Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1908-10-12
HELP FOR RAILROADS!
How Government Will Cooperate
to Prevent Flood Damages.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY TO AID.


puted - Conference Proposed Be-
tween Railway Officials and the Sur
vey-Thousands to Be Saved Yearly.
Director George Otis Smith of the
United States geological survey has
invited officers of the leading railways
of the United States to confer on a co
operative plan by which it is expected
the railroads will be able to save thou
sands of dollars year The plan also
cOntemplates most effective assistance
to the government on the part of rail
roads. The time and place of the pro-
posed conference are to be agreed on
later.
The scheme, which has already been
approved by Il number of the engineers
of the big lines, is one of the gathering
Of facts as to the amount of water
flowing in the rivers Of the United
States under certain conditions and in
different periods of the year. Natural
ly the railroads have been the chief
sufferers from floods In the basins
where tuelT tIdckS llc. Illts nave sui
fered not only from damage to their
own property, but they have been sued
by other corporations and private citi-
Zens ON the ground that their bridges
qua culverts were tho causes of flood
damage. The railroad authorities have
felt that many judgments against the
roads might not have been rendered II
I.n a al to 1yyrsA INF
tic figures ON floods. But they have
not been able to do this. The national
conservation commission has been ad-
vised OF the proposed plan. and what
ever results come from 1t will un-
doubtedly be considered by the COM
mission at its joint meeting with the
governors Of states or their represent
atives in Washington next December.
The survey suggests that the railroad
companies establish gauges on their
bridges and culverts and appoint some
Of their employees to take daily read
ings. The survey agrees to have its
experts make frequent visits to these
stations and take actual current meter
measurements so that rating table
Of each channel will be available.
For many years the survey has been
studying the difference in the flow Of
rivers in various basins In the United
States. At present 1t Is engaged in
putting the Information gained by its
study into shape for the use of the
national conservation commission, TO-
gether with other information which
1t is gathering especially for the in
ventory Of the country's natural re-
sources that the commission is pre-
pairing.
The survey has been unable to eX-
tend its observations to many regions
where the information would be of
vital Importance because it lacks
funds. The cooperation of the rail-
roads would permit the survey to COW
err such regions. The expense to the
railroads under this arrangement
would be trifllng, the survey authori-
ties say, because the roads could des-
ignate men already on their payrolls,
such as draw tenders, tank men or wa
ter station engineers, to take the daily
readings. On the other hand, If the
survey could be relieved Of the cost
Of daily supervision Of the gauges 1t
would be able to carry on the more
technical parts Of the undertaking.
The information which the railroads
will obtain If this plan is put into OPP
Grafton is Of immense value to them.
The surveys figures on floods have al
ways been accepted by the courts as
prima facie evidence. II the belief Of
the railroad authorities is we'll found
ed their cooperation with the survey,
enabling it to extend its operations to
their fields, will result in big savings
to them. The idea Of cooperation as
to floods originated with the engineer
ing departments Of the railroads them
selves. Representatives of these de-
partments of number Of roads held
conference with representatives Of
the survey in Chicago last June, and
at that time the survey agreed to in
terview the proper railroad authorities
! concerning a basis Of cooperation.
The survey has further suggested to
the railroads that they supply it with
all Information they may have on hand
concerning the character Of the vnri-
GUS drainage areas above their bridges.
Some Of the roads have collected at
great expense large amount Of val
liable information which could be
made of high value to all the railroads
If it were gathered together and COM
piled. This material would also con-
tribute largely to the general study of
the water resources Of the United
| States which the survey has been car
rying out for Il number of years and
upon which 1t is particularly busy just
now In the compilation of all availa-
Bile information along these lines for
the use of the national conservation
commission.