Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-04-17
STOP FLOOD MENACE
CONGRESS MAY LEGISLATE FOR
CONTROL AND REGULATION
OF WATERWAYS.
STORAGE SYSTEM IS URGED
Effectiveness OF Reservoirs in River
Control Has Been Proven in This
Country and EuToPe-s5o,0oo,o 600 q
Year Is Toll Collected by Floods.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington.-In addition to tariff
and currency legislation at the extra
session there is promise of legislation
looking toward the establishment OF
a national waterways policy which
will aim to prevent in the future such
foods as those which have been de
vastating the Ohio river valleys.
President Wilson has expressed him
self as in accord with the policy en-
bodied in the so-called Newlands bill.
which will be considered in detail be-
fore adjournment late in the summer
The Newlands bill has been before
congress, in various forms, for several
years. 1t was introduced originally
as result of the Investigations OF
the Inland Waterway Commission,
which made its report to the president
in 1908. This report laid emphasis upon
the fact that the control and regula-
ton of waterways was essentially
national function. 1t pointed out that
If our rivers were not properly regu-
lated, they would become increasing
destructive agencies, injuring both life
and property and urged that any
plan for the utilization of inland wa
! terways should take up the matter Of
forest cover, so as to protect the up
| lands from soil wash and the bottom
lands from injury.
Reforestation a Remedy.
The commission further recon-
rnended ''the construction Of dams and
locks not only to facilitate navigation,
| but also to control the character and
movement of the waterways, which
shuld look to the full use and control
/ of our running waters" The inyesti-
| cations of the commission developed
these conclusions:
| First, that the only way to control
a river is to control the source of it's
water supply, through reforestation.
| Second, that in nearly ali the rivers
of the United States such control
readily can be effected by the con-
struction Of storage reservoirs which
| should catch and temporarily hold the
food waters so that they will not
| descend upon the lowlands and val
| IeyS IN large volume.
Third, that while the cost Of such
a conservation system would be large,
/ it ultimately would appear normal
when compared with the benefits con-
| ferred from water power and irriga-
| ton.
NJ o. Leighton, chief photographer
of the United States geological sur
vey, in his report on the relation OF
water conservation to flood prevention
! on the Ohio river, considered at
| length the question OF the construc-
| ton of storage reservoirs on this
river, and made definite recommends
! tons. He suggested the building of
such reservoirs at the headwaters OF
| the Great Miami and Allegheny rivers.
Had they been built, there is little
doubt in the minds of government ex-
perts that the effect of the flood in
/ this basin would have been to some
| extent reduced.
! The system for the prevention of
| foods by storage which Chief Leigh
| ton recommended was along the line
| of similar projects in this country and
/ abroad. The protection of waterways
| by this plan is by 10 means expert
mental. In Russia, for instance, at
| the source of the Nolga and Mtsa
rivers great reservoirs for the pre-
/ Vention of flood and he maintenance
/ Ct navigation have baen in operation
| for years. They store about thirty
! five billion cubic feet of water, and
the system not only has been success
| full in its improyemrn Mt of navigation,
! but has prevented the disastrous
! foods that were fer many years a
scourge to the lowlands of Russia.
! The storage plan is followed in other
parts of Europe, and in Egypt the AS
suan storage system of the Nile point
out clearly the way to handle this
/ question In this country, on the
| headwaters Of the Mississippi river a
partial demonstration of the effective
ness of reservoirs on river control
mas proved successful.
Enormous Damage by Floods.
| It has been estimated by the geolog-
| ical survey that between 1900 and
| 1908 the total damage by floods in this
country was over q billion dollars, and
| the greater portion of this loss was
In the Mississippi basin. No doubt
storage reservoir system through this
| great basin would be costly in the ag
/ gregate But when it is considered
that 100000 year is the toll paid
/ 10 river destruction in the Mississippi
valley alone, the storage reservoir sys-
! tenn seems to many a good invest
ment
/ The Newlands bill which, it is
| stated on good authority, is to have
/ the backing Of the administration,
| calls for an appropriation OF s50,000.-
| 600 a year for ten years, TO be ex-
| pended under the direction of board
! of river regulation composed of Off
| Gals of the federal government whose
work deals with the various problems
| affecting the waterways. This meas
ure was favorably reported by sen
ate committee at the last session, but
was defeated in conference, although
many senators who voted for the bill
with the NewIands amendment omit
| ted, stated that they were in favor of
his bill and would vote for it if it
| came up independently at later date.
The Extra Session.
| Which will there be the most OF at