Evening star., 1947-07-16
BY the Associofed Press

BY the Associofed Press
President Trun11n's message to
Congress on flood control foltoa1S:
TO the Congress Of the United
States:
The major opportunity Of our
generation to increase the wealth OF
the Nation lies in the development
of Our great river systems. urged
In the state of the Union message
on January 8, 1947, that the program
for Improvement OF our rivers be
pushed with full vigor.
Since that time, the urgency Of
one phase of our water resources
control program has been demon
strated forcefully and tragically.
Vast areas of the most productive
sections of the Missouri and upper
Mississippi River Valleys have been
subjected to a series Of the most
destructive floods in our history.
Too frequently within our memory,
rs we'll as in earlier years, the Mis-
sissippi River Basin has been sim
ilarly stricken. This continued
threat. and the recurring and ac-
cumulative damage to the national
economy and well being call strongly
for the prompt use Of more effective
counter measures. Prudence re-
quires that adequate measures be
taken for protection against these
devastating floods.
. Measures for food control should
be integrated with plans for the use
and conservation of water resources
for other purposes. This will insure
maximum control Of floods at the
least cost and will permit the full
utilization of water resources in the
development of this vast region.
The drainage basis Of the Mis-
sissippi River and its tributaries
comprises nearly half of the Nation
in area and population. 1t is a rich
central core from which stem goods
and services vital to the entire coun-
try. A large proportion of the peo-
pie of this great central basin, their
homes and businesses, their fertile
farm lands and their transporta-
ton and communication systems
are concentrated in the flood plains
and low lands Immediately adjacent
to the rivers. Nature also requires
the use of these flood plains for
drainage. Consequently, we must
pay the price for occupancy of these
lands, either in the form of con-
tinued flood damage or in prevent
ing measures.
Economy Demonstrated.
The economy of controlling floods
as compared with the cost of con-
tinuing under the handicap of their
disruptive force has been amply
demonstrated.
In the short 10-year period from
1887 through 1916 a total of more
than a billion dollars in flood dam
age has been suffered in the Mis-
sissippi basin. The real cost to the
Nation, of course, has been much
greater. Dollars are not adequate
to measure the toll in the hundreds
of lives lost and the suffering OF
millions Of persons affected. The
cost of rehabilitation and repair OF
food damage, though staggering, is
but the initial burden. Extended
effects, both in distance and time
are reflected throughout the Nation
as a result of the disruption of lives
and activities in the flood zone
These more remote inroads on oul
health and prosperity are not sc
obvious. But they may total many
times the more apparent losses ir
the flood area.
In the light of the accumulative
burden of our flood problem in the
decade just past, the impact of this
years floods in the Missouri ano
Upper Mississippi valleys is ever
more appalling. Again. unprece-
dented flood stages have been ex.
perienced at many points on these
rivers, and the total damages will
approach and may exceed the half
billion dollar loss suffered in 1887
Again thousands of our people have
been forced to leave their homes
and their normal pursuits. All OF
q large part OF the years income
has been ruthlessly taken from,
thousands of farmers. The loss oi
their crops is not only a personal
calamity to these farmers but is a
staggering blow to the Nation ano
TO other countries where many ad-
ditional thousands will be deprived
Of essential foods.
CnIvffnv. Ava fIo hI>
The recurrent floods in the Mis-
sisNppi basin constitute nationa
problem which demands immediate
attention. The means for solution
are available to us and will permi
us. at the same time, to preven
destruction and waste of productive
soils, to improve the utility of th'
rivers for transportation, to copserv'
water that would otherwise b.
wasted with destructive force ant
to use this water constructively fo
domestic purposes, for irrigation, TO
development of needed electric pow
er, for the abatement of pollution
and for the enjoyment OF recrea
tional activities.
After the destructive floods OF 1872
In the lower valley Of the Mississippi
the Congress charged the Corps O.
Engineers of the War Department
with the preparation of plans fol
control of floods In that valley, ane
with the making of surveys of trib'
utary rivers for their development
for food control and allied purposes
Since that time surveys, studies ane
preparation OF plans have gone for
ward hand in hand with urgently
needed construction. AS result, w
now have available comprehensive
and detailed plans for most Of the