Evening star., 1927-11-14
DAVIS GIVES PLAN
NFLOOD CONTROL
Mississippi Association Told
u. S. Must Bear Cost
of Program.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ST. LOUIS, November 14.-Dwight
F. Davis. Secretary Of War, told the
Mississippi Valley Association today
that inland waterway navigation de-
velopment and flood control are ma
tional problems, the expense Of which
should be borne largely by the Fed
eral Government.
LOSS of life, property and business
incident to a food disaster warrant
the expenditure of huge sums for flood
CONTROL" Mr.. Davis said.
Levee Need Stressed.
"Levees must be the backbone Of
any plan for flood protection in the
Mississippi Valley, because more pro-
lection for the same amount of money
can be obtained by this method than
by any other. But levees alone can.
not be depended upon to solve the
entire problem. A high-levee line,
built on foundations near the river
banks and constructed of the material
that must necessarily be used. cannot
be made so strong as absolutely to
preclude the possibility of accident.
However, any plan that does not re-
duce the probability of crevasse to
a minimum Is unsound.
"The higher the levees are built the
greater the loss of life and property
that will result from crevasse."
Secretary Davis outlined his conclu.
sions on flood control as follows:
Il. Improvement Of existing levees
and relocation of levee lines where
necessary.
"2. Spillways of sufficient capacity
to insure protection to the city OF
New Orleans against super-fioods ana
to relieve pressure elsewhere.
Floodways Proposed.
IS. II justified from the engineering
and economic standpoint, the provision
OF fioodways which during super'Hoods
will carry excess water to the guil.
~. so far / have been unable to
Judge whether 1t is practicable. or
economically feasible, to bring about
a material reduction in Mississippi
River food heights by a system of
reservoirs on the tributaries. be.
lieye. however, that such a system OF
reservoirs would require many years
to install and that we cannot afford
to wait so long for substantial results
1.-The entire valley must get behind
and push the plan finally worked out
by congressional committees. If there
is to be slightest hope of success. We
should always remember that the
most difficult food control problem OF
all is to keep the waters OF the Mis-
sissippi in Its banks and out Of poll
tics"
A billion dollar expenditure by the
Federal Government on flood control
river navigation and conservation was
the plan James 4. Smith of st. Louis
TODAY held before the Valley Associa
ton, of which he Is president.
Up to Government.
A speaker on today's program OF
the associa tons ninth annual conVen
ton. Smith declared flood protection
and waterway development must &C
hand in hand as national problems
and the Government must assume en-
tire responsibility and pay every dol
lar Of their cost.
Senator James A. Reed Of Missouri
another speaker, was OF the opinion
the Government, IL 1t completely doml
| mates navigable waters. also should
harness them. Senator Joseph I. Koo
| inson Of Arkansas, was fearful fha'
| viduals and associations would con
| fuse the flood control movement.
'"The billion.dollar program can be
completed in 10 years" said Mr.
| Smith. Its cost will be trivial wher
compared with the resultant benefits
which the completion of the work vii
bestow on our population"
He urged enactment OF emergency
| legislation by Congress as Imperative
The program, he added, must be car
! ried through in its entiretly II its aims
are to be realized ...
| Use for Feeders.
He said all navigable streams should
be put to use, smaller ones as feeders
Of the Mississippi. Ohio and Missouri
Rivers, which form the trunk line
waterways OF America"
Senator Reed declared "the nation
that asserts complete domination over
navigable rivers must accept the duty
OF harnessing their waters"
Flood prevention. power conserva
tion and navigation are interrelated
and interdependent propositions" he
said, land closely connected with all
of these problems IL the development
Of the great interior and betterment
Of the condition Of farmers ana manu-
faetursrs." -s....-. . =. Z. &C.