Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1915-10-12

real difficulty comes from the fact
that each river is problem in Itself
and its solution depends on condi-
lions peculiar to L.
IN the application Of general en-
yineering knowledge to the problem
of Brazos river development. We have
failed In three respects. First. We
have tried 10 solve our problem BY
individual rather than cooperative
efforts. Second. the efforts we have
expended have been based on made
quate Information OF actual condi-
lions. Third. We have not realized
the magnitude OF the problem. We
need to realize that the protection
of the Brazos valley from floods Is
rot matter OF local interest or I'm
portance. We have long since &C
eepted the doctrine in this country
that you cannot segregate commercial
interests. The protection Of the Bra
zos valley Is a matter OF concern not
only to the land holders within It's
area. but to every citizen of the State
OF Texas and to the people OF every
other State In the Union. II was
this doctrine that caused the found
ers OF our government to give Con-
gress the power ito regulate com.
merce with foreign Nations. and
among the several States. and with
the Indian tribes" In 50 far as floods
interfere with navigation there Is no
question as to the right OF Congress
to pass laws for the control OF such
foods or the prevention OF damage
which may affect navigation. There
fore. the Importance OF this great al
luviai valley Is a cooperative enter
Prise Of Federal and State govern
ment as well as a cooperative enter
prise OF citizens who own land
throughout this valley.
up to the present time the prob
lem OF food prevention Of the Brazos
valley has had no adequate study.
As far as know we have no facts
on which to justify program OF
work. The first great step In the
solution of this problem is In the Sc
lection and employment OF competent
engineers TO make study OF methods
and conditions. unt!l this Is done
our methods win be wasteful and eS'
detrimental.
THE fact that we have not done
this before is largely the result OF
not appreciating the size OF the prob
lem. We must remember that the
Brazos river extends from the staked
Plains to the Gulf. distance OF $50
miles. This river drains an area oil
more then 36.T6s square miles. While
the problem Is largely confined to
the area from Waco to the Gulf. every
man who Is familiar at all with the
problem OF river development knows
that the problem must be studied In
It's entirety. and in view OF the enor
nous productivity OF this valley and
It's possibilities OF largely contribute
ing to the maintenance and develop
ment OF the State and Nation. justify
an outlay Of thousands OF dollars In
acquiring adequate knowledge o.
methods and detail surveys.
I'm emphasizing the scope OF the
problem II must not be understood
10 be impossible Of solution. The
most difficult problem In this country
grows out Of aridness and not In eS
cess OF precipitation. There are arid
regions in this country so remote
from water sources as TO make the
problem of agricultural development
apparently impossible. but even IN
much OF the arid West reservoirs
have been constructed and irrigation
methods developed and today thes'
lands are becoming great agriculture
areas. Water control has never beef
regarded as a problem OF so great
difficulty as that OF aridness.
"As these engineers will probabll
tell you. there have been three meth
DDS OF food prevention and proteC
ton. Forestation has been suggest
ed as a means of controlling precipl
tation. Reservoirs have been con
structed as the most feasible metho'
=. of retarding the runoff OF watersheds
and levees have been the resort o
the engineer to increase the capacit
of streams to carry of excess OF flow
Il think even the layman Is COZ
: WINGED that forestatlon and reservoir
+ are not adequate remedies for a rive
valley OF such dimensions as that Q
the Brazos. That the levee Is feas
Bile. no one can doubt. The only In
: portant questions are to determin
the size Of the levee and the cost.
, has been the history OF all leyee syi
: tens that II has required years