The Washington times., 1913-03-27
WILSON SEEKS PLAN
i TO AVERT DISASTER
President and Secretaries Lane
and Garrison Want Scheme
for River Control.

troll to avert in the future such disas-
ters as have occurred and are yet i'm
pending i'm Ohio Indiana. and other
States in the Ohio and Mississippi val
leys.
The calamity that has overtaken
thousands may prove the giant lever
needed to put in motion a Federal
scheme for river control. President
Wilson and Secretary of the Interior
Lane are impressed With the absolute
need of plan for the conservation OF
work which will accomplish this end
will. as a secondary matter, tend to
open the Ohio, the Mississippi, and their
tributaries TO navigation.
President May Send Message.
1t is not improbable that the Presi-
dent will deal with this subject in a
special message to Congress. The Dem
ocratic party. as whole, is committed.
by its, platform, to scheme Of river
control.
Secretary of War Garrison said, on
leaving the conference, that everything
possible was being done by his Depart
nient In sending supplies of every de-
scription to the stricken areas.
When asked about the financial bur-
dens necessarily assumed in providing
supplies the Secretary said:
We are trusting to Congress"
Congress is expected to make what
ever deficiency appropriations are re-
orired to cover the unexpected expense.
Crit Jut Red Tape.
Red tape has been stripped from War
Department methods in meeting the
food situation. The Secretary and the
President demand results. They are
getting them by using every short cut
possible.
Before comforting with the President.
Secretary Of the Interior Lane outlined
his general ideas on the subject of food
control. although he said that he could
not speak in detail because he was un-
familiar with the exact situation.
THE problem is not specially to make
these streams navigable; IL is rather
problem of conserving property and life.
The neck of the bottle must be made
large enough to let the flood through.
1T is to be hoped that the losses
have been greatly exaggerated. But, at
any rate, the loss Is so tremendous that
the situation demands national atten-
ton and is of such character that only
national effort can cope with it, said
Secretary Lane. at the executive Of
fees today.
Not Purely Intrastate.
'.The Miami river is not purely an
intrastate river. Each small river is a
part of larger river, and the larger
river part Of the great steam which
finally carries the food to the ocean.
These streams act as giant sewers.
1t is necessary to deepen or straIghten
channels, build levees and possibly go
into the problem of forestration to deal
with the problem.
The first step will be to lay out
general program which. when compile
ted. will solve the question. After this
program is laid out, each Improvement
should be made as a part of the larger
scheme. To improve rivers by Con-
gressional districts or by sections will
accomplish nothing. 1t is a national
problem. The cooperation of States
and the Federal Government is neces-
sary- In such matter | would antici-
pate little conflict between the two au-
thorities."
Except on the lower Mississippi, the
river problem has always been attacked
chiefly as a commercial problem. The
severe loss of property and life along
the lower Mississippi has caused the
people of that section to demand ma
tional action with view to conserving
life and valuables. This feature of riv-
er control promises, as result of the
Ohio and Indiana floods. to become
the predominant element in the river
control problem.
For a time at least the commercial
value of deep. straight channels will be
made secondary. Unless forestration
Will reduce the amount Of water flowing
into rivers, and in this way diminish
freshet, only deep, straight channels
the tremendous onslaught of a spring
and high, strong levees will prevent the
water from flooding towns and farms,
II the conservation plan is put through
commerce will undoubtedly be benefited
The Democratic platform contained a J
plank which promised the support OF
the party to a national scheme of river ,
control This has already been brought
TO the attention of President Wilson
With the horrible scenes of the inun-
dated towns of Ohio and Indiana be-
fore their ideas this pledge may become
a living promise 10 the party in power.
The great loss of the people OF Ohio ;
and Indiana may, in this way. evolve |
a future benefit greater than they could !
obtain In any other way.
Secretary Of the Interior Lane has |
taken the keenest interest in the flood
situation. not only because it's future |
prevention VIII come, in part. under |
the authority Of his department. but :,
of what great and sudden disaster |
means. He was in San Francisco at !
the time Of the earthquake, and was |
one Of the committee of fifty which |
practically placed the town under |
martial law.
1t is because of his experience there !
that he believes the losses in Ohio |
and Indiana may be greatly exag- !
gerated.
THE estimates of loss of life in san ,
Francisco ran into the thousands. but |
we could never account for a loss of |
life much in excess of 750." said Sec |
retary Lane.
President Wilson came to his office |
late this morning. There was no fur |
ther step to he taken at the executive !
Offices in connection with the flood /
the President having directed the !
Secretary of War to use every pos |
sible agency to alleviate suffering in |
the stricken stricts.
An appeal from Hamilton, Ohio. for |
the use of pontoon boats was received |
at the executive Offices and immedi- |
ately referred 10 Secretary OF War |
Garrison