Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 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 Europe-$5o,ooo,o a
Year Is Toll Collected by Floods.
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
floods as those which have been de-
vastating the Ohio river valleys.
President Wilson has expressed him
self as in accord with the policy en-
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 a result of the Investigations of
the Inland Waterway Commission,
which made it's report to the president
in 1908. This report laid emphasis upon
the fact that the control and regula.
ton of waterways was essentially a
national function. II pointed out that
If our rivers were not properly regu-
lated, they would become increasing
destructive agencies. injuring both life
NLe PANpCALyb anu bSu thoS ehy
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-
mended 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 investi-
cations of the commission developed
these conclusions:
First, that the only way to control
a river is to control the source Of its
water supply, through reforestation.
Second, that in nearly all 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
leys in large volume.
Third, that while the cost OF such
a conservation system would be large.
1t ultimately would appear normal
when compared with the benefits con-
ferred from water power and irriga-
ton.
M. o. Leighton. chief photographer
Of the United States geological sur
vey, in his report on the relation Of
water conservation to food 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 food In
this basin would have been to some
extent reduced.
Enormous Damage by Floods.
It has been estimated by the geolog-
ical survey that between 1900 and
1908 the total damage by foods in this
country was over a billion dollars, and
the greater portion Of this loss was
in the Mississippi basin, No doubt a
storage reservoir system through this
great basin would be costly in the ag.
gregate. But when 1t is considered
that $50, 100000 year is the toll paid
| 10 river destruction in the Mississippi
valley alone. the storage reservoir sys-
TEN seems to many a good invest
| ment.
The Newlands bill which, II is
stated on good authority. is to have
| the backing Of the administration,
calls for an appropriation OF $50 ,000,.
900 a year for ten years, to be ex-
pended under the direction OF a 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 a SEN
ate committee at the last session, but
was defeated in conference, although
many senators who voted for the bill
with the Newlands amendment omit.
ted, stated that they were in favor OF
his bill and would vote for It II 1t
came up independently at a later date.
The Extra Session.
Which will there be the most OF at
the coming session of congress-poli.
tics or legislation? This is the CUES.
ton which Is being asked in Wash.
ington by those who predict that con.
gress will sit late into the summer
and will take up more questions than
the tariff and the currency.
Politics and legislation are always
closely interviewer In Washington.
From the Democratic point of view the
| work of electinR q Democratic house