Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1913-12-12
Nv GEORGE CLINTON.

-. Toseph e. Ransdell OF LOUISIANA
W, Francis G. Newlands of Nevada,
'.h npmocrats, disagree radically as
WV tba governmental methods to be
Waved to control the floods and to
+r,ota and control the flow of nav
,sshIo streams in the aid of interstate
Donmorce. There we're sharp discus
' 's of the question involved at the
18th annual convention of the Ma
,ioraI Rivers and Harbors congress,
,,Scb has Just met in Washington.
The whole subject of Mississippi
,ivor Improvement and the prevention
=, tbe floods which have devasted the
wesissipDi valley in recent years is
,,voIved in this matter of difference
hotween two senators of the United
states both of whom apparently are
irving to reach the same end by en-
tirely different means. Congress has
hoen asked to act and the debate on
tbe subject. especially as it affects the
Mississippi valley, will perhaps be
.harper in the senate than it was at
he meeting of the delegates Of the
waterways congress.
Col C. Med. Townsend of the Unit
ed States engineer corps is the chair
man of the Mississippi river commits
sion. Apparently he IS opposed ut
terly to Mr. NeWlands' plan, which
would provide for flood prevention and
protection by means of huge reser-
vOrs for water storage purposes and
lbe protection of water sheds from de-
uudation and erosion. Colonel Town
send seemingly, therefore, is opposed
to plans which have received the en-
dOsement of the conservationists who
would have reforestation and forest
fire protection go hand in hand with
The work of flood prevention.
Colonel ToWnsend's Views.
In writing on the subject, partic-
ulary as it relates to the Mississippi
river. Colonel Townsend says:
While of the opinion that levees af-
ford the only practicable method of
controlling the floods of the Missis-
sippi river, desire to state that l am
strongly in favor of both reforesta-
ton and reservoir construction, but
limited to the purposes for which they
are adapted. just as | am in favor of
reinforced concrete for small bridges,
though not considering it applicable to
one spanning the lower Mississippi
river"
In the opinion of this engineer Off
Ger, the control of the lower Missis-
Eppi by reservoirs is impracticable, if
not impossible, although he says there
are numerous smaller streams where
reservoirs can be used with excellent
results He adds:
The systematic conservation and
regulation by the Federal government
the river from its source to it's
mouth sounds most attractive, sug-
costing the scientific solution of every
problem of river hydraulics, but in
Stead greatly fear that it is the voice
the siren Turing the people to an
open pork barrel for every stream in
he United States"
RansdeII Is for Levees.
Ills probable that Senator RansdeH
ltpresents the view of the people of
Tue lower Mississippi section and in
part inc views of people of other Sec
IONS His belief is that the matter
IuSI De Kept in the main stream dur
lug the Hood times and that it can be
AsN there if the proper levees are
built,
Inc NeWlands scheme is set forth in
Jill IN congress upon which the
luminous report has been pre-
pared and published. The Newlands
MEASURE is called bill ITO create a
''sra OF river regulation and to pro-
'ue fund for the regulation and
Ol[ol OF the flow of ravigable river
= Ae aid Of Interstate commerce, and
means to that end to provide for
.VOu prevention and protection and
W me beneficial use of food waters
~ la ioF water storage and for the pro-
tS"Ou OF water sheds from denuda-
AZ va ana erosion and from forest fires
M n1u lot the cooperation of govern
~ D' services and bureaus with each
.s s4'f and with states, municipalities
AZ y, o'her local agencies"
~; tIs Is broad bill. It's opponents
ori ma mat the plan involved would re-
b..s re 700 much time and too many
ho S at work, and that results can
@ol leached more quickly and more
,sot @piy Oy what they call more di-
mo-, neIhods. The Newlands bill
N, '4ues Tor a government appropria-
ns l VI $4,000 each year for ten years,
!. total of 100000, 900.
Rs,s SAD that the printed price
to ~. VI what holiday dinners were
sbla We. this dinner were respon-
have directly for the proposal to
Ae M; Sno'her government inquiry into
sens T,Sn cost of living. The attorney
bin ~. already is looking into the
Of sn sOS' matters along various lines
iors opposed tS least resistance. and be-
BE ,b S"e winter is ended it is proba-
N sr'S committee of congress or
,snn, ,uorized commission will at
hg - 20 md out why prices are fly
prohsS,n ugh A legislative attempt
p-i. VIII be made to hiring the