The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-01-20
Watersheds above Pittsburg
Are the Keynote Says
Engineer.
BIG basins ARE URGED
Data Collected by the, Pitts
burg Flood Commission
is'Used.

CAIRO, ILL.,, Jan. 2O-That the pre-
vention of floods in the watersheds
above Pittsburgh is the keynote of the
whole problem in the United States
was the declaration of E. K. Morse,
a Pittsburgh engineer in an illustra-
ted lecture tonight to the delegates
and visitors attending the sixth an
nual meeting of the Drainage Con-
gress here.
Mr.. Morse showed the effect Of the
flood waters that go down the Ohio
river past Pittsburgh has upon the
Mississippi river aud declared that
the solution offered by the Pittsburgh
Flood Commission-the building OF
storage reservoirs-would to q large
extent end food damage in the Ohio
and Mississippi basins, besides pro.
yiding a supply Of water in seasons
OF drought for navigation and SAM
tary purposes.
With the aid Of the data carefully
prepared by the Flood Commission,
during its eight years Of work, Mr..
Morse showed how the entire flood
area Of the states through which the
Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio and
Mississippi Rivers flow could be freed
from food damage by the construc-
ton Of reservoirs. Mr.. Morse declared
that as the trouble originates above
Pittsburgh, that Is the place to make
the start. He detailed at length the
efforts that have been made to en-.
list state and national aid and tndt'
Gated that while the process was the
whole problem of flood prevention
would one day be solved.
Mr.. Morse stated that already leg
fslation had been passed by the states
Of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and
Maryland, and by Congress looking
toward complete cooperation in rails.
Ing the funds necessary for flood pre-.
vention work. !.
Discussing Federal Legislature"
F, H. Newell, head of the engineering
department OF the University OF hi:
nois and former Chief Of the United
States Reclamation Service, today
told the sixth National Drainage Con-
press. in session here that rational
legislation for flood protection and
the reclamation OF swamp and over:
flowed lands will come when all OF
the various persons interested join
hands to urge it upon Congress. He
said in part:
"a hundred million dollars, In round
numbers. have been expended by the
United States in reclamation work
since the Reclamation Act went into
effect. The operations are confirmed
by law to the far western states and
relate primarily to needs OF agricul:
ture in the rid or drought stricken
regions. Inseparably. connected With
this, however, has been the building
Of drainage bitches to take away an
excess of moisture and to regulate
the supply.
"Now the question may well be
asked as to why. this. Act was not
made applicable to lands which pre-
scented even greater needs and opport
tunities, namely, those along the prin'
cipal rivers In the central part OF the
United States or near the eastern
seaboard. a 4.
"The answer is two-fold. First the
primary reason was the original IN;
tent to reclaim public lands by means
Of the proceeds from the disposal Sof
such lands, and second, because OF
the united effort Of the far western
people in standing together for 9. den:
mite purpose, II a obvious that little g