The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-05-06
ARE FLOODS INCREASING?
Figures of the United States Geological
Survey Indicate Cost of Food Destruc-
tfap

The present disastrous floods of the
| Mississippi river ami the inundation OF
the surrounding lowlsnds through the
| breaking Of the levees suggest the in
quiry: Are floods increasing in the
| United States? Present conditions are
admittedly most unusual, floods of both
the Ohio and Missouri rivers swelling
the already heavy flow of the Missis-
sippi, itself, and this has created what
will probably pass down in history as
the worst food OF the Mississippi since
the settlement of the country.
Precipitation either snow or rain
must ultimately take two courses. eth
er along the surface OF the ground d.
rectly into water courses or into the
ground by pereolation, with subsequent
discharge into the rivers by seepage.
Tho water which causes floods is that
part Of the precipitation which is not
absorbed into the ground and which
therefore must flow along the earth's
surface.
According TO NJ o. Leighton, chief by
drographer OF the United States geologi-
cal survey, in water-supply paper 234,
which contains papers on the conserva-
ton of water resources, there are five
classes Of agencies or conditions affect.
ing the flow of streams. The first is
climate. under which are comprised rain
fall. evaporation, temperature, wind and
humidity. Although these are exceed
ingly variable from day to day and
from season to season. the observations
that have been recorded indicate that
a period of years embraces all condi
tons. so that the mean OF them may
be considered fairly constant. There
is very little evidence, except in spe-
cal areas. that reveals any progress
sive and permanent change in climatic
conditions. The second agency is topog
raphy. and the third geology both of
which may be considered absolutely
stable The fourth is surface vegeta-
ton, which includes forest cover and
cultivated land. The fifth consists of
artificial agencies, such az storage reser-
voirs and drainage. which produce rapid
and marked effects on river discharge.
"When the physical conditions on the
drainage areas are summed up the one
great change that has been produced in
the vegetative conditions is the reduc-
tion OF forest area. On some of these
drainage areas it has occurred by slow
progression and on others more rapidly.
Ii is certain that in some areas this
forest cutting has caused barren coudi-
tions because the land was of such
character that after ii was relieved of
forest protection it eroded easily and its
productive portions were quickly swept
into watercourses.
'Summarily, therefore, it may be
stated with confidence, that the increase
in food tendency shown so Enthusiastically
is due in BY far the largest measure
to the denudation of forest areas.
Figures Indicate Flood Damage on In
crease.
"A complete census of flood damages
for any year or series of years has
never been attempted, but a few years
ago the United States geological sur
vey made inquiry of all the railroads of
the United States concerning food losses
durine~the period January J., 1900, to
August, 1908. The railroads were Sc
lected for this purpose because it is we'll
known that they are. by reason of their
location and extent. subject to far great
err damage than any other single interest,
and it was believed that from the fig
ures so procured. a fairly representative
basis of estimate might be obtained.
THE following table gives the result
ing estimates from 1900 to 1908, inclu-
sive: