742 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 
a rate of current not exceeding six or seven miles an hour. These things would 
be gained : Time for the catch of the lower basins to get out of the way a little 
and freedom from the silt of the upper basin. As the streams are now the 
catch of the watershed of 25,000 acres goes out of the basin in five days, to the 
utter confusion of the streams and valleys below it. 
If we begin with a careful survey of every watershed and at the head of 
every hollow build our way out for its catch of water and make its storage capac- 
ity equal to the demands that we find made upon it, we work with reasonable 
certainty of success. The water-supply is known by measurement as we come 
into the lower valley and the time that it will take to reach the main river. This 
calls for considerable land. Yes, eighty acres to every 25,000, yet that is not 
much more than is now rendered useless by these ungoverned streams and open 
drains. For the local utihties that may be wrought by a competent engineering 
of the watercourses, see article "Rural Engineering," Kansas City Review for 
December, 1883. 
The opening of land to cultivation has had a great influence in increasing 
the liability to floods and overflows in the valley of the Ohio. It was originally 
covered by a dense forest that gave up the rainfall to the streams much more 
slowly than open fields. Yet in 1832, before this forest had been much destroyed 
there was an overflow. It is not at all likely that this valley will ever be rele- 
gated to forest again. The suggestion given here and advised by the army officer 
would seem to lie within the power of our people to carry out. That Congress 
can do much, I doubt. That it ought to do something is manifest, for it is a 
matter of national importance ; but the parties having the matter under their 
keeping are those units of our commonwealth, the town and the county. Con- 
gress has but few rights which a farmer, a county judge and a surveyor in Penn- 
sylvania or West Virginia are bound to respect. And if these benefits are ever 
to come to the people of this beautiful land, they must come through their own 
action, under the watchfulness of those immediately concerned. 
In addition to proper catch-ponds care is required by the streams. Neglect 
of them is sure to bring a penalty. The drain of the unit of area that we have 
taken, 25,000 acres, will be required under an inch of rainfall to carry 225,606 
cubic feet. There should be no unnecessary obstruction to the passage of such a 
bulk. It should not be allowed to reach the stream in disorder, nor be thrown into 
disorder after getting there by a too great rapidity of current and accumulated drift 
and silt. There should be a penalty for fouling a stream. In uniting with other 
streams care should be taken that they meet in a reservoir or pool. It need 
not be large, but there should be room for settling of the waters so that the out- 
let would not be crowded. Four areas of 25,000 acres is a watershed that will 
give ample supply of water for many a useful industry. A daily flow of 99,000 
cubic leet at a rate of three and a half miles an hour is a stream that will aff'ord 
many a pleasant row, and drive many a mill. Especially if you can hoard a 
supply over night, and if you can measureably control its supply. Ten such 
areas under control will form a river of useful navigation if it receives in the same 
