The Wilmington morning star., 1946-06-08

| utaries now being constructed near
Clinton, Mississippi, General
Wheeler said:
"As you know, the Mississippi
River has been a major problem in
this country since the Middle West
was settled. Periodically, it goes
on rampages, bringing terrible de-
struction in its wake. Many and
varied have been the means adopt
ed to control the flow, including the
building of scores of dam and
reservoirs on the countless tribu-
taries. These construction reser-
voirs in the principal tributary
basins of the Mississippi have
made vitality important the study
of the problem of releasing the
stored water as quickly as pos
sible and with the least harmful
effects on the lower river.
"Near the little college town of
Clinton, about 80 miles east Of
Vicksburg, a colossal model of the
Mississippi and its tributaries is
nearing completion. Horizontally
one foot in the model will represent
1000 feet. and vertically one foot
will measure 100 feet in altitude.
All the main streams within the
1,244, 900 square miles of the Mis-
sissippi's watershed will be repre-
sented. This area will include all
or part of % states. from the Rocky
Mountains to the Appalachians.
and from the Canadian border tc
the Gulf Of Mexico or ii per
cent of the total area of the United
States.
200-Acre Model
'1n terms of the model, the scale
will require 200 acres. Besides the
Mississippi River, the. Ohio, Ten
nessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and
Red rivers will be built in the
model, as we'll as their principal
tributaries. These river systems
are over $1,000 miles in length, SO
the total length OF the model
streams will be nearly 8 miles. All
existing and proposed flood con.
troll reservoirs - about $50 in num-
Der - as well as levees. dikes,
flood-Walls, and other pertinent
works, will also be reproduced.
THE purpose of the model is to
provide a visual means of study.
ing the complex problems that are
sure to arise in actual practice in
operating SO large a number of
reservoirs. Since, in the majority
of cases, the reservoirs were de-
signed to protect from overflow
the valley LANDS situated immedi-
ately downstream from them, the
net result of this plan of operation
on the main river is not reliably
ascertainable by arithmetical pro-
cesses.
THE model will portray the re-
sulting condition step by step. 1t
also will demonstrate where flood
control remains incomplete and
where additional flood control pro-
Jects, whether in the shape of reser-
voirs or levees, should be pro-
vided."
Referring to North Carolina as
a great state, with a great his
toric past, present, and future"
General Wheeler pointed to the
many North Carolina industries
that are the worlds largest.
Industrial Firsts
These industrial 'firsts' mean
to me that engineers, together with
the other public spirited citizens
of this state, are determined that
there shall be a steady develop
ment Of the States natural re-
sources, and. a parallel improve
ment in its economic condition, in
order to provide a firm basis for a
richer civic, social, and cultural
life.
Among the most valuable ma
tural resources of North Carolina
is water power. Favorable topo-
graphy and the volume and dis
tribution of rainfall give your state
a plentiful water supply and po-
tential water power second only to
that of New York among states
east of the Mississippi River. Yet
by 1899 only one million horse.
power, or less than one-half Of this
tremendous potential, had been de-
veloped. The Piedmont has most
Of this developed power - and in
this region we find most of North
Cardinals industries. Your state
has other great resources; lumber,
iron, tin, copper, manganese,
chromite, lead. and zinc. Of further
interest and Importance is the ex-
traction of bromine from sea water
at the plant near Wilmington for
use in the gasoline industry"
Great Natural Resources
These great natural resources
offer a fertile field for engineers
interested in civic affairs, in the
development Of natural resources
and in soil conservation, the Gen
eral stated.
During fine war years, members
of the engineering profession act
ed as leaders when the respon-
slbilities of increased production.
superior design. and superior per
1ormance were thrust upon the ma.