The Washington herald., 1913-10-01
U. S. CONTROL OF ALL
BRIDGES IS ADVISED
Recommendation Made by Engineers
Who Investigated Causes of
Ohio Floods. 'r
REMOVAL OF INSTRUCTIONS

In a preliminary report to the War
Department the special board of army
engineers detailed to. look into the
causes and effects of floods in the Ohio
Valley declares that divided control of
the watercourses of the several States.
by municipalities, States, and the Ma
tIonal government, is one of the greatest
evils OF the situation and obstacles to
proper handling of the problem.
The board states that a requisite for
the prevention of Interference with inter-
state commerce. and. indeed. for protec-
tion of the railroads themselves, is the
exercise by the United States OF control
over bridges and their approaches. and
is of the opinion that this control should
extend to city and county bridges, Of
which numbers were destroyed by the
floods. At present the Federal laws as
sert jurisdiction over bridges practically
only over navigable waters. In rare
cases this authority can be extended TO
include such structures over non-naviga-
BILE feeders. provided 1t is shown that
the particular bridge affects indirectly
navigable waters further downstream
Any further extension of the War De-
partments authority in regard to bridges
over non-navigable tributaries will re-
Quire additional Legislation by Congress.
The board has been much impressed
in its examination by the evils of di-
vided control OF the watercourses," II Is
stated. The distractions which have
been placed along the various streams
ought never to have been put there. and
their construction should have been pre-
vented: but since the control of rivers
is in the twilight zone between the
spheres of control OF Federal and State
authority, IL developed that what was
anybOdy's business was nobody's bust
ness. and no effective authority has been
exercised bv anybody. The board urges
that immediate steps be taken to exer-
else such authority, since bridges and
other structures are to be rebuilt at
once and there IS evident danger in
several places that they may be rebuil;
IN an obstructive manner"
Adequate control OF streams by the
Federal &C 'ernment is urged b. the
board as the best preventive measure
at hand Immediately. but II also recon-
mends that a long and thorough in
vestigation be authorized. II suggests
that the Pittsburgh Office OF the Corps
or Engineers De authorized TO continue
the gathering OF complete data on
streams in the Ohio Valley. On the
basis Il the data thus to be completed.
the board believes a consistent plan can
he worked out whereby the food damage
can in the future be minimiZed
The plan for a system Of giant reser-
voirs. which has been much favored by
residents Of Ohio and other afflicted
States does not find much favor with
the board OF engineers.
Flood damage Is due To two causes
the board finds First. the high waters
and. second t.e high veloCities OF
streams The second cause can largely
lie removed the board believes, by re-
moving distractions from the river
channels and food plains. by enlarginG
the Ch. nnels where their .. .tural dimen-
sions are insufficient, by building -ees
-tT-fr v~rTuUw ~pne Hn0d plains is not
desirable and. possibly. by providing di-
Nersion channels. Details OF such pre-
vcution projects have heen worked out
for reliving the situation at Columbus,
Ohio. which was one Of the worst suf-
fer'rs in the Hoods OF last spring
The board consisted Of the following
officers he Corps of Engineers Lieut.
Col Fran~is L. Skunk. chairman. Lieut.
Col. Henry Jervey. Majs. Charles :.
Bro well. John c. Oakes, Frederick w
AltstaetteT. and Lewis II. Rand