The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-06-19
BURToN,s FLOOD REMEDY.
gress Build n System of Reservoirs
and Canals to Impound Rainfall.

ana Canals to ImpOund Rainfall.
Kansas City. Mo,oJune Ex-senator
J. Z. Burton, of Kansas, was here
yesterday on private business. The
recent disastrous flood in the Kaw
Galley moved the Kansas senator to
suggest his plan for the prevention
Of such catastrophies.
''The recent floods should awaken
public thought to the necessity of
providing, if possible, against such
terrible disasters in the future" said
Senator Burtono I'VE can do moth
ing to either increase or decrease
the amount of rainfall, but we can
do a ereatodeal towards the control
Of the water after it falls to THE
earth. Heretofore we have made the
mistake of beginning at the wrong
end to fight floods. We have built
levees along the rivers to hold the
waters off, but we have been only
partially successful. Now I think
we should go to the source of the
floods and check them there. By inn
pounding these flood waters we can
also make many hundred thousands
of acres of arid lands fertile, I be-
lievea think the public should take
up this plan of mine and urge it upon
congress. 1t should be advocated by
republicans, democrats and all others.
The construction of canals and catch
reservoirs would cost many millions
of dollars and it would take many
years to perfect the system, but I
believe the floods could be held in
check this way. However, this is my
personal opinion. I should like to
hear others on the subject.
81 see it is estimated that Kansas
City and vicinity lost $40, 100000 by the
recent flood. and that Topeka lost
100000. These estimates are per-
haps exaggerated, butsuppose the loss
ID the Kaw valley from Brookville to
Kansas City was $25,O0o,OOO. Less
than that amount would construct
canals and reservoirs that would
make another such flood impossible
in the Kaw valley. It is the same
in every region liable to floods. The
money lost through them is much
more than it would cost to construct
canals and reservoirs to prevent the
overfows. We may not have another
flood like this one for years, but then,
again, we may have one next year.
We do have destructive floods in parts
of the United States every year. All
the floods that occur annually along
the Mississippi and it's tributaries
could be prevented if we went to the
source and Gagged up the water as it
comes down. Beginning with the
plains country at the mountain foot
hills and extending throughout the
entire arid and semi-arid belt the
waters can be impounded for irriga-
ton purposes.
''1n my opinion the greatest do
nestle question that will come before
congress for solution will be the con-
troll and conservation of water for
irrigation and the prevention of
floods. In small way we have al
ready begun this legislation. We
have passed an irrigation bill that
will give us a fund sufficient to begin
the experiments along this line.
What 1 would like to see now would
be the press taking this matter up
and drawing public attention to it.
We are spending millions every year
upon the Mississippi 1evees when we
could use that money higher up and
keep the floods from going down
there and at the same time oirrigate
our arid lands. If public opinion can
be drawn to. this subject it will speed
lily cause the legislation necessary to
begin this great work"
Senator Burton says that the work
his plan suggests must be divided
into two departments, the construc-
ton of the system and its main
tenance. He would have the system
put under aehigh form of civil service.
Men must be had to supervise the
filling of reservoirs, the repairing of
canals and the turning of the waters
out of the reservoirs to the farmers
who wish to irrigate. These men
should not be politicians, he says.
After the gigantic systemis completed
he thinks it would be self-supporting'
in addition to preventing floods. The
farmers would be glad, he thinks, to
paw for the water to use on their