The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-02-18

An ingenious plan which seeks to pre-
vent floods. that now every year visit
The great river valleys of the country,
devastating millions OF acres Of land. de-
stroying millions Of dollars worth OF
property. and costing many lives. was
outlined yesterday by NJ o. Leighton.
chief photographer Of the United States
government
The plan. in brief is the building of "A
series Of detention reservoirs. near the
rivers, which shall be kept empty during
the greater part Of the year and held in
readiness to store temporarily the food
waters that arise during the late winter
and spring
The water IN these reservoirs would be
held until the low water stage in the
rivers. when it would oe turned into the
channels. making navigation possible the
year round, and also furnishing water
power for many industries
Amount of One Loss Sufficient.
\ While no opportunity has as yet been
afforded TO make review Of the damage
caused by the recent flood in the Ohio
Basin. said Mr.. Leighton. the principle
governing all the foods IN the past ought
TO be true II the money represented by
the property damages had been expended
in these conservation reservoirs. the flood
would not have occurred.
1t is the consensus OF expert opinion
that loss caused by only one big Ohio
flood represents an amount sufficient 10
solve the food evil in the Ohio basin Tor
all time.
The floods OF January and March q
last year In the Ohio valley cost at least
500 o)0000 This does not take into account
the depreciation OF undeveloped property.
As one Of the largest manufacturers in
the valley recently said.
We can prosper without water trans
portaJiOn on the Ohio because we have
railroad facilities that Will suffice In some
degree: but We cannot withstand the
food losses. II foods persist We must
move.
Problem Not DimcuIt.
''The uplands of the Ohio basin are
peculiarly adapted for the conservation OF
water. especially tRat part south and
east Of the river. where the water comes
with the greatest force. Here nature has
provided steep valleys and capacious
basins. at the lower ends Of which are
excellent sites for the erection OF dams.
by holding back The waters from the
headwater tributaries Of the Ohio. we
would be holding back the water which
flows most torrentiaily. il is this water
which runs quickly OF the steep sIopes
into the main valley that causes the IN
undaUOns.
The endeavor 20 control floods by the
erection of levees in a basin ike the
Ohio. involves taking up the problem al
the wrong enc The only way 10 abSO-
lutely and permanently harness the river
is 10 control the source Of its water
supply.
"A Hood may be retained, Of course.
between high and expensive leyees. but
such levces are OF enormous cost in
maintenance. Experience has been thar
they must be- made higher and higher
as the floods from the mountains become
more and more rapid.
some rivers, ike the Mississippi. must
be protected by leyees because a large
amount OF its water Is received from
fiat country where tho construction Of
reservoirs IS not possible But levees ia
the Ohio Valley need not be the resort.
Suppusing now that there existed TO
day ia the headwater tributaries OF the
Ohio River an adequate reservoir system
utilizing a tufficient number Of the 2o0 or
4oJ natural storage basins Of the region.
what would be the result Of the excess We
food Of Saturday and Sunday There
would be no food losses. no discomfort.
no interruption of trade, not even public
apprehension.
This gain in itself as stated would
probably be sufficient TO pay for the
reservoirs In addition % this. the water
that has devastated the valley and has
been wasted would be In hand so that
when the dry season comes next summer
II could be judiCiously released 10 main
tain navigable stages in the Ohio River.
Canals and reservoirs.
"Of course. there are certain places IN
the Ohio where the grade is too steep to
provide fun depth in this way. n such
places canalizauon is the remedy: but the
mileage covered by such reaches is COM
paratively small BY far the greater por-
ton Of the river is. however. OF so slight
a grade that the reservoir plan will serve.
Again, this stored water. when re-
leased. could. in its tGnsit 10 the main
river, be passed through power wheels.
and thereby be made 20 produce in time
an annual revenue that would more than
pay for the total cost Of construction OF
the entite works
30 II Is that the proposed system would
accomplish three purp0ses-fOOd protec-
ton. navigation. and water power
Il is the opinion OF many prominent
engineers Of the country. who have care
fully studied the problem. that such
plan must be the final solution Of the
difficulty. and that the people of the
United States viii insist upon its adop-
ton as soon as they decide that floods
are not necessary evils and that il is
within their power 10 stop the waste OF
human life and money and no longer to
suffer conditions to exist that produce
annual devastations