Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-07-14
Control of Mississippi
Flood Waters Problem
For Ali u. -Shipstead
Senator Outlines Levee Rebuild
ing, Impounding of Waters
Along Upper Reaches Of Tribu-
taries and Channel Dredging as
Chief Factors Involved.


Following in part is the speech de-
livered by Senator Henrik Shipstead
of Minnesota at the flood control con-
gress held in Chicago recently:
1--WE have been called together here
to discuss the greatest natural calam-
ity that has happened in the history
of this nation, if not in all modern
times. and to suggest some practicable
means of averting repetition of this
calamity in the future, if any such
means are possible.
eve have stood around long enough,
meeting the situation with half meas
ures, watching the Mississippi river
rise year after year to flood condi-
lions and periodically take its toll of
human life and property. But now
something has to be done about it.
Nature has thrown down the gauntlet
to us in a dramatic gesture, and the
challenge cannot be evaded. Half
measures will not do any longer-we
must take full measures now. Some
way must be found to control the Mis-
sissippi river in time of flood.
Should Outline Problem. -
"In my opinion all that this con-
gress should attempt to do is to out
line fully the problem itself of flood
control, to bring out with absolute
freedom every phase of the question
and every interest involved, and final
ly to make some very proper recon-
mendations as to how the facts neces-
sary to the formation of any future
plan may be obtained.
This great Mississippi flood is not
only challenge to our scientific and
mechanical ability; in a larger sense
it is challenge to our very civili-
cation. Think what it signifies. We
live in a scientific age; America
stands in the vanguard of mechanical
progress; western civilization, the mo-
dern era of industrialism. the day of
invention and unlimited mechanical
power, are supposed to have tri-
umphed over the forces of nature on
every hand. We boast freely of these
things. Yet here in the heart of our
land, across a thousand miles of our
richest agricultural section, huge
river is running wild, destroying ev-
erything in sight. wiping off the face
of the earth every evidence of our cul-
ture and progress that lies in it's path
And now it seems perfectly evident
that we have. never done anything
in an effective way to meet this ter.
rible danger. .....".. 80.
Failed to Lay Foundation.
"The answer is that until now we
have not really tried to control the
floods of the Mississippi We haven't
had time, or we have been toe
busy making money, or the task
quickly disclosed that it would in
terfere with free opportunities to
make money for certain Interests OF
individuals. In short. we have not
looked at the problem from the stand
point of the public welfare, although
beyond question we have at hand, and
have had for a long time, the tools
with which to do the job.
$50 the present flood stands out as
a symbol of an economic era primari-
ly dedicated to haphazard aims. 1t
is not only to the land, to the indus
try Of agriculture, that this symbol
applies. The same forces which
through neglect of the public welfare
have brought about the present agra
rian disaster in the South, are oper-
ating just as actively in the field of
industry everywhere. Their effect
may not be so apparent or dramatic
because the crisis in other fields has
not yet arrived. But floods are mount
ing just as surely in business and in
dustry as in the basin of the Mis-
sissippi, and when certain point
has been reached, the ;levees will
break and the surrounding region will
be inundated and laid waste. Then
our industrial era will need the foun-
dations that it has failed to build.
Hint for Business of U. s.
II believe in private industry,
and private industry must live
on the profit making function.
But everything in human society
is a compromise. When industry
and business center too narrow
ly on the profit making function,
and forget all consideration of
the public welfare, the time will
come when the spirit of the pub
lie welfare, which is another nat
ural force running strongly in
the hearts of men, will reassert
itself, burst out beyond control.
and sweep every obstacle out of
it's path. When science dedicates
it's efforts to individual gain, for
getful of the social results of
what it is doing, it is not true
progress that is being accom-
plished, although for the time be-
ing the. achievements may seem
brilliant and worth while and
highly profitable.
81 am speaking directly to the bus
| mess of the country. Business which
does not first consider the public wei
fare is actually pulling the props out
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