Evening star., 1927-05-29
BY REX COLLIER.
"HE situation TO be avoided
at this time is delay in the
annlication of the sure

- at this time is delay IN the
application of the sure
i flood remedy through pro-
tracted Investigations of
measures that are known to be in
effective"
American people recently, Secretary
Hoover had before him pile of let
ters from 'well-meaning persons" ad-
vising him and the Government in
general just how to solve the whole
Mississippi flood problem, in the opin-
ion of the respective writer's.
Some of the ideas thus expressed
were weird and fantastic, while some
were, at first blush, apparently sensi-
BILE and to the lay mind possibly prac-
tical.
Some of the communications were
purely of the nut type-the prod
uct of warped mentalities, in other
words. Others were from reputable,
sane individuals of outstanding prom
thence in their own particular profess
sions, but sadly lacking in the funda-
mental principles Of the science of
engineering.
President Picks Engineer.
Happily, the man picked by Presi-
dent Coolidge to be his personal rep
yesentative in the flood zone was not
alone a statesman, but one of the Ma
tion'S leading engineers. He did not
heed to call on the chief of engineers
or on other technical advisers to learn
whether this proposal was feasible or
that plan absurd. In most instances
p was able to distinguish at glance
which of the suggestions were ra-
tional and which bore unmistakable
evidences of warped conception.
iSS 11nf JH-np inc n
seeank" suggestions for curbing the
flood waters of the Mississippi. He
automatically replies to them in
stereotyped form, expressing thanks
Sor the senderS' thoughtfulness in Of
cering aid at such a time as this.
he is, however, deeply concerned
Over the proposals which are coming
at him. right and left, from persons
whose ideas cannot be readily passed
off with a smile and a circular letter
of thanks.
Raise Psychological" Levee.
10 is for this reason that Secretary
Hoover and Secretary Davis have
eodght to raise a psychological levee
against the flood of propositions"
now threatening to submerge Govern
ment authorities charged with work
ing out definite plan of flood control.
Hoover, with Maj. Gen. Edgar Jad
win, the War Secretary's technical
spokesman in the field, has come out
with clear-cut denunciation of such
well known proposals as reservoirs,
reforestation and contour plowing and
an emphatic Endorsement of bigger
and better" levees as the only practi-
cable solution of the problem. These
three plans are older than any of the
others and have received the atten-
tion of many engineers and river au-
thoritieS, and they were singled out.
therefore, for the open condemnation
of the Governments technical experts
after investigation had convinced
them they were not workable.
The plain pronouncement in favor
OF levees has not stemmed the tide of
novel ''ideas," however.
Is Let i'm on Secret.
Hoover has been "let in on the Sc
cret" that if the Government would
keep a constant stream of barges
heading upstream in the Mississippi
the flood waters would be pushed back,
the current abated and levee destruc-
ton obviated. It's very simple plan,
officials admit. Very simple.
Then there is another expert" who
has submitted to President Coolidge,
National, State and municipal officials
a scheme for placing giant propellers
in the river and pushing the stream
down toward the Gulf of Mexico so
fast that it won't have time to break
through the levees or linger in the
lowlands. This same correspondent
points out that if it were not for the
services rendered by Niagara Falls in
draining the waters of the north into
the ocean 'the Mississippi Valley
would be one vast lake, and there
never would have been United
States" If the rapid current in the
Niagara River will save America to
the northward, speeding up the Mis-
sissippi current will do likewise in
the South, he contends.
Legislators Are Interested.
The judgment of mature citizens,
not well versed in science, has evolved
numerous plans for various other
measures designed to master the
Mississippi in fioodtime. Members of
Congress, manifesting deep interest
in the whole problem, have received