The Times Leader from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania • Page 17

MONDAY, Government Makes Public Detailed Report on Study of River Quotes Assertion of State Engineer Before Local Chamber of Commerce Declaring That Susquehanna Might Rise to Height of Forty Feet Under Certain Conditions, But Suggests it is Not Probable PROSPECTS Supplementing the Synopsis of Col. Lansing Beach's report on the Susquehanna flood situation, issued several days ago to Congressman John J. Casey, who was back of, the investigation, the federal War Department has made public the detailed resume of the work done, together with the recommendations for river control. In the report Beach quotes a speech made by Farley Gannett, engineer of the Water Supply Commission Pennsylvania, before the Wilkes Barre Chamber Commerce last spring, where it was declared that under certain conditions the Susquehanna River might rise to a height of forty feet. The army officer says, "The height to which any flood will rise will be dependent upon the rainfall, either direct or accompanied by snow melted by the rain;" and referring to sudden rises which sent Ohio rivers up from ten to thirteen feet above the highest known previous stage, declared "but such a visitation was the first In more than a century and it is not likely that such a flood will again be witnessed by any person now living." This is equivalent to saying that whi'e Wilkes-Barre might be visited by another cyclone within the next few years, it is likely that it will be.

'recommendations made by Col. Beach were published several days ago, brief. The following paragraphs, taken from the report handed out by the War Department, deal with the conditions more in detail: "It is believed that the only practicable way to protect communities eration from excessive floods throughout the section under consider means of such levees or embankments constructed probably about 1,150 feet apart and following the general line which the channel should take in order to provide the easiest line of flow for flood. Retarding or retaining reservoirs are not believed to be possible, for the reason in the upper portions of the watershed, and particularly that portion within the State of New York, nearly all the important streams followed by railroads, and thriving towns and villages are built in the valleys. To apply method of retaining or retarding the food by means of reservoirs wou'd, therefore, involve the construction of 80 many reservoirs upon the various small streams that the method hecomes impracticable of solution in this manner, while the cost involved would undoubtedly be prohibitive.

"The question next arises as to whether the levees should be built for a 40,000 foot waterway for a 33,000 foot waterway. There loT every reason to believe that, owing to the silting action of the Nanticoke dam, and also to the effect of the culm deposits, the bed of the river, at least in the vicinity of Wilkes- Barre and for a considerable distance above, has been raised appreciably. If Nanticoke dam removed and the mass of large stone both above and below it taken from bed of the river, the slope over the lower portion of the river consideration would be considerably Increased, and there is every reason to believe that the river bed would be deepened. This would extend progressively up stream; and if the river were confined by levees to a dr channel, in flood time the freshets which occur would gradually lower the river bed and in this manner diminish the height of local floods. The flow of the water would be increased if the sharp point just above the Delaware Hudson Railroad bridge were removed SO as to make the channel either straight or on a gentle curve at this point.

This would necessitate a change in the railroad bridge. If the channel were changed at this voint, the Nanticoke dam a and the mass of rocks in its vicinity removed, and the levees constructed, it is believe that the river bed would be lowered to such an extent that levees built to the height indicated on the table, sufficient to create a channel of 33,333 square feet cross section, about 1.150 fect apart, and practically paral-, lel, would create an available waterway approaching 40,000 square feet in cross section. "The recommendation of this office for the protection against flood of the portion of the river between the mouth of' the Lackawanna River and the Nanticoke dam is, therefore, that: this, protection be secured by means of levees built to regular grade, indicated: in general by the heights given in the table, for a waterway 83,833 feet in area, or that levee be replaced by a wall, as along the front of the city of Wilkes- a wall might be more desirable on account of space or appearance than. an earth? embankment: that the levee construction be begun at the upper end of the portion under consideration and carried, simultaneously along both banka; that the sharp bend just above the Delaware Hudson Railroad bridge bel properly eased or straightened, and the bridge modi-, fied. accordingly, and that the Nanticoke dam and the.

mass of loose material in its vicinity be removed; that all bridges which do not now have a width of 1,150 feet between abutments, measured at right angles to the stream, be rebuilt at as early a date as possible to this length, with as few piers AS funds will permit, and that no riprap or other obstructing material be Allowed around the base of these piers. Where the cross section of the is appreciably more than 1,150 feet in width, levees should be built between the banks so as to make the distance between them approximately the adopted with of 1,150 feet. Care should be taken so as to create a channel as nearly straight or easy as possible, and all adiacent reaches should re connected by easy curves so as to assist in every way possible the flow of the water. "In making these recommendations, due consideration has been given to the probability of the greatest estimated flood of 500.000 00.000 cubic feet rer second: and consideration has also given to the amount of monev which would be involved in creating any system of protection for WilkesBarre and adjacent towns. It is rel 120d that the method which is adopted must not; be unduly, expensive.

nor must it om the hand permit too large a risk. It is believed that the height even for the levees for a charnel with 30,333 square feet. wat rwav under present conditions will in all prohability devalop to a waterway anpreaching 40.000 square feet cross sect'on after the levees have hoen bu'lt. the' Nanticoke dam removed bridges properly altered, and the sharn lend in the river emoved. This will permit a much more rapid flow of water nast the section than now occurs, and it is not impossible that the in in in in in in in in DECEMBER 21, 1914.

