40y PMTKIS THKir/ 



the girat evu porát ion aiul percolatioii, so as but a f>iuall quHutity oí 

 jnetecric watei- can leach the Tisza. 



The channel of the livei Tisza in its upper sections has a gradient of 

 40 cm. per kilométer. Below Tokaj, wheie the livei enters the Gieat Plain, 

 the gradient is considerably lower, at Bzohiok only 5'5, near Szeged 2*5 and 

 at its moiüh but 1 '25 cm. per kilométer. In cons.quenceof this circmiistance 

 The banking up effect of tlu' I)aiiub<''s euncnt is to be seen evén as high 

 up as Szolnok on his tributary. 



The pajt of the Danube runing tluough Hungary has a much higher 

 gradient than the Tisza. Li the minor plain of western Hungary its 

 gradient is 40—50 cm. per kilométer but after passing the somewhat 

 narrow straits at Visegrád the gradient becoms suddenly lower; at Paks 

 it is 7-1 cm, from here till where the stream is joined by the Drave it is 

 5-7 and down this point till the narrows of Moldávia only 4*4 cm per 

 Idlometer. If we compare the gradients of the t wo rivers we must necognise the 

 absolute necessity of a uniform meteorological informalion service for the 

 whole of Hungárián territory if we wish to assure ourselves against inun- 

 dations and without which the central basin would soou fali intő critical 

 situation. The Danabe when in flood causes the rise of waters in the 

 Tisza, supported b}' its tributaries Bodrog, Kőrös and chiefly by the 

 rapid afflux of the Maros. As a successful protection against floods it is 

 necessary that the proper authorities should be informed in time of the 

 coincidence of tides and of the height and time of the flood. This will be 

 only possible when the regulating organizations stand undti the controí 

 of a single go vernement. Were this divided between the Czechs and the. 

 Roumanians it should lead to constant catastrophies for the Hungárián 

 territories. 



But this alone would not be enough to protect our lowland from the 

 danger of inundations. In order to assure such protection a totál unity 

 in river regulation should be established up and down the rivers. The 

 inundation districts of the Tisza are pro port ionally of larger dimension 

 than those of any other river in Europe. This territory vhichcoverH 

 2.244,000 hectares is protected by a network of dikes 4000 kilometers 

 in length. 



This numbers can give us somé idea of the catastrophies which would 

 threaten us several times a year were the management of these prccau- 

 tionary measures to be left to careless or rnalevolent hands. Many humán 

 lives would be sacrificed and immense agricultural and matériái loss would 

 be the result. 



