The Detroit times., 1914-05-18
RAYMOND w. PULLMAN.
Times Washington Bureau. No. 40
Metropolitan Bank budding.


WASHINGTON, May lS-Direful
predictions that unless there is a gem
eral systematic EN-.
Flood cheering EFFORT at
Control. flood control there
will be disasters
in the Ohio valley Tar eclipsing the
great flood OF 1913, with its $780,
600 600 loss, Is made by officials OF
the United States geological survey
IN a report just made public.
A. II. Horton and ii. j. Jackson, the
survey officials who investigated the
conditions In the Ohio valley, follow
ing the flood, point out that the dis
aster of 1913 was caused by storms
that progressed from the lower 10
the upper end OF the valley, thus per-
hitting the water from the lower tfib-
utaries TO run off and get out or the
way In the main stream before the
water from the upper end or the val
ley entered the Ohio and reached the
part affected by the tributaries near
er the mouth.
The investigators suggest the pos
sibility OF a severe storm whose pain
would be- the reverse, fIOm the source
OF the mouth, and declare that In
such an event, the magnitude or the
disaster could not be predicted. They
also say IL is possible a larger area
might be involved, and calmly add
that the condition is not pleasant
one TO contemplate. They still fur
Their say that a flood on the Ohio In
conjunction with floods on the upper
Mississippi and the Missouri would
probably produce a calamity on the
lower Mississippi unprecedented in
the history Of this or any other coun
try
Referring 10 the causes OF the flood
of last year, the federal experts de
clare that the damage was unQues
tionably increased in very great
measure by the works OF man IN the
channels, along the banks and across
the river valleys. They refer TO the
presence OF the enormous volume OF
water as an 'act OF God" yet they
! charge to man a large share OF the
blame for the resulting damage
through his works of municipal and
rural Improvement.
"For this condition. the greed OF
AAActl 10 kSll W Soy NAt wv
investigators. This is evidenced by
the procedure usually followed In
building bridges, the effort being made
to build them at the least possible
cost OF construction and maintenance
TO this end the length OF spans be
ing reduced TO a minimum. This re
suits in putting abutments farther
and farther out into the stream, plac-
ing numerous piers in the channel IL
self, and reducing the total opening
for the stream below all reasonable
limits by constructing, as approaches
earthen entertainments that act sim
ply as dams in times OF flood
"The same greed or perhaps false
economy. is shown by building fac
tories, manufacturing plants and even
residences out to the limit OF ordinary
low-water stage, and thus forming
the most effective barriers TO the free
flow OF the streams when In food
This greed is heavily punished by the
first disastrous food. All stream
channels should be cleared OF OBJ
struction and made ample carriers OF
food waters, and rigid laws strictly
enforced, should prohibit any further
encroachment on waterways.
"A noteworthy suggestion in con
nection with the reduction OF damage
by flood advocates the removal OF
places OF business or residence from
areas subject TO repeated inundation
SO as to restore to the river channel
that which belongs TO 10 To accom-
plish this IL has been further sug
gested that the cities take over. the
abandoned properties, paying an
equitable price and making arrange
ments that will enable the occupants
especially the poor. to relocate out
OF harms way. In this way the
danger line at many cities could be
raised, and the volume OF flood wa
ters that would have TO be taken care
of materially reduced. In addition il
has been suggested that such areas
be converted into river-front parks
so that they will serve useful pur
pose and still offer no obstruction
TO the flood flow OF the river"
The thousands OF persons who live
on the river bottom in the Ohio val.
ley do not get much encouragement
as 10 their future safety from the fed
eral officials. The records. which 60
back to 1873, show that in no year
since that date has the Ohio river
failed. at some point along its course
TO overflow its banks and food large
areas OF land, and in some years this
flooding has been five times re-
peated
The report discusses the two gen
eral plans for food control. the con-
struction of levees and reservoirs, the
latter plan being looked upon with
much favor. but not TO be attempted
until further records of the volume OF
water carried by the various rivers
Is obtained. The report is a plea for
exact information OF conditions Gov
ering period OF years, so that any
plan for control Of the floods can be
intelligently carried out.
II Is asserted by the experts that
while problems connected win the
Improvement. regulation and use OF
the Ohio river and its tributaries have
been under consideration for more