THE WILKES RECORD NONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1914. 17 Every Big Heavy Long Overcoat All $7.50 Heavy Winter OverBoys Ages 8 to 18 Years coats With Belts In Back Is Now Half Price. Are Now $3.75 Nothing But 8 Sensible Gifts At The Exclsive Boys' Store And if it is outer wearing apparel for boys ages to 18 years, you will surely find it here. or Sensible, useful gifts are appreciated for many a day, whereas toys are merely temporary pleasures. These Few Suggestions May Help Reefers for the little tots ages to 9 years, in blue, brown, light and dark gray chinchillas, with fancy plaid backs, patch pockets, stitched belts and military collars, that are positively worth $6.50, at my special upstairs' price of $5.00.

Novelty suits in Russian and French blouses, and Oliver Twist suits at $3.00. Balmacaan overcoats in heavy winter materials, sizes 10 to 18. Made like big brother's, at $5.00. Mackinaws in pretty patterns, with big shawl collars, and positively waterproof, at $4.00 and $5.00. Raincoats with hats to match.

Guaranteed rainproof. All sizes; in holiday boxes at $3.00. All wool double breasted suits, for boys ages 6 to 18 years. Dark patterns, full peg lined pants at $2.50. These suits are positively $5.00 and $6.00 values.

Norfolk suits in heavy wool materials, with patch pockets and stitched belts; all sizes at $3.50. Chinchilla rah rah hats for the little tots, with 0 silk linings; all sizes and shades to match the chinchilla coats at 50c. Hats and caps for the 8 bigger boys in all shapes at 50c. All $5.00 Long Winter Overcoats Shop Good Warm Ulsters For Boys In Shawl or Convertible Collars Ages 8 to 18 Years- Are All Are Now Early HALF PRICE $2.50 Mrs. Rosenthal's Boys' Store 29 South Main Street Over People's Shoe Store velocity of twenty feet per second adopted as probable in this report may even be exceeded.

At any rate, it is believed that the danger and risk from excessive floods do not warrant at this time a greater expenditure than is indicated by the plan here proposed. No estimates of cost have been made, nor has any attempt been made to adjust the different points at the top of the levee line so as to create a line, prac- tically parallel to the water surface in time of flood. These are believed to be questions which properly belong to the locality and should be determined by engineers employed by the parties interested. This position is believed to be correct, owing to the fact that it is impossible to. proceed further with this subject wihout taking up additional questions which belong wholly solely to the communities determine, such as the disposal of sewage, storm water, and the protection along small tributaries entering the river.

These must be worked out coincidentally with the details of the general plan. It is believe that they will not be difficult solution; the protection along the line of the small tributaries can be secured by carrying the levees up their banks, or in some case diverting them to some point further down the river, and thus diminishing the number of tributaries and point of attention. The discharge of sewage and storm water can during ordinary times he effected as at present, but sumps' on or collecting basins may have to be established from which the sewage and storm water can be pumped over the levee into the river for the short time that the river is so high as to prevent the usual discharge into the Susquehanna." Deeds Recorded Edward W. Davis and wife of WilkesBarre Township to Patrick F. Cunningham of same place, property in WilkesBarre Township for $1,720.

Sam, Caplo and wife of Hazleton to Rosario Cammarella and wife of same place, property in Hazleton for $1,500. John Sadoski of Nanticoke to John Regelski and wife of Plymouth, property in Hanover Township for $350. Death of Miss Mayme O'Malley Following a short illness, Miss Mayme O'Malley, aged 24, a teacher in the Swoyerville public schools and a sister to Prof. John O'Malley, of Plains schools, died at her home on Perkins street, Plains, yesterday morning at 7 o'clock of nephritis. She was a grad- uate of the Plains Borough schools and of East Stroudsburg State or Normal school.

For several years she had been a most efficient instructor in the schools of Swoyerville and her death will be regretted as much in that borough as her native town, where she was held in high esteem. Besides her parents, Mr. and Mrs, A. J. O'Malley, she is survived by three brothers: Prof.

John O'Malley. Dr. F. J. O'Malