The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-03-07
STORAGE OF OHIO WATERS.

In view of the destructive floods on
She Ohio river, which occur with uncrr-
ing certainty every year, and which do
damage amounting always away up into
the millions of dollars, The Tribune has
been suggesting for good many years
the storage Of the food waters in the
upper feeders Of the Ohio river, for the
double purpose of abatiug the damage
bv floods and Of letting that wafer loose
later on in the season to reinforce the
depth Of the stream for navigation
when the depth runs shallow
1t appears that there has been a
movement to that effect, but that there
good many are hopeless Of achieving
practical results There can he no
doubt. however, but that il would pay
the people along the Ohio river TO put
up the money for those storage rescr-
voirs The savings Of The losses of a
few years would be ample to pay for
the construction of all, and in the
rugged mountain gorges there is ample
| opportunity for very great storage
reservoirs. These could be put in firm
| and solid, so that there would be no
danger of their breaking, AMI tho dou-
| bic advantage of preventing Hood
| losses and the reinforcing Of the river
at the lowest stages Of water would
amply pay the cost Of the reservoir.
We have fun confidence that this
measure of flood relief and Of subse-
! qucnt navigable water reinforcement
will be put into effect, at some time:
| economic considerations VIII force It,.
| The losses are SO very great that they
cannot bc continually supported, and
| the needs of navigation in tho later
portions Of the season, Of more water
in tho channel, arc so pressing, that tho
requirement will be found too pressing
10 resist. The double purpose can be
achieved, but at considerable cost.
! Still, when we consider the tremendous
waste of the high floods in the Ohio
river, the cost Of the reservoirs becomes
,rifing in comparison.
On this general subiec.'. VIC liud the
| following editorial discussion in the
! Philadelphia Record of "A recent date:
| The movement set ON foot in Pitts
| burgh to bring about the erection OF
storage reservoirs on the hcadwaters OF
| Tie Allegheny and Monunsahea rivers.
| with view to the prevention of floods
and the after use Of the flood waters
| as sources %; power and OF relief sup
| ply in seasons OF drought. has not been
abandoned. To bring about the success
| uf the scheme. however. ~ is necessary
| 10 secure cooperative legislation ~
Maryland ana West Virginia and tho
assent pf Congress. 1t is proposed that
! there shall be joint participation i'm for
warding the securing Of stcs and tic
erection OF reservoirs by the states.
counties and cities affected and the Fed
! craI authority. with view 10 lessen
| The cost 90 the public. and at the same
| desired. without inCurrng the risk OF
| private monopoly.
The matter viii bc made the subject
! of thorough State and Federal investi-
| cation. Tho greater use of available
water power and The conservation OF
! food waters, since tho means have been
! discovered for cheap transmission OF
| power from The point OF production 30 the
point or application. have assumed such
sudden speculative value TO make inn
pcrailVe state and Interstate regulation
Of q general character 10 protect the
public interest. II water power can be
SO used as 10 save the coal supply, pre-
J vent flood disasters. aud at the same
| weight OF taxation there should be- no
| time lost in providing the means II
| assuring such common benehcence tu
| common benefit.