Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1934-01-04
GRANTS $22 100000 FOR
FLOOD CONTROL In VALLEY

Last Friday the Public Works Ad-
ministration at Washington, allot-
ted $22,59O,000 to aid in financing
the construction of Ia reservoirs
for flood control in the Muskingum
valley. The entire cost Of the
project will be in sum estimated
at approximately $50,000,000. part
OF which is to be furnished by the
state. and the district, which COM
prises 16 counties, will pay a part.
This project is the largest food
control step to be undertaken in
the state for the protection Of the
lower Ohio valley. 1t also will be
beneficial in reducing flood damage
in the Mississippi valley. Applica
tion for federal funds for this prof.
ect was made by the Muskingum
Watershed Conservancy District, an
organization representing the Is
counties Of the valley from Akron
to Portsmouth.
Army engineers estimate that the
work will provide 100000 men
months of direct employment. In
other words, If the work could be
completed in one year, 10000 men
would have steady employment for
that period.
Local communities have pledged
s22.715,O0O as their share of the
project. The conservancy district
has agreed to finance the purchase
OF the rights of way, flowing rights
and other expenditures not directly
involved in the actual construction
OF the reservoirs.
Plans for the completed project
contemplate co-ordinated program
for navigation and conservation
along the Muskingum river and its
tributaries, which will also be Of
great Importance in improving food
control and navigation conditions
along the Ohio river.
Reservoirs Along Greeks
The reservoirs. which will have a
total capacity of more than 10000
acre feet will be located on the fol-
lowing waterways: Wills creek,
Walhonding river, Killbuck creek,
Sandy creek, Wakatomika creek,
Seneca fork Of Wills creek, Clear
fork of Mohican river, Black fork
of Mohican river. Saltwater creek,
Walnut creek, Indian fork of COnot-
ton creek, MCGUIRE creek, Lake fork
of Mohican river,
Into these basins are to be drain
ed the run-off waters of 6059 |
square miles comprising all or parts |
of Tuscarawas, Ashland, Carroll, /
Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, !
Holmes, Knox, Licking, Morgan,
Muskingum, Noble, Stark, Summit, |
Washington and Wayne counties. I
Ali Of the IA reservoirs can be
constructed at the same time, PWA |
officials said. Work will be started
as soon as the necessary rights of
way are obtained.
When completed the project is ex-
pected to give cities in the Muskin-
gum valley Is percent more food
protection and to reduce materially
the flood stages along the Ohio and
Mississippi rivers.
The Muskingum project was ap-
proved and highly recommended as
a model by the Mississippi Valley
Drainage Board, which was created
to receive and pass upon all appli-
cations for PWA funds for food
control and reclamation purposes
in the Mississippi and tributary
valleys.
Robert N. Wilkin, Dover o., is
attorney for the .conseryancy dis
trict: c. A. Zinn, GAINESVILLE. asso-
ciate: C. C. Chambers. New Phila-
delphia, district engineer. w. O.
Littick, of GAINESVILLE, is chairman
Of the board of directors. Morgan
committee is composed of
Frank Coulson, H. w. Gordon and
F. w. Cochran.