The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-25

valleys there are floods in winter and in
spring. In summer, owing to the parch-
ed condition of the ground, most of the
water is absorbed almost as soon as it
falls. In winter and in the early
spring the soil is impervious, either on
account of the glare ice, which covers
1t or through the action Of the frost
The June rise is one of the conditions
in the valley of the Mississippi, where
owing to the nature of the soil, a large
proportion of the spring rains are dis
charged into the stream. One-fourth of
all the rainfall which falls in the sur
rounding watershed finds its way to the
Ohio river. and the Missouri conveys
one-eighth.
Three methods are proposed by DR..
Thomson for the control of the rivers
the building of dams above the heads of
navigation, the running Of water into
more or less natural reservoirs at eth
err bank. and the diversion of channels.
These plans may be used in accordance
with the local conditions.
Where a stream flows in a moderately
deep valley, for instance. a dam of ma
sorry may be built across from the base
of the hills on one side to the elevation
on the other.
The structure should be Of heavy ma
sorry and it should have a foundation
on solid rock In it, at intervals. are
sideways. The flood viii back up be-
hind the dam in a natural reservoir, and
enough of it VIII be permitted to pass
to represent the normal flow of the river,
which may be determined by calcula-
ton. The head-waters of the Missouri
and the Mississippi could be regulated
in this way. Along the course of the
Missouri, in the neighbOrhood of the
cities which are often liable to the raw
ages of the floods, reservoirs might be
maintained.
One of the plans for diminishing the
water of the Ohio near the confluence of
many of its large tributaries is to divert
the Tennessee to the westward into the
Mississippi direct. This would do much
TO prevent the Ohio from overlooking
the bottom lands of the state. of which
it forms the southern boundary.
Reservoirs might be constructed near
Cincinnati to further aid in stemming
the course of the Ohio floods. The Red
river, which is navgable only as far IS
Shreveport, and that only at certain
| seasons, and the Arkansas, which for
$50 miles is open to small boats only
could be restrained in times of floods
by the use of dams at their upper por-
ti0ns a points where the geological for
nation would permit.
In dispensing the waters which are
thus accumulated the government
might be able to get back a part of the
expenditure by charging for the irr1ga-
ton privileges. Experiments which have
been made in India and in Australia have
convinced engineers that the plan Is en-
tirely feasible in those countries In
VestigatiOn and experiment, DR.. Thorn
son thinks. will demonstrate to the
authorities here the merit of similar
schemes for conserving and retaining
the rainfall.
SCHEME ENTIRELY PRACTICABLE
The United States he said, has
made wonderful progress in irrigation IN
the great desert and other parts OF the
west which appeared at first TO be m
capable of supporting any form Of Vege-
table life. The soil contained rich soiu-
bile salts. and all that was necessary was
enough water to dissolve them.
These suggestions which I have made
are much like those which have al
ready made for scheme which was
asked to prepare for Queensland. l see
no reason why American engineers
should not devise some means for con-
serving surplus waters of the great rlN-
ers of their country. The sites Whlch 1
have suggested are purely tentative or
ideal, and may on detailed examination
of the localities prove to be impracrl-
cable, owing to the existing geographi-
cal conditions and geological structure
of the country, such being only deter
minable by actual survey.
That the flood waters of rivers may
be controlled by means of such reser-
voirs there can be no manner Of doubt,
Whatever: the only question of import
ance to be considered being one of ways
and means.
The initial expenses dlt no QO0be
! great, but if constructed with a view 70
their future utilization for Industrial
purposes, flood controlling reservoirs
NAV be made to serve not only the prl-
/ mary purpose for which they were III
tended. but they may become an i'm
/ portant factor in the economic develop
ment of the states. For instance, they
/ should. if possible, be so located and 50
constructed as to be utilized for the
purpose Of local irrigation and the rals-
/ ing of power. and if built on such a
plan they would bring in return on
I the original outlay. and very probably
pay in the long run.
But. above all things, the whole
catchment areas of the rivers should be
fully explored. the channels examined
and their carrying capacities gagged.
the rainfall accurately measured and
other local physical and industrial con-
ditions determined before any scheme OF
( reservoirs is considered.
ut is difcult, if indeed possible. 70
4 estimate the enormous value of the
rainfall of a country, but this is greatly
( decreased if the precious waters that
periodically fall upon the lands are per
mitted to run waste into the sea. and
i'm doing So to cause often great dam
age to property and not infrequently loss
of life