The Washington times., 1924-03-31
HYDRO Project
TCEND FLOOD
DANGER
Huge Storage Reservoirs
Would Take Up Waters
Now Causing Havoc.
tContinued from First Page.l

Continued from First Page.)
of waterpower development and
river flood control.
Only the Federal government can
function to make the Great Falls
power project a reality, chiefly be-
cause OF the facts of peculiar inter-
state relations, and the water supply
of the Capital city. Accordingly,
1t becomes the authorities at Wash.
ington to so shape their plans to eff
feet cooperative action with the
local authorities in the several
regions. so disastrously affected
every year.
The realization OF the plans for
the Great Falls power project, with
the provision OF storage reservoirs
in the upstream regions. win
automatically take care of the flood
prevention problem in future years.
This fact, presented, to those, whose
property is damaged, and whose
lives are jeopardized annually, by
the destructive torrents, should in
vite from them partial financial
support for the accomplishment of
this project, Of twOfold value in its
resultant effects. To those. upon
whom this burden would fall, such
contribution should be considered In
the nature Of insurance.
There are thousands of citizens
in the numerous small towns on
the banks OF the Potomac and in
the natural path OF these torrents
who already pay large annual pre-.
miums for insurance against dam
are from floods. This premium
money could be conveniently. divert
ed towards. defTaying part of the
cost Of the twofold project--power
development and flood control.
More than likely, the aggregate of
this premium money. paid for this
particular class of insurance, is
more than enough to meet the pro-
rated expense for the provision of
the upstream conservancy basins.
The contribution from private cit
liens is to apply only on that phase
of the power project, represented
in the construction of the storage
reservoirs. This would be a fair
and proper arrangement and place
no part Of the cost of the power
plants themselves. at the down.
stream sites, upon the upstream
landholders. The common interest
would be only in that, which to the
Federal Government are storage
reservoirs, and to the upstream
landholders are flood conservancy
basins.
Use Of Storage Water.
During the periods of drought.
usually in the fall II the year, the
/ natural stream discharge will be
less than sufficient to produce the
rated normal electrical output of
the Great Falls plants. The stor-
age reservoirs are then to be drawn
upon, to such extent as may be
necessary, to make up the requisite
amount. In all probability, the re-
/ peated and continuous drafts upon
this water, stored In the several
upland tributary valleys, viii prac-
| tically deplete the reserves, in any
one season, of the volumes, con-
served from the earlier periods Of
heavy run-off, in the same year.
These storage basins, then being
emptied about the time Of the usual
! resumption of the natural average
rainfall, would be left so, until just
before flood run-off conditions, as
| those OF the present could develop.
The destructive floods Of the upper
Potomac have a cause, and 1t Is
both practicable and feasible to
effect their certain control.
During the winter the successive
snowfalls leave their heavy blan-
kets upon the slopes of the upland
valleys, which remain until the
early spring. Gradually rising tenn
| peratures, coupled with heavy
rains, cause these SHOWS to melt.
with the natural result that enor-
nous run-off suddenly develops and
drive, with gathering momentum,
through the main valley OF the
river.
The storage basins, emptied Of
their reserve, supplies, since the
| late fall season previous, would be
in readiness to receive these sud
denly developing flood volumes and
! arrest their course. The agency
Of havoc and desolation which an
nually plays its way through the
| upper Potomac river valley unmo!
Tested could be leashed and har-
messed to do useful service of a
| constructive order later in the year.
Drainage Basin Very Large.
The drainage basin of the Pc.
tomac river is the second largest
| of those discharging to the Atlantic
Ocean. between Maine ana Florida.
Also, II takes the runoff from an
| area upon which, according to the
records Of the United States Wealth
er Bureau, falls annually the sec.
ond highest volume Of rain. Of all
other areas. In fha entire con.
tinental United States. One may
well understand how serious the
situation becomes in contemplating
the immensely OF these two factors
as bearing upon any problem deal
ing with the Potomac river.
The Potomac river Is interstate in
its course, from the mountain head
lands to the sea, hence the Federal
government must take the initia-
tive In any movement, contemplat.
ing regulation or development of
this stream. This is better under
stood In the cases where flood con-
ditions, OF annual recurrence, affect
ing certain Maryland towns along
the Potomac, may have their origin
In the tributaries flowing from
Virginia or West Virginia. The
Marylanders, in such instances, are
helpless to check or control the
roiginal causes OF floods, and GER
tainly the people OF the other States
are going to do nothing to assume
2 burden OF expense, where they
themselves are not to be benefited
directly. Hence, the Federal gov
eminent must act, to lead and
direct the way toward the solution