The Washington times., 1913-03-29
RELIEF WORK WELL UNDER WAY IN FLOOD STRICKEN
NATIONAL CONTROL
OVER RIVERS URGED
Great Battle Between Federal
and State Advocates Is
Congress Possibility.
By JOHN SNURE.

By JOHN SNURE.
Determination Of the Administration
to press a broad and comprehensive
policy OF river and flood control. so as
to lessen the danger from floods In the
Ohio region. as we'll as other districts.
foreshadows a great battle in this Con-
gress ever the question of Federal and
State jurisdiction. So grave is the prns-
pect that many believe it will complete
ly split the Democratic party.
Statements of Secretary Lane and
other Cabinet members make II clear
that the force of the Administration is
going to be thrown on the side of Fed
eral control rather than State control in
all matters relating to waters and
natural resources.
That the devastating floods in the
ohio-Indiana region are going to make
the question of river and food control
highly acute in this Congress Is n GER
tainty. Already it is being widely Gis-
cussed. Senator Newlands has renewed
his advocacy of such a policy. The
Administration is expected TO back it.
Public Sentiment Stirred.
Public sentiment, stirred to its depths
by the awful losses of life and property
In the Ohio valley, will stand back Of
the Administration and the elements in
Congress that demand adequate steps
be taken to afford protection against
foods.
the headwaters of the principal streams
is being widely advocated. That 1t
would not meet such an emergency as
the recent deluge in the Ohio valley
10 the belief of the best experts. At the
same time. there is pretty general ) gree
ment that a large share of the flood
devastation in this country, which oc-
ours almost as regularly as the spring
time comes. could be prevented by stor-
age reservoirs.
This was advocated by the National
Conservation Commission. Senator New
lands, chairman of the Senate Interstate
Commerce Committee. favors an su-
thorization of half billion dollars to
build such a system, and the Admins
tration looks with favor on such a
scheme.
Would Create Power.
Such a storage reservoir system, ac-
cording to Chief photographer NJ. ..
Leighton several years ago. estimated
II would create 5000 900 horsepower.
1t is estimated in most quarters that
but one agency can deal effectively with
flood control II 1t can be dealt with at
all This Is the National Government.
But at every turn. in the past when
the attempt has been made to broader
the authority of the Federal Govern
ment or to exercise regulation over
water powers, the State rights men in
Congress have fought il bitterly. And
they will continue TO fight it
II gets down, therefore, to this prop
osition: Either the Administration
might as well abandon the idea of flood
control on a scale which will amount
TO anything and leave IL to spasmodic
efforts of scattered states, or it will
have to get out the big stick and make
the nght of its life to overcome the
State rights influences that for years
have blocked one project OF conserva-
tion after another.
1t is perfectly clear that, unless the
Wilson Administration does use all Its
influence to get comprehensive Hood
control legislation through, 1t cannot
be passed. Something may be done with
respect TO the levees along the lower
Mississippi and few other streams,
but Il is conceded that much more than
q levee system is needed to protect In
any measure the Ohio valley and most
of the areas of the United States sub
ject to flood.
II is estimated that storage reservoirs
would help the situation on about two
thirds Of the streams and with respect
to the ordinary annual floods. Should
this be attempted, the Federal Govern
ment will have to do ii and the states
will doubtless have to give up their
control over streams
One way out of the difficulty would be
to adopt a constitutional amendment
which would lodge control Of streams
absolutely in the Federal Government
Such proposal is being seriously
thought Of in certain circles in Congress
Would Mean Bitter Fight
Unless this step is taken. the clash Of
Federal and State jurisdiction promises
to be endless. And such an amendment
would be fought at every turn In Con-
grese and out OF IT,
So greatly is this question Of Federal
mower versus State rights intensified by
the calamity in the Ohio valley and the
threatened one in the lower Mississippi
stands in much greater danger of being
torn asunder by it than by the tariff
or the other great issues
Thoughtful conservationists have
seen this problem coming on for solu-
tion for years. The late Dr. Magee.
wSa knew probably more about the
waters of this country than any other
person, was one Of the first to per-
ceiye 1t. He advanced the doctrine that
a stream from mouth 10 source was
an entity and should be subject TO
single Jurisdiction.
In connection with this subject OF
flood protection, 1t is an interesting
fact that France has done much TO
nreyent foods by two methods. One is
by reforestation at the headwaters of
rivers like the Seine. The other is by
storage reservoirs. 1t was about thirty
Years ago that the annual flood raw
ages in France became so grave that
scientists were set to work to study
means Of prevention.
The situation has been greatly helped
by reforesting and storage reservoirs.
Occasional floods occur. as they are
bound to in spite Of all effort at pre-
yention. but the French methods have