The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-04-09
President Wilson Is Seriously Con.
cerned Over What Method
Should Be
Adopted.
rs STUDYING QUESTION
Biggest Problem Is to Finance the
Improvements and Alterations
Along the Big
Rivers.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service
WASHINGTON, April President
Wilson is seriously concerned over
what method Is to be pursued to pre-
vent floods in the middle west. He
considers It one of the greatest prob
lens confronting his administration
comprehensive plan must be made,
he believes, and It is likely the secre-
tary of war will be ordered to direct
his energies to prepare detailed re-
port to be ready for the regular ses-
sion Of congress next December.
Th biggest problem will be to f.
nance the improvements. The presi-
dent has been told by the congression-
al leaders that the necessity for
strictest economy in government was
never SO great as now Represen-
tative Fitzgerald Of Brooklyn, chair
man Of the house appropriations com
mittee. in half dozen conferences
with the president, has requested that
he take a firm stand on the appro-
priation question. Today he told the
president that If only a few of the
/ bills already introduced In the house
affecting the flood situation were
| passed, they would take every dollar
4 in the treasury and also the revenues
in sight. One plan which the presi-
dent has had brought to his attention
and which would receive most serious
4 consideration is a general scheme OF
| improvement which would take care
1 of all future floods in the MISSISSIPPI
pi, Missouri, Ohio and their tributar-
les and then to finance 1t with a gen.
eral issue of what would be known as
/ flood bonds
Part of the financing Of the improve
ments under this plan would be met
! by the states benefited and the re
mainder by the government. In con-
nection with this plan is to be con.
sidered the advisability of bringing II
this work Colonel Goethals and his
entire Panama canal construction
force.
! This organization, the greatest OF
its kind the world ever saw, is to be
! idle soon 1t had been suggested that
it be sent to Alaska to develop the re-
sources of that country, where mighty
obstacles are to be encountered
But the flood situation may change
1 that plan. The lower Mississippi I'M
provement association has been work
4 ing to have the canal workers sent to
care for the Mississippi and 1t is pos
sible that the plant will be utilized to
place the big river in shape that fur
ther disastrous floods will be impos-
sible. The damage caused by this
years floods alone, 1t Is pointed out
1 by all who have talked with the presi.
/ dent on this subject. is in excess of
the amount that would be needed to
! finance proposed improvements.
/ The president has made it very
4 plain to all OF his callers that while
/ he considers the relief question urg-
! ent, he must have time to study It
/ thoroughly before he can act. He be-
/ lieves that the Red Cross and the
state organizations with the assist.
ance of the federal officers who are
aiding, will furnish all of the tenn.
! porary relief needed and that the per-
/ manent relief can be deferred until a
real plan of definite solution can be
worked out. Because of this attitude,
| 1t Is expected that the extraordinary
session will enact only such legisla-
!