The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-07-12
Devastating Torrents That
Do Millions of Damage An
nuaIIy to Be Checked.
GOVERNMENT TAKES HAND.
UNITED STATES WILL MAKE AN
EFFORT TO RENDER LOSSES
FROM FLOODS A MINIMUM-FoR
BUILDING OF RESERVOIRS.

Cincinnati, July 11.-Can the mighty
waters of the Ohio river be controlled
in flood times and the disastrous
Uverflows that each year causes dam
age amounting to millions be avoided
This problem, recognized by the gov
ernment as one of the greatest con-
Fronting it, in the general scheme of
INLAND waterways, is going to be solv-
Bd If modern scientific engineering
ran solve it, and Cincinnati is to be
the scene of the attempt, says the
Times-Star.
Under the most unpretentious con-
Gitions and absolutely without any
display, this gigantic task, one that
scientists the world over will watch,
has started in Newport, the pretty
kentucky neighbor Of this city. With
two persons are aware the work has
begun, it marks the first step in what
IF 1t proves a success-will mean the
expenditure of more than a hundred
million dollars, the creation of one
hundred reservoirs along the Ohio and
Its tributaries, and the freedom of the
Ohio Valley. most fertile in the world,
seem steadily to grow more dangerous
Rnd more frequent.
Navigable All Year.
In a word, the government has ia
ken the first step in project to do
away with the floods of which Gin
cinnati established a new record the
last winter and spring, by having five
within a few months. With tiff the
plan be success-will be solved to an
extent the problem of a navigable riv-
er twelve months in the year. The
scheme is SO stupendous that it is not
surpassed in extent nor in possibilities
by the damning of the Nile, the great
] 1900 of northern Africa-a project
i T;,ized people and made a
t>-~.-. spot of a desert, changed an
e2aGal destructive flood into bless
ing Of untold value.
On June Is there arrived Fl. A. Hor-
ton, commissioner OF the geological
department of the government and a
corps of assistants. They established
headquarters in the Newport, KY,
postoffice, occupying several rooms
on the second floor. The rooms were
fitted up for them and in day or two
all the paraphernalia needed in the
work of the preliminary survey was on
hand.
Survey Is Ordered.
The project which is now underway
was first suggested by Marshall o.
Leighton, chief photographer of the
United States Geological survey, who
has for years been outlining it and
finally induced the government to give
1t consideration to such an extent that
the survey has been ordered. It is
this survey which Commissioner Hor-
ton started on the 18th of June. Mr.
iLeighton's plan is not to equalize the
flow of the Ohio during the year. That
IS considered a task too stupendous for
man to attempt He does, however,
plan for reservoir capacity enough to
store what is designated as the top
wave of the floods, which do nearly all
the damage to communities along the
river from Pittsburg to Cairo. He
urges that when the Ohio rises to near
flood stage the 100 reservoirs to be
established along the stream and its
tributaries could receive so tremen-
'dous an amount of water end retain
ut, that only flood passing all known
records historical old legendary, would
sbe able to do serious damage.
Where They Would Be.
Most of these reservoirs would be
docated where they could retain
waters from the tributaries, which
really cause the floods. They would
of course, be vast affairs if they are
TO be of material value when hundreds
pof millions of gallons of water are
rushing toward the Ohio. but the size
OF the project does not daze the sci
enlist who has planned the scheme
Nor does the cost seem to present an,
difficulty. His figures are that 10t
reservoirs can be created at a cost no
to exceed $4,000. 900, figure that Ii
not to be compared to the value If tht
plan succeeds.
Commissioner Horton was in New
port the other day, but has gone tt
West Virginia. in the Big Sandy dis
trict, where the first work of the sur
syey will probably be done
The scheme to hold in check tn,
top wave" of floods is but half o
the value of the general proposition
1T Is claimed by photographer Leigh
ton that so vast volume of waite
will be retained that in the summe
months. when the drought season Il
on and much of the Ohio is closed Il
navigation of large boats, these res
ervoirs can be opened and the stag,
of water increased to where naviga
ton Is possible along its entire course
Thus he proposes ON the one hand t,
save from destruction in flood time
and on the other hand to save from
stagnation in the drought season.
NOTICE =, O, <.