New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-29
TRUSTING TO PROVIDENCE.

The waters are >ubSiding in the Ohio
rivers and relief is coming to the
drowned cities and towns. But the
crest of the flood is sweeping OH 70
threaten disaster along the whole Mis-
SiSsipp VALLEY clear 10 the iuli. Il
thousand miles away.
II may be that the rain has stopped
in time and the great river he'd fed by
the streams of the Middle West will
carry the food in safety TO the sea. 1t
did not i'm 1912. or 1903 or 1891 or a
score Of times earlier. however And 50
long as the United States trusts To
Providence 10 save il from its rivers
such tales of death and deSOlation as
are now coming ont Of Ohio and Ind
iana-and NAV he heard from Missouri
or Mississippi or Louisiana a. few days
later-are as absolutely certain 10 re-
cur as rain and sunshine and the sea
SONS Of the year.
Exactly how much Of this particular
disaster could have been averted only
the complete facts and an expert opin-
ion upon them can develop. Apparent
.lv The deluge was Of unprecedented
proportions. utterly Overwhelming the
factor Of safety in dams and leveeS.
But old storage reservoirs of obsolete
design and poorly maintained seem 10
have been chief source of peril. nd
n large proportion Of the destruction
was undoubtedly preyentable.
If is no occasion for recrimination.
however Looking TO the larger prob
lem. il is doubtful if the nation in the
past has had the capital 10 approach
the danger with comprehensive plan
lin hand The economic necessity of
conserving tillable land and creating n
where possible has only lately become
mSiStent. Millions have been wasted IN
the past on uScientitic and partial
measures. il is true. But a clear facing
of the huge national problem now grad
ually developing before our eyes was
undoubtedly beyond the scope of pos
sibility for the nation of a half century
or even a quarter century ago.
But here and now the lost lives and
the suffering survivors alike with the
appalling waste and destruction Of "A
countryS capital involved. urge action,
and prompt action. Senators and Rep
reSentatives are already aroused. Sec
retary Lane Of the Interior Department
has issued a statement setting forth
clearly the broader aspects of the prob
lem. Especially has he pointed ont the
farreaching effect of local food and
the necessity of fore>tallinC disaster in
the great waterways by treating the
whole vast Mississippi Valley
over two-ffths Of the entire nation-in
one comprehensive plan of storage res
eryolrs enlarged and Strengthened
channels. leveeS and forestation.
The problem To be faced is gigantic
one But a nation that has severed two
continents greatest liberty man
has ever taken with nature. aS Mr.
Bryce has remarked-wil hardly be
discouraged by obstacles. The skill and
pluck that made the Panama Canal
possible are still at the service Of The
nation: in fact. Colonel Gocthals and
his picked engineering force will short
Is be returning in triumph, free TO M
dertake such work The time will
never be- more prOpiti0us.
There must first be- an expert and far
seeing plan Thereafter states and ma
ton must unite each year i'm bringing
that plan into being. The country
never faced an opportunity holding
greater possibility at once Of service 90
humanity and clear economic gain.