2 SOUTH BUFFALO FLOODS AND PROPOSED REMEDY. 



Up to a quite recent date, apparently what data had been 

 secured, that might be of use in discussing a remedy for the 

 troubles experienced, had not been put into tangible shape for 

 use, but now the problems at issue are practically solved and 

 the subject is very clearly understood. 



To state the subject, I would say the Buffalo River flows 

 within the city limits through an alluvial valley which at times 

 is overflowed by the waters of the stream because they are in 

 excess of the carrying capacity of the channel, or are forced out 

 of the channel by temporary obstructions. 



The area within the city that is flooded is a varying amount, 

 reaching a maximum of about 1600 acres. No two floods cover 

 exactly the same bounds. 



The population of the area flooded is about 10,500 and the 

 assessed valuation of the lands is about $5,000,000. The value 

 of this section of the City of Buffalo seems to be defined by the 

 flood conditions. 



The location of this area would naturally tend to make it a 

 very valuable part of the city except for this one serious 

 drawback. 



Considering it simply as a residence section and making a 

 rough calculation of the cost of the floods on very conservative 

 lines; let us assume that a flood costs the average resident at 

 least one day's wages, or $3 00 — (he is generally detained from 

 his work by the flood:) the damage to provisions and premises 

 $1.50, and the cost of cleaning up $1.50, or a total of $6.00. 

 $6.00 is the annual value of $100 00. The actual immediate 

 value of the area flooded— 1600 acres, would therefore be in 

 creased by abatement of the flood $100 per average building lot, 

 or $1000 per acre, a total of $1,600,000. 1000 acres of land 

 lying beyond the flooded area has its access to the city cut off 

 by each flood, or at least one day per year, which costs at least 

 $3.00 per building lot — the annual value at 6% of $50, or $500 

 per acre, or for the 1000 acres a total of $500,000. This gives 

 a total of $2,100,000 as a conservative estimate of the increased 

 valuation that would result by abating the floods; that is, one 

 flood per year, and there are more. 



The increased valuation of property for manufacturing indus- 

 tries, which are now practically barred by the existing condi 

 tions, might be estimated in the same way at a very large 

 amount, but the above figures will easily indicate to any busi- 

 ness man that an expense of $2,100,000 would be a very reason- 



