296 FORESTS, RESERVOIRS, AND STREAM FLOW 
off, they might actually swell the combination in the lower courses 
of the main stream. 
Similar studies have frequently been made in all the principal 
countries of Europe, and in none of them, so far as the writer is 
aware, has such a project on a large scale ever been undertaken or 
even favorably considered. 
Coming now to the Ohio River, the immense importance of that 
stream as a factor in the floods of the Mississippi makes the regula- 
tion of its flow a matter of greater moment than that of any other 
stream. The project of controlling the run-off of its water-shed by 
means of reservoirs was urged very forcibly more than 60 years ago 
by Colonel Charles Ellet. The subject has often been considered 
since, both in private and official investigations. The conclusion has 
invariably been that, great as the benefits of such a system would be, 
if in existence, the cost of bringing it into existence would be out of 
all proportion to such benefits. 
The scheme has recently been revived in a more attractive form, 
with data not hitherto available, and at a time when a period of 
heavy floods and much loss therefrom has turned public attention 
strongly to the subject. Moreover, it comes supported by a com- 
paratively new element in its favor—the vast expansion of water- 
power development made possible by the electric transmission of energy. 
The new presentation of the project is by M. O. Leighton, Assoc. M. 
Am. Soe. C. E., Chief Hydrographer, U. 8. Geological Survey, and is 
understood to bear the approval of both the Interior and Agricultural 
Departments.* Mr. Leighton does not claim that his presentation is 
at all final or complete, but is rather a “statement of possibilities” 
which he believes are sufficiently promising to justify the Government 
in giving the scheme thorough investigation before further extensive 
steps are taken on present lines in the matter of flood control and 
channel improvement in the main rivers of the basin. Although an 
estimate of cost is submitted and certain conclusions are based there- 
on, it is stated that the data are too meager to give much confidence 
therein. Subject to these qualifications, the system, as set forth in 
Mr. Leighton’s paper, embraces reservoirs on nearly all the tributaries 
“The writer has seen the description of the proposed system only as published 
in Engineering News, May 7th, 1908. He has had some correspondence with Mr. 
Leighton, and is under great obligation to him for a complete set of topographic 
sheets showing the various reservoir sites. 
