Evening star., 1928-04-08
HIGH WATER TIME AGAIN STIRS
MISSISSIPPI VALLEYS FEARS
Year Passes Without Action to Prevent Floods.
White House Warns Against
Extravaganza.

condition TO pay anything toward the
cost of flood control. even II the resi-
dents felt an assessment were itst and
reasonable.
Optimism prevailed. also. when the
United States Senate approved In record
time the Jones bill for flood control.
Incorporating the salient features OF the
Jadwin plan, but placing the whole
burden OF cost on the shoulders Of the
Federal Government. This bill called
for an expenditure of S325. .000, 900. It
appeared that this measure would re-
ceive the support OF Chairman Reid OF
the House food control committee, who
had introduced a bill Of his own call
ing for a food cost of more than
S400. 900 600
Doubts Again Reviewed.
But in the midst of the Frightening
flood control horizon has come cloud
OF doubt and anxiety.
This cloud has drifted from the di-
rection of the White House itself. 1t
has come to presage trouble lor those
who had been hopeful Of launching
National food control program with
out further delay.
The first rumblings of what may de-
velop into a storm came the past week,
when word came from the White House
of presidential displeaSure over impor-
tant phases OF the Senate-approved
bill II was reported the President had
been advised the bill would involve an
expenditure of one and half billions
OF dollars. instead of the $500, ,000. 900
or so indicated. A billion dollars is a
lot of money for nation to think
about taking from the Treasury, espe-
cially at time when everybody Is talk
ing tax reduction.
Judging from statements made by
Chairman Madden of the House appro-
priations committee after visit 10 the
White House. Mr.. Coolidge has become
convinced that the Jones bill Is too
wide In It's scope. Mr.. Madden thinks
the measure as now drawn might be
construed TO provide flood control for
every creek. stream. branch or run that
overfiows when II rains-in or out OF
the Mississippi Valley.
Wants Some Restrictions.
President Coolidge repeatedly has an
nounced his wholehearted support OF
food control for the lower Mississippi
Valley, which bears the brunt OF over
| flows from Americas big ditch, out
he does not appear to be sympathetic
10 any plan seeking to bring all remote
tributaries and other streams ano
rivers into the program.
Az for the cost OF the Mississippil !
project, the estimates have varied
widely Gen. Jadwin figured that some
| $500. 10000 would be needed, but OPP
| ponents OF this plan declare the war
! Department estimate does not represent
| the whole cost OF the undertaking. The
| generals plan does not provide TOT
compensating property owners for land
/ used In the construction OF any OF the
| flood works-~and millions OF acres
/ would be so used under the Army
engineers plan. The Army engineer
/ chief has shaved down the cost further
| by substituting fuse plug" dirt IeVees
| for expensive concrete fioodways at the
mouth OF the great spiilways contem~
, plated 10 draw of surplus hood waters
| from the main stream. The fuse pug
! levee Is designed 10 blow out" when tne
| pressure of the stream reaches maxi"
! mum flood level.
Costly Features Cited.
| The plan Of the Mississippi River
| Commission. which Is not looked upon
with favor by the administration, would
| cost some three quarters OF a billion
dollars In It's entirety. The more ex-
pensive concrete food works are pro"
vided for and many other costly features
| are included
| Many experts have estimated that an
adequate flood control aystem would
| cost al least billion dollars, The hiEh
| figures have been banded about freely
| during the lengthy discussions on flood
| control OF the past few months.
Administration ofiieiais IN charge OF
the Governments funds have sought To
| close their ears 10 such ambitious talk,
| TO President Coolidge, apparently. snch
| an expenditure would be nnthinkahle,
! He does not believe that adequate fiood
control for the lower Mississippi Valley
| calls for such large funds Ills attitude
! lCohtinued on Third Page.)