The Nevada Democrat

Effect of Mining Operations In Filling up the River Beds.

The constant and rapid accumulation of debris from the mines in the beds of most of our rivers, so that they overflow their banks under ordinary falls of rain, renders the inquiry as to the end of all this matter of serious import to the farmers and dwellers in cities on our plains and valley lands.

Years ago, the writer of this, after witnessing the immense accumulation of earth, gravel and boulders, in the bed of Webber creek, from the old hydraulic mines at Coon Hollow, in the county of El Dorado, expressed his fears that between the miners and the people of the lowlands there would soon spring up complications from this very source. Hydraulic mining since that day has become a general system. On almost every tributary of the Mokelumne, Cosumnes, American, Yuba and Feather rivers wherever a hill or mountain has been favorably tested, the hydraulic hose has been playing upon, and sending its earth and gravel and boulders down to the level waters of the valley. Eight years ago, the bed of the Mokelumne, at Athearn's Bridge where the stream debouches from the foot-hills, was twelve feet deeper than it is now.

The same changes have been wrought in nearly all the streams. On the lower Yuba and on Feather, below Hamilton, in the Cosumnes below Indian Bar, and in the American from Mississippi Bar downward we believe the filling up process has been equally rapid. Each annual freshet brings down the lighter gravel, cement, lava, earthy particles from the short level stretches in the mountains, and adds a foot or more to the old deposits. If all mining operations were to cease for several years, it is doubtful whether the sluggish valley streams would ever get rid of the debris which now fills up their channels. The Sacramento certainly never can, for each flow of the tide will send back a great portion of what the feeble current carries downward at ebb.

But it is certain that so long as the mining operations are continued, the accumulations must increase. It follows, of course that in process of years these streams will be raised above their banks and flow off in quest of new channels to the Sacramento.

We can suggest no positive cure for the evil. The only expedient is the erection of dykes along the river banks, and this is but fending off disaster to a final reckoning of more serious consequences. For if the accumulations in the beds of the streams are constant, the dykes to fence in the rising waters would have to be periodically heightened and strengthened, so that ultimately our rivers would be coursing along high above the surrounding fields; a break would then be something quite as serious as an inundation of Holland from the sea.

The Dutch have been complimented by historians as the greatest of all people, because they rescued their country from the North Sea, and with works of art, which are the wonder of the world, fenced back the boisterous waves and bid defiance to tide and storm. It may yet transpire that the people inhabiting these valleys will have to summon energies to face a combat with our rivers, which, if successful, will merit an equal compliment.—[Stockton Independent.