The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-03-25
PLAN TO STAY
THE Ohio FLOODS
BY STORING WATER DURING DE-
LUCE " COULD be SAVED
FOR DRY SEASONS.

VI sftHeelluH US Wen US OIL the entire
Ohio valley will be Interested in d
pldn ostay the floods which visit this
section almost annually. {
BY the judicious expenditure of a
sum equal to the amount Of the
losses sustained during the recent
foods In the valleys of the Allegheny
Monongahela and Ohio, the recur
renee Of these disasters can forever
be prevented and the season Of nasi-
cation on the Ohio be Indefinitely ex.
tended, according to NJ. o. Leighton,
chief photographer. Of the United
States geological survey
Mr.. Leighton made shis rather
startling statement at washington IN
discussing the floods that have
caused such enormous damage in
Western Pennsylvania, and all along
the Ohio valley.
The means he would take to pre-
vent the floods and maintain open
navigation on the Ohio practically all
the time would be the erection Of
great impounding reservoirs on the
main tributaries of the Allegheny and
Monongahefa.
Cost No Greater Than Floods.
Such reservoirs, Mr.. Leighton be.
lieyes. could be constructed for an
amount OF money no greater than the
losses that have been caused in the
region in the last few weeks.
But when the losses OF previous
years are taken into consideration, he
thinks the construction of impounding
reservoirs would be good invest
msnt even II they cost five times the
amount mentioned.
at should be remembered. said
Chief photographer Leighton, .'that
the losses to real and personal prop.
erty resulting from floods are not the
only ones. Not the least important is
the loss of the water that has caused
the damage. 1t is well known that
the flow conditions along the Ohio
river, vary widely.
Even Up Water Supply.
AT the one extreme are the flood
conditions that have recently pre-.
vailed, while at the other are ex-
tended periods Of extremely low
water, during which navigation is inn
peded or entirely suspended. To pro.
vide for permanent channel the
Federal government has expended
vast sums of money for dredging and
for dams and locks designed to main
tain the navigable stage of water,
over long reaches in the river during
the times OF drought.
"All this expenditure has been
made merely for the purpose of pre-.
serving navigation during the dry sea.
son. During the medium or high
stages of the river the works are Of
no valne.
at would appear that ~ part. at
least. of the money that has been
spent for maintaining deep water
during dry seasons would have been
far more wisely expended II It had
been used to provide storage reser-
voirs in the drainage areas of the
upper tributaries. Such storage res.
voirs would serve double purpose.
Restrain Flood Waters.
"They would, If properly handled,
restrain the enormous volume Of
flood water that periodically descenis
upon the Ohio valley. This effect, in
Itself. would be sufficient reimburse.
ment for all the cost of such rsser-
voirs.
when. however, 1t is remembered
that In addition to the restraining
of flood waters, the reservoirs could
be drawn upon at low water periods
to maintain the desired stage in the
lower river, and thereby keep the
river open for navigation at all times.
and make unnecessary the enormous
expenditures for dredging and for
maintenance Of locks and dams, the
desirabiiity of such a plan is doubiy
apparent.
Indeed, from purely economic
standpoint 1t is difficult to under
stand why there should be any hesita-
ton in the adoption ana carrying for
ward of such policy.
Worst Vet to Come.
Under the. present conditions,
repetition 'of the foods cannot be
avoided, and damage equal or even
greater than that which has been sus-
tanned during the past winter must
be expected unless preventative meas.
ures are adopted"
y .lEs1