The sun., 1884-02-24

For many years thereafter the flood in the
Ohio River of 1882 called by the settlers along its
banks the great flood" Its like was unknown to the
oldest nhabitnnt 1t was Is years till another compara-
BILE with it occurred and the flood OF was not as
high as that of 1882. But within the last three years
there have been two surprising that of So ago
the one being the most destructive of all. And
yet the news Rves reason to believe that the water
discharged from the clouds this equals the dis.
charges OF 1852 or 1871 In 1892 the rains continued In
torrents for several weeks this year for than
half or third that time. There apparent mystery
in this which will Set millions of people to thinking
moro especially those who inhabit the banks and rich
bottoms" OF that most beautiful river. and whose prop
ery Is in peril OF periodical destruction from these
rapidly increasing occurrences.
The Ohio in its length-IoO miles-is u river OF the
third class for America and of the second class com
pared with European rivers After the Missouri is the
chief tributary of the Mississippi discharging more
water than either the Arkansas the Red River though
not as long as either OF these II formed by the Ae
ghany and the Monongnhela both rising la tho Allsgha
Mountains and fed by SHOWS till a. late the m!Gde
Of May Below the Junction Of these two mountain
streams which is at Pittsburgh the principal aiucnts
OF the Ohio the sooto Kannwin Big and Little Nj.
ami. Kentucky, Wabash. Cumberland. and Tennessee.
These auents drain three fourths of the State OF Ohio
more than half of Indiana and Kentucky nearly all Of
Tennessee and West Virginia, and including tho Allie
ghuny AMI MonongaNela half OF Pennsylvania and p
considerable part Of old Virginia The drainage
into the Ohio hardly be iese than 10000 square
miles, and of this at least sXs.yenths probably
tsnihs, was sixty covered by dense forest
The original prairie LANDS Of Ohio insignificant.
Forest WIS the prevailing quality of the land along the
scoto, the two Aianis, all through Kentucky Tennes,
see western Pennsylvania, aid Virginia. and Indiana
from the oo National Road southward covered by
beech. walnut poplar aud oak, with but here and there
small clearing" The rain that fell uIon these
eats sunk into thick stratum of leaves the deposit
ages aud there retained for weeks after f fnd.
ing It's wny slowly nto the creeks and rivers which
accordingly slowly. within the present gene ration
the whole region from the Little Miami to far
indianapolis and thence south to the ONO compare
lively swamp from the beginning of the spring rains
TIL ns late the middle of June The rule with some
modification. ekteR3o! ~ III. whole drained the
Ohio. Now al! Is changed II is cafe to say that four
nfths OF the prpevnl forests that covered the olo val
ley as far back isO have been sway-for railway
ties fences. fuel lumber. and timber for houses and
barns-converted 50 to speak into railways farms vii
lagos and towns These are, to lie sure
bic pensaons FOR tn. losses by Hoods they are
the caua- OF them all the same We search In vain for
any oth0r The Ohio is llei up In Its bed AZ
are the sacramento and S.n JonQun by detrtus II il
nsvigab!e now from its head to its mouth by as
| deep draught as piled upon it thirty years ago. Iu
banks ARE as high ever aud far apart. 1t 10
pahle ot carrying az much water now when the In
disnS hunted in It's woods. The difference is it /,
ROW called on to discharge In weeA the quantity
OF water that II formerly received in month siS
weeks The leafy forest reservoirs away Whei
u
than half OF 1t was held back from the rivuIe,s aut
rivers by these reservoirs, Now ali Mt once and Il
| the rivers cannot contain the Influx. II course the
banks Al" oy.rnOwed and farms villages, aud town.
| are swept away,
This IL the common explanation of the mystery
The compensation OF the 0oi cainnea Is found il TN
| exchange Of ;he primitive nnrrodnctive forests fo
| farms orchards. meadows. hocae and herds and tn
other conconiiants OF the thing wa name prog ress
Tho partial remedy against those wholesale
by flood lies srpsp ot der
far as Ia consistent with that cultivation OF the sol
| whioh tho Increasing population OF ;he country de
mnnds II :s remedy which might be more prac tca
ana pr 'htaly enforced in the valleys Of the
and San Joaqun than in the States drained by the Ohio
Tree culture IN our valleys. while contributing towsr
the prevention OF sudden overhows Of the rivers wou
not cnrail the area of profitable agricultural proiuc
tion for an acre Of weishaied land is worth
pasture ,an for grain. and shorter of beef II III
butchers may be believed than are ever likely to
! of bread.