The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1900-08-16
MENACED SAN FRANCISCO BAY
Hydraulic Mining Threatens to De-
strOy the Harbor on the
Pacific,

IN Can1Ornla renewal OF the old
agitation against hydraulic mining has
been started by influential agricultrr-
lists. 1t is asserted. reports the Scien-
tific American, that the restraining
dams built under the Camenatti act. for
holding back the debris of the mines,
are Intellectual and do not fulfill the
purpose intended, the result often of
faulty construction or deliberate in
difference to the careful requirements
of the law. Chinese are the principal
offenders, and much litigation has been
the result. Floods have swept away
many of the frail structures, with all
their accumuations of sand and rocks.
away, and the consequences have been
the ruin of agricultural lands and the
increased shoaling of navigable
streams. Fifty years ago began the dis
astrous filling up of streams, caused by
the general and unrestrained pursuit
of hydraulic mining. No estimate can
be made of the quantities of debris
washed down by this process. The evil
results are visible in thousands of acres
of fertile valley lands deeply covered
over with sterile sands washed down
by flooded streams from the mountains
above. The area of navigable waters of
the state is seriously curtailed.
In 1894 the Sacramento river was a
clear and limpid stream, navigable for
vessels drawing II feet of water as far
inland as where the city of Sacramento
now stands and for 200 miles further
for vessels of seven or eight feet
draught. Now steamers and barges
drawing not over 31s feet can navigate
the river at summer stages to Sacra-
mento, and but 20 inches if they are
bound to Red Bluff. The three-fathom
limit, which in 1s49 extended to Sacra-
mento, has contracted at the rate of
one mile per annum for the last 50
years and is now at Porto Costa.
For over 20 years, or since the cessa-
ton of hydraulic mining, the streams OF
California have never regained their
original limpidity, and are even now
apparently bringing down as great an
amount of solid matter as ever. This
is accounted for in part by the vast
mounds OF debris thrown out by early
operations, which eventually find their
way into the current through the
operations of floodA But the process
OF filling up the bay comes also through
the involuntary assistance of the agri-
culturists themselves. Scientific inves-
tigation demonstrates that the silt now
flowing into the bay is not from the
mountains altogether, but is in great
na ~ 70 ~ h cd 10 IL
for agricultural purposes. The very ell
ement that so consistently demanded
and achieved the destruction of n.y.
draulic mining is now doing that for
which they successfully denounced an
interest which in the past has contrib
uted so greatly to enrich the world.
Go to the Removal Sale at the Golden
Rule, H. H. Schott & Co. 20
California's trade with the Philippines
amounts to 81 ,000, 900 month.
Automobiles have been tried at Hart
lord, Conn. for collecting mail The
autos are three-wheeled and each covers
route OF 10 miles twice day.
d. n. Keeene has removed his bicycle
repair shop to the basement of his build
ing which gives him more room on the
first floor for his already extensive bust
ness.
Officers Liggett and Mulligan arrested
fifteen hobos of the toughest stripe Wed.
nesday night. They are TO be given the
option Of working on the street or leaving
town.
Go to the Removal Sale at the Golden
Rule. ii. II. Schott & Co. 80
Fred BROKER and family and Mrs. g
S. Taylor retu rned on Saturday from a
three weeks outing at Fish Lake, Kitti
tas county