For many years the Federal Government has been building a system of dikes along the Mississippi River for protection against high water.  During the past season the lower States were overcome by a most disastrous flood.  Many thousands of square miles were inundated a great many lives were lost, much livestock was drowned, and a very heavy destruction of property was inflicted upon the inhabitants.  The American Red Cross at once went to the relief of the stricken communities.  Appeals for contributions have brought in over $17,000,000.  The Federal Government has provided services, equipment, and supplies probably amounting to about $7,000,000 more.  Between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000 in addition have been provided by local railroads, the States, and their political units.  Credits have been arranged by the Farm Loan Board, and three emergency finance corporations with a total capital of $3,000,000 have insured additional resources to the extent of $12,000,000.  Through these means the 700,000 people in the flooded areas have been adequately supported.  Provision has been made to care for those in need until after the 1st of January.

The Engineering Corps of the Army has contracted to close all breaks in the dike system before the next season of high water.  A most thorough and elaborate survey of the whole situation has been made and embodied in a report with recommendations for future flood control, which will be presented to the Congress.  The carrying out of their plans will necessarily extend over a series of years.  They will call for a raising and strengthening of the dike system with provision for emergency spillway’s and improvements for the benefit of navigation.

Under the present law the land adjacent to the dikes has paid one-third of the cost of their construction.  This has been a most extraordinary concession from the plan adopted in relation to irrigation, where the general rule has been that the land benefited should bear the entire expense.  It is true, of course, that the troublesome waters do not originate on the land to be reclaimed, but it is also true that such waters have a right of way through that section of the country and the land there is charged with that easement.  It is the land of this region that is to be benefited.  To say that it is unable to bear any expense of reclamation is the same thing as saying that it is not worth reclaiming.  Because of expenses incurred and charges already held against this land, it seems probable that some revision will have to be made concerning the proportion of cost which it should bear.  But it is extremely important that it should pay enough so that those requesting improvements will be charged with some responsibility for their cost, and the neighborhood where works are constructed have a pecuniary interest in preventing waste and extravagance and securing a wise and economical expenditure of public funds.