New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-20
DAN 1T 4SSOUAN FEARED.
Cope WhitehOuse Points Ont That
Whole Nile Vahey Is Threatened.

The fact that Egypt is in grave danger fist now
OF Nile flood that threatens the great Assouan
dam and the cities below it was pointed out in
The Tribune last Thursday. and yesterday Cope
Whitehouse. who for more than twenty-five years
has madc study of the irrigation problem Of
Egypt, discussed the reasons for the warning re-
Gently issued by the Governor OF Khartoum one
feature of tho danger this year is the huge dam
that was built to store UP water for irrigation
Some engineers have expressed doubts as to
whether the dam at Assouan could withstand the
force OF an unusually full Nile. The last great
flood was In 1884, four years before the construc-
tior OF the dam begun Since then the valley
has been favored by comparatively low foods
Now the experts have pointed out that should the
dam give way the result would be infinitely worse
than any food in the days when the river was. not
harnessed. The backed up water would sweep
away cities and villages and almost literally wipe
OUT Egypt from Assouan to the Mediterranean
Mr.. Whitehouse referred TO a recent number OF
me Engineer Uondcn). in which q report from
caro- was that the Nile on August "A reached the
highest point In sixteen years but at that time
seemed TO have stopped rising at the right mo-
ment. Just when there was danger of it's getting
beyond control This. according to the records OF
great foods. was In itself an onnous situation for
If the Nile begins TO fall the fan often ia
succeeded by a much greater rise That is the
fear this year, and Mr.. Whitehouse pointed ont
that the ordinary maximum at Assouan is on Sep
TEMPER q, but may be further DELAYED when
the monsoon is late.
- w. NilCh Egypt was swept by
SAID MT Whtehouse there were two unaxiu,a
one on September and the other on seutAn,hsr y
This is dependent on the September rains in Abvs-
sinia and If they very heavy an ordinary flood
passes Assuan at the end OF the month The three
great floods OF the last thirty years were in 1875
1882 and 1894 In the last year the ma xinuun was
reached at Cairo on October a. sixteen days later
than in the two other years OF disaster
TO understand the peculiar danger this vear Of
a great food the construction of the Assuan dam
must be taken into consideration 1t Is calculated
TO form reservoir that holds a miIIiard OF cuhic
meters of water The dam Is pierced by $50 sluices
To let out the water. since there is a roadway on
top OF the dam. With the water squirting out OF
these sluices under pressure of a mighty flood IL
IS little wonder that eminent engineers have feared
for the strain on the structure especially since they
have doubts as 20 the security OF the foundation
The rock on which 1t is built is hard only on the
surface and beneath is piabIe. The proposed rails
ing OF the height of the dam oy meters TO In
crease the capacity OF the reservoir is because
the reservoir does not hold the water as n was
expected 10 do during the dry season. That I be-
heve is because of the nature OF the bottom which
may be honeycombed b. subterranean channels"