The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-15
S2O,OOO,OOO NEEDED
To Guard Against Overflow of the
Mississippi River.

Washington, Dec. 15.-The senate
committee. on commerce today agreed
TO the report of the subcommittee ap-
pointed under the resolution Of March,
1897, to Investigate and report upon the
floods in the Mississippi river and their
causes and prevention. The sUb-com-
nlittee consisting of Senators Nelson,
Elkins, Vest, Mcbride, Gallinger, Berry
and Caffery has visited many points on
the Mississippi and it's tributaries TAX
ing testimony at various points and al
together giving the subject very care
full attention. The report was prepared
and submitted by Senator Nelson, s
chairman Of the subcommittee.
The committee say that the greatest
and most destructive floods have come
from the Ohio river and were due to
excessive rains, but other tributaries
have also contributed to the volume Of
water which has so frequently in times
past submerged the bottom lands OF
the lower Mississippi.
The first important conclusion reach
ed is in regard to the cutting of timber
at the headwaters OF the streams. On
this point the committee say: Moth
ing in the evidence, or other data OBJ
tanned by your committee disclOses the
fact that the destruction of timber a tor
near headwaters of these river systems
tends to cause, or promote the floods
referred to. Where timber is cut down
for purposes other than cultivation, the
underbrush remains and grows more
brush serves to retard rather than has
ten the movement of water on the
slopes and hillsides. And where timber
is cut down for purposes of clearing
and cultivation the plOwed area be
comes an enlarged absorbent of surface
moisture. And it is a generally &C
eepted oDinfon that the destruction Of
lumber tends rather to diminish than
to increase the. rainfall"
With reference to the five reservoirs
IN the headwaters of the Mississippi the
HarnWn mi ~reaer
extent the floods in the river bottoms
abOve Lake Pepfn, and improve the
navigation of the river in low water
down to that point, but have no mater
ial effect upon the floods or navigation
Of the river below that point"
Taking up the subject of reservoirs
in general the committee continue: 1.-The
evidence diScIOSeS no other points on
the upper Mississippi available for res
erVOir purposes On the Missouri the
only point where sufficient holding
ground could be found for a reservoir
of any magnitude is on a reach of the
river above Great Falls. Such a Feser-
Voir. If constructed high enough to
bring the waters Of the Missouri into
the Milk river valley would be valua-
bic for purposes of irrigation but would
have no material bearing on the floods
IN the Mississippi river, nor on the nav
1gation of the Missouri river.
The evidence as well as the other
data, disclOses that on the Ohio river
as well as its main tributaries, where
reservoirs could act more directly on
the floods than elsewhere with the one
exception of the St. Francis basin, there
are no suitable sites or holding grounds
where reservoirs could at any moderate
or reasonable expense and without far
reaching and extensive damages, be
constructed that would at all be ade-
quate to pen up and retain the great
dOWnpOur from 1nnumerable mountain
torrents during the great freshets of
January, February and March.
The committee presents quite & com
prehensive historical sketch Of levees