740 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 
too little ventilation. There is no mode of heating which lends itself to the cor- 
rection of this evil so readily, however, as the steam-heating method. With 
proper care on the part of architects in arranging inlet ducts for fresh air, and 
ventilating flues heated by steam coils to accelerate the draft, any desirable de- 
gree of ventilation with low temperature currents may be secured. Such arrange- 
ments should, however, be studied in advance, and form principal elements in 
the design of a building, instead of being wholly subordinate, as is commonly 
the custom, to less important architectural features. It should be regarded as a 
fundamental principle in architecture, that the first and most important problem 
to be studied, after the general design of a building is determined, is the proper 
positions and magnitudes of heating and ventilating appliances for the structure 
as a whole, and for each room in particular ; and not only should the details of 
the main and cross walls be modified and adapted to these arrangements where 
it is necessary, but no question of mere architectural propriety or appearance, 
nor even of convenience in use, should be allowed to interfere with objects so 
important to health as good and sufficient warming and ventilation. — North 
American Review. 
ENGINEERING. 
THE OHIO RIVER FLOOD OF 1884. 
REV. ALBERT E. WELLS. 
Every year we are led to expect a flood on the Ohio River. It appears 
from the papers that an annual record of these overflows has been kept since 
1832. Yearly for half a century has some part of the valley been flooded. 
Now it is a river of great utility, the instrument of an enormous trade, the 
drain of one of the most fertile valleys in the world; a valley thickly settled 
by a thrifty and intelligent people, none more so in our country, and by fifty 
years experience it is known that there will be an overflow. It is time that 
some reflections should be drawn from so regular an occurrence. And so we 
have an abundance of press items and advice upon the subject. The one seem- 
ing most sensible to me of those that have come under my notice is that of 
Capt. J. P. Walker, of the United States Ajmy. He suggests a system of reser- 
voirs, and so practically endorses the article in your magazine of August, 
1883, over my signature. 
The valley of the Ohio contains 207,111 square miles. Its rainfall is given 
as forty-three inches to the square foot. Its total annual catch will therefore be 
