Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-19
Measuring Our Rivers
BY Frederic ]. Haskin

tain minimum power supply from tho
penned water. and the actual flow
runs below the minimum for even a
short time each year, the investment
| Is likely to prove a losing one.
In the dry west, the problem is one
of determining by long observation
just how little water will flow in
/ dry year. In the east the chief point
to be determined Is usually just the
opposite-how much water must be
guarded against in year of flood.
The recent disastrous floods in the
southeastern states furnish a con-
crete example of the necessity of de-
termining with scientific accuracy
just what stream flow is likely to be.
Large and destructive floods in
some parts of the country are matters
Of annual occurrence. Flood damage
in the United States is estimated at
more than $1OO.O00,O0O a year. A GER
tain part of this perhaps a consider
able part. is popularity considered as
unavoidable But flood prevention is
a recognized function of the domes-
tic duties Of government. A great
deal Of the damage is undoubtedly due
to human encroachments on the dan
ger zone of the larger rivers. Wharves
and docks even streets and cities are
built on land that is in ordinary years
well out Of harms way, but that lies.
in flood years, in the rivers abnor-
NAL channel Only by recording all
the fluctuations of river and its
tributaries for decades is it possible
to determine in advance. when Sc
lecting sites for new developments in
building, whether the land in question
is liable to inundation or not.
The measurement Of stream flow is
becoming all increasingly important
activity of the federal government
ever increasing demand for power,
along with an ever decreasing sup
ply Of available fuel. The water
power resources of the country are be-
coming more and more essential: they
are being harnessed and developed
vigorously. but everything that has
been done In this direction is insig-
nificant compared to what might be
done. And water power has this ad
vantage over power derived from
burning fuel; it can be used for
thousand years and the source is still
undepleted Behind and preceding
every fresh move In the campaign to
draw power from our waterways there
must be this same volume Of records
Of the ways and eccentricities of each
particular stream. gathered patiently
over long period of years.
There Is another form of reclama-
ton too. besides the winning of the
desert lands of the west There are
in the United States more than TO-
100000 acres of rich land that is use.
less because it Is swampy and subject
to overflow. The problem here is one
of drainage, and in order to drain in
telligently. 1t is necessary to have &C.
curate knowledge of the capacity OF
the, stream beds that are to carry that
drainage. as well as the amount OF
their own waters they must carry in
food times. Otherwise the only re-
suit of drainage scheme may be to
dry one rich tract and flood the ad-
joining one. There will have been
merely an exchange of land values
with no gain. and the cost Of the work
done entered on the wrong side of the
ledger.
The whole work of stream measure
ment which is being patiently car
ried on all over the United States is
one OF great Importance to the plain
citizen, and yet in most cases he does
not even know it is going forward.
1t is one Of those labors of science
and engineering that lay their foun-
dations through long periods Of pains
taking effort. and only step into the
light Of public observation when a
knowledge of some of their results is
vitally necessary to the progress OF
industry and development A realiza
ton Of which fact caused at least one
plain citizen to regard a dry and pom
derous tome full OF unintelligible
tables full Of figures with new re.
spect.