The Washington herald., 1917-12-15
FLOOD BONDS
SELL READILY
Ohio Floats Issue to I'm
prove the Miami Valley,
Says Holland.

A New York syndicate Is supposed
to have bought within a few days
the issue Of stoeoo.see In bonds which
was authorized by the State Of Ohio
for food prevention purposes. These
securities found q ready market, es-
pecially when It ecame known that
the Secretary Of the Treasury, Mr..
McAdoo, had given more than a per-
functory, for 1t was really cordial ap-
proval Of this investment of new cap
ital in an undertaking which, on the
face OF 1t, seemed to be apart from
any Of the necessities Of the govern
ment.
It IL the supposition, however, that
Secretary McAdoo's approval Of the
marketing OF these bonds, although
the funds received are to be applied
to o purely State undertaking, may
have been In part Influenced by the
fact that the great aviation school
and works at Dayton, Ohio, are To-
Gated In the valley which at the time
OF the flood OF 1913 was utterly sub
merged. Therefore, should there be
another food, the conditions being
similar to those which existed at tho
time Of the Dayton hood. this aviation
camp and works would be completely
destroyed as the aggregate govern
ment investment in these aviation
works at Dayton will supposedly
amount to as much as s1eOe0. 600. Sec
retary McAdoo fully realized that
adequate protection against flood
would be q government service of
great importance.
what Ten Million VIII Do.
The s1O.0OO. 900 secured by the sale of
the so-called flood bonds will be imme-
diately available for the construction
OF the remarkable system which has
been accepted by Col e. NJ Deeds as
the one best suited to meet any possi-
bic emergency occasioned by a future
. Hood in the Miami River Valley. But
there has been a long work OF prep
aration, which would have been impos-
sible had It not been for the contribu-
ticn which was made by the citizens
Of Dayton Immediately after the
food
John n. Patterson, before the waters
had completely subsided, summoned
the citizens of Dayton to a meeting
held in the large hall Of the manufac-
tory of which he Is president, and
when the citizens were assembled he
said to them that the first need was
the securing of a sufficient amount OF
money to make it possible for inves-
tigation upon a very broad scale, to
. be made with a view of securing the
best plan of preventing any future
floods. The citizens of Dayton re-
sponded to that appeal by pledging
5000, 600, payable in nine semiannuaI
installments.
At the time of the flood E. NJ. Deeds,
then vice president OF the industry
which is identified with the name Of
Mr.. Patterson, was enjoying a brief
vacation at Panama. When Mr.. Deeds
read the reports which told of the
flood at Dayton he started on the in
stant for home. He arrived a day or
two after the citizens of Dayton had
pledged 2,eO0, 600 for needed expenses
to the constructive work which will be
Necessary II an adequate system of pre-
'vention is secured.
Colonel Deeds In Charge.
Col Deeds was placed in charge
Of this work of preparation. He
visited many parts of the United
States so that he might hold CONSUL
-tation with highly competent engl-
neers. He made written communica-
tion with others. He brought into
association with him Arthur E. Nor
gan, then of Memphis, who is rec
Ognlzed as the most highly quail
fed expert on flood conditions and
flood prevention in the United States.
Many weeks were spent in listen
ing to reports of engineers. Some
recommended one plan, some another.
The expense involved in obtaining
professional opinions was large for
the reason that Col Deeds held COM
munication with none but the most
competent and highly remunerated
engineers.
Many other details In this work
of preparation involved much labor
on the part OF Col. Deeds. He was,
for instance, at Columbus for sew
eral months for the purpose of Civ
ing counsel or information to MEM
bers of the legislature. since State
authorization and cooperation were
needed.
The plan which Col. Deeds adopted
involved construction of several large
reservoirs stretching upward from
Dayton toward Central Ohio. But
before Beginning constructive work.
it was necessary for the engineers
to make surveys and deep borings
50 that they could determine where
the reservoirs should be placed. At
last, this work was paid for out Of
the 100000 subscription made by
the citizens OF Dayton. All the prep
arations were perfected and all of
them under the supervision and direc-
ton of Col. Deeds. Now, with the
approval of the Secretary of the
Treasury, bonds to the amount of
S10,OOd. 600 have been sold, the sup
position being that the money thus
obtained will be sufficient for the
construction of this comprehensive
reservoir method of food prevention.
At this time Col. Deeds is in the ser
vice of the United States government.
He entered that service on August of
this year. Today he stands second to
Gen. Squires, who Is at the head of
the Signal Bureau at Washington.
Col. Deeds especial responsibility and
duty Involve the supervision and di-
rection Of the various aviation schools
and camps throughout the country.
| Yet, while engaged in this service, he
also maintains his highly important
post as general director of the con-
etructive work in Ohio which, when
completed, will make a recurrence Of
fhe Dayton food Impossible.
Col. Deeds and his personal friends
md Industrial associate, c. F. Ketter-
Ing, are Identified with the discovery
md invention Of the electric self
tarting apparatus, which is now gem
rally utilized by the automobile man
facturers OF the United States. He,
pintly with Mr.. Kettering. perfected
be method Of electric lighting and
ectric power which is especially de-
gned for the use Of the farmers OF
be United States. In addition to
hess achievements Of science Col
leeds Is one Of the engineers who
orked out the problem so satisfac-
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