The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-09
FLOOD CONFERENCE.
rContinued from page One.1

upon a feasible plan which Will de-
mand definite action at the earliest
possible moment.
Protection from floods and the
conservation and utilization of rain
fall-both are of gravest importance
to our prosperity. They must be con
sidered together. We must stop the
dep1orable loss from floods, but in do
ing that let us not throw away an OPP
portunity to convert a menace into a
blessing if there is any possibility or
doing so.''
The governor declared that much
responsibility rested on the shoulders
of the federal government. He de-
clared relief might be secured through
the passage by congress OF the New
1ands-Broussard bill Senator New
lands had been invita- to attend the
meeting, but was unable to be present.
Two Federal Officers.
Two federal officials were sent to
Topeka to convey to Kansas the gov
ernment's interest in flood prevention.
Relief must be secured through con-
Herbert Deakyne of Kansas City and
Colonel c. Med. Townsend of st.
Louis, advised the Kansans that no
money was available ror state aid
Scientific Relief.
Colonel Townsend said that the only
practical relief from floods must be
worked out through scientific surveys.
These would require years in the
making, he said.
General experience has taught that
in a rolling country such as Kansas,
relief through reservoirs does not
pay" said Colonel Townsend, who is
president of the Mississippi river COM
mission. Results, however, are con-
ditiOned on surveys and a study of the
United States would require ten years
time, with every engineer from all of
our schools working on the job"
Ask Congress- for Relief.
Col. Deakyne urged Kansans to ap-
peal to their congressman for relief
through the federal government.
Dean Jardine of the state agricul-
Kansans wnen he declared that an
area of from 5000 to 100000 acres
of farm lands had been flooded dur
ing the recent high waters in Kan
sas. He said the direct loss totaled
not less than Sc an acre, while the
indirect loss was equally as great.
Loss to farm lands during the re-
cent floods, were in my opinion not
less than $10,O00,000 to 100000"
said Jardine.
flooding of 100000 to 10000 acres
of land in the Republican valley and
a direct loss of $4,000 to 1000, 600.
In six counties in the Solomon val
ley, Dean Jardine estimated flood
district of 100000 to 10000 acres,
AS a result of the Kaw river flood.
162,500 acres of land were flooded
and the direct loss to crops was one
and a quarter million dollars. Near
ly 100000 acres in the Blue river val
ley were flooded and an equal amount
in the NeoSho and MariaS des Cygnes
valleys. The losses estimated by Jar
dine affected only growing crops, with
an estimate of equal damage to lands.
From A. l.. Mohler
A. L. Mohler, president of the Union
Pacific, told Kansans that betterment
of conditions in Kansas by the gov
eminent was equally as important
with work on the Panama canal.
President Mohler was largely respons-
IDLE for the calling by Governor Cap
per of the flood congress. It was the
Union Pacific head who advanced the
idea of building rs reservoirs at a
cost of 81, 100000 for the impound-
ing of the flood waters of the Kaw
river shed.
''This question:" said President
Mohler, seems TO be more of a ma
tional, than of a local nature on ac-
count of the enormous area it covers
and is of equal Importance with the
Missouri river and Mississippi river
improvements which are largely sup
ported by government aid.
As Important as Panama Canal
THE destruction of crops by the
ITeSneL lnlS year would represent
tonnage far in excess of the capacity
of either the Missouri river or Nissis-
Sippi river to handle if their flOtilla
of boats would be marvelously in
creased. Therefore, the importance Of
this improvement in the production
of food stuffs and the cultivation of
the states IS of equal importance to
the middle west as the Panama canal
1T is our belief, although we are
not endorsed by expert weather
c a no he drxy i1fJc
the solar evaporation from numerous
reservoirs would be helpful in produc-
ing precipitation at the times that
crops require it. On the other hand,
when there is an excess of precipita-
ton it would very readily be con-
trolled as the cycles of wet and dry
by the meteorological records in the
past are fairly well demonstrated, SO
that we can estimate with reasonable
accuracy what is likely to occur with
in a period of a few years"
Damage Estimate by Gearhart.
AS a result of the high water of
the last few months, $50 bridges were
damaged or destroyed by the high wa
ter, according to w. S. Gearhart, state
engineer, who told the flood congress
Of the damage from an angle which
represented a half million dollars. In
addition of the 100000 bridge dam
age, Gearhart said the damage to
roads and highways amounted to
1915, 700.
'It is not possible to estimate dam
age due to interfering with traffic,
the delay in marketing farm crops and
the suspension of business said Gear
hart. These losses, where the river
bridges are out, will be very great for
it will require from three to six
months to rebuild them"
Gearhart estimated losses to BRIDGES
in Kansas in the last fifteen years at
not less than 100000.
Will Ask state Aid
AS a result of the conference in To-
peka today, plans will be developed
for state aid for flood prevention.
score Of prominent men interested in