought best to make 1T defl-
mite and beyond a contingency.
1t was not the desire of the miners
to injure the farmers, but they wish to
resume mining under the restrictions
existing at present, as they dld years
ago They do not pretend that the
slickemS or light matter Will be entlrely
restrained by the dams, but think that
IL can easily be removed by the dredger
and thus obviate the damage to the
farmer.
To-day there was good feeling be-
tween the miners and farmers and the
former would join hands with the latter
IN favor of dredging. They believed the
Government should build proper re-
straining dams and do the dredging. He
believed it would be appropriate to
demonstrate the efficiency of the dams
ar protecting the rivers, and then ask
hhe Government for an appropriation to
carry ON the work So with the farmers.
They should ask for a small approprla-
1ion from the State and after they had
shown that the river could be bettered,
ask the Government for more. But lit
tie Federal aid has been given to the
northern and central portions of the
State but he wished to demonstrate
hat a plan could be taken up and car
fied out.
Senator Prisk said he believed Sem
,etor Doty had more practical knoWl-
edge of the question than any other
member from the valley, and he would
like to hear from him.
Senator Doty said he was not fully
posted ON the object of this meeting
The appropriation asked for, however,
Is a pressing measure for the relief OF
the people who are interested in keep
ing the Sacramento and San Joaquin
Rivers in good condition. They have
lost much in times past from the debris
and have had contests with their min
ing friends in the past, but they are
disposed to meet the miners on
friendly footing. 50 that both can try to
get relief, taking care of the debris at
both ends.
The proposition is to try to get help
from the State and get Immediate re-
lief and at least try the experiment of
seeing if the river will not carry the
debris off through the deepened chan
mel. In the past he had fought the min
ers. but he felt that it was time for
them to pull together. and he hoped to
hit on something that would give both
relief He knew the condition, both in
the mines and on the river, and would
work with the miners to secure good
results to both.
Senator Gleaves said he would like to
hear from Major Gillette on the subject
of the dredger. He understood that the
proposition before the Legislature was
tc begin dredging at the lower part of
the river and work upwards. That was
the only practical way he knew of that
could be successful He would ask Ma
jor Gillette if that was practicable.
He was known as "the river crank"
but he wanted to bring prosperity to
both the interests involved. He would
like Major Gillette to tell the COM
mittee if there was any better way to
make the river do its work.
Major Gillette said he had come here
to answer questions as far as posi-
bic, and not to make a speech Mr..
Gleaves' question involves a great deal.
and he did not feel at liberty TO speak
on all the subjects involved, especially
for publication, as the commission of
which he is a member is considering
them and will in due time report on
them. The big dredger has been used
on the Mississippi for dredging and re-
moving the bars. When the river is
either at the high or low stage navl-
cation is good. but when it is at medi
um hight the bars impede navigation.
The dredger pumps the sand out to
one side and allows the river to deepen
its channel by the force of the cur
rent
The dredger cost, he thought, $3.50
000 and will remove 5000 cubic yards
of earth an hour, much more than any
other machine has done. The river
will not receive so much benefit from
IT'S taking the material out Of its bed as
ct will from its raising the banks, so
that they can confine and carry a
larger flow of water at flood hight
They could not hope to take out enough
of the detritus to hold down what IS
coming down from above. He had
no figures to present on the cost of
prosecuting the work. That is a sub
ieest ON which the Debris Commission
is working. and he was not at liberty
TO anticipate its report.
Engineer Price being called on said
his report to the Commission of Public
Works set forth his views on the sub
ieet as we'll as those of his associate.