The Washington herald., 1908-06-28
By Frederic J. HaSkin.

The recent devastation Of cities ana
farms by the waters OF the Ohio, Mis-
souri,, Red, and Kaw rivers places more
vividly before us the fact that the peo-
pie Of the United States lose by food
each year an average Of 500. 1000. 0O0 Two
weeks ago the 1900 inhabitants Of Ar
mourdale in Kansas City's packing
house district. had to abandon their
homes as the water backed in. Down
the valley OF the Big Sioux. 10000 acres
OF farm land was laid waste the early
part of June. Cedar City. Mo. saw its
population move out en- masse when the
Missouri River left its banks on June a.
Two-thirds Of the bottom lands within
sight OF Jefferson City was under water
with wheat fields swamped IN from six
70 eighteen inches OF water-a million dol
lars loss TO farmers. The usually harm
less little Shunganunga surrounded To-
peHa with water on June l3. and wrought
havoc next only to that Of the flood Of
1903
The Columbia. encouraged by heavy
rains and melting SHOWS in its head
waters. rose until the pumping station
Of Wenatchee. Wash, was carried away.
and lumber interests were greatly threat
ened. At Emporla, Kans.. the Neosha.
and its tributary. the Cottonwood.
brought the worst food that section has
experienced. The far Northwestern flood
plain suffered most. Continued rain and
snow Of early June days set the rivers
and creeks rushing from their banks.
telephone and telegraph communicat tons
We're cut off, and trains on the Northern
Pacific were tied up for ten days. Ana
conda, Butte, and Helena were cut off
from the rest of the world. Urtil the old
time pony express was revived 10 meet
the situation. Mines I'm that region were
closed and business operations In the
city suspended. At Missoula q giant mill
was injured 20 the extent Of $4,000 or
more, and communication with Spokane
cut of for days
And so on through the list Of floods
that have recently swept a wide area Of
the country In the West. the lowlands
Of Arkansas and Texas. the valleys Of
the Ohio. and OF the rivers on the At
lantic slope. In the trail Of each over
flow has come loss Of property In the
shape OF crops, homes and stock. and
sometimes loss OF life. In the trail Of all
has come a greater and "A more abiding
loss in the shape OF eroded mountain and
hillsideS, corraded river banks. and silt
chokcd river beds. And greatest OF all
has come the great waste OF water that
rushes unimpeded toward the seas. de-
priving the earth Of the moisture il needs
for the summer and fall crops. defraud-
ing the rivers Of the water necessary TO
maintain that even current and depth
throughout the years SO necessary 20 the
support Of that great traffic which the
nation hopes 20 see on her inland water
ways.
And the deplorable thing about H. the
thing which is a sad commentary on our
national thrift and intelligence. is that
the greater part Of this great waste and
incalculable loss is our own fault. The
headwaters Of these overlooking rivers lie
among the mountains which. In the be-
ginning Of things a wise Creator set with
forests that were designed 70 conserve
the winter SHOWS and vernal rains. and
then release them later through under
ground springs and rivulcts 10 the thirsty
valleys below. The river courses lay
through plains set with trees and under
growth that would hold the water from
an overflow and keep Il safe I'm the
sponge Of fallen leaves. the roots and old
logs, until such a time as the winds or
the soil asked it again.
Man. in his misguided idea OF pros
perity, is dcnuding the slopes Of their
trees as rapidly as human and mechan-
ical agency can effect il, and when the