220 



INDIANA UNIVERSITY STUDIES 



PART IV. SUMMARY OF FACTS AND CONCLUSION^ 



1. Excessive rainfall was the only cause of the flood. 



2. The excessive rainfall was due to two areas of high pressure, 

 one over the Bermuda Islands and the other over Eastern Canada, 

 remaining stationary from March 22nd to March 27th, holding 

 back the two storms, causing them to spend their energy over the 

 Ohio Valley for five days. 



3. There was an average of 10.53 inches of rainfall at twenty 

 weatljer bureaa stations, in the White River drainage basin. 



4. Only 2.43 inches of rain fell during the first twenty-two 

 days of March. 



5. An average of 8.28 inches of rain fpl! between March 22-28. 



6. Within twenty-four hours 56.6 per cent, of the precipita- 

 tion fell that caused the flood, or an average of 4.46 inches for the 

 entire drainage basin. 



7. Floods in the Ohio \' alley are generally caused by heavy 

 rainfall, melting of heavy snow, ice jams, failure of reservoirs, and 

 the breaking of levees. The latter four factors generally act in 

 conjunction with the excessive rainfall. 



8. According to Leighton, floods in the Eastern part of the 

 United States are increasing, and that the main cause for the in- 

 crease is deforestation. However, in the White River valley, the 

 writers think that the enormous increase of artificial drainage 

 should be added to deforestation. 



9. The water table of large parts of the State is being lowered 

 by the increase of artificial drainage, deforestation, the w^aste of 

 water by cities, and the general waste of water, as at abandoned oil 

 wells. 



10. Many lakes in the northern part of the State could be 

 equipped with flood gates at their outlets, thus holding back much 

 of the excess rainfall, permitting it to be carried away after the 

 crest of the flood has passed. This would partly restore the water 

 table. This would be practical for the upper AVabash region. 



11. If meters were installed to regulate the amount of water 

 used in cities the waste would be reduced almost one-half. 



12. Mr. Charles Brossman has shown that only 10 per cent of 

 the cities of Indiana have a sufficient number of meters to regulate 

 the amount of water used. 



13. A close study of Cedar Creek in the State of Washington, 

 and Queens Creek in the State of Arizona, shows that deforestation 



