California mines and minerals . controversial features of the subject,which can be of little moment to others than those directly interested : Damage by Debris.—For many years the hydraulic minesoperated on a very large scale, and at one time there was over$100,000,000 invested in them in this State. The extent of theiroperations, however, proved their undoing. The immense mass of 256 CALIFORXIA MINES AND MINERALS detritus or tailin<2;s, commonly called del)ris, resultinji; from thework, was allowed to o where it mij^ht, and, while much was depos-ited in the canyons or j^ulches, vast quanti
California mines and minerals . controversial features of the subject,which can be of little moment to others than those directly interested : Damage by Debris.—For many years the hydraulic minesoperated on a very large scale, and at one time there was over$100,000,000 invested in them in this State. The extent of theiroperations, however, proved their undoing. The immense mass of 256 CALIFORXIA MINES AND MINERALS detritus or tailin<2;s, commonly called del)ris, resultinji; from thework, was allowed to o where it mij^ht, and, while much was depos-ited in the canyons or j^ulches, vast quantities entered the navigablestreams, injurino; and shoaling them, and doing damage to the farm-ing and horticultural lands along the banks. The hay of San Fran-cisco, into which the main rivers empty, was also shoaled in the upperportions. The amount of debris in some localities, notably aboutMarysville, was almost beyond conception to those who have neverseen it. In some places it piled up in the streams twenty-five or. Dam below the Red Dog Hydrailic Mine,Nevada Cointv. thirty feet deep and caused overflows in the streams during thespring, thus creating great damage. In many localities, orchardsand farming lands were almost entirely covered by debris andthus destroyed. The miners, in many cases, paid damages wheredirect, but the whole matter brought on numerous suits and muchcontroversy. Finally, in the test suit of Woodruff vs. The NorthBloomfield Mining Company, the miners were beaten, and the U. Court gave a decision which resulted not only in closingdown the mine named, but all the principal hydraulic mines in thecentral-northern part of the State. The mining company and its MINING DEBRIS LEGISLATION 257 agents and employes were perpetually enjoined and restrained fromdischarging and dumping into the Yuba River or any of its forks,ravines, or branches, or any stream tributary to the river, any tail-ings, boulders, cobblestones, gravel, sand,
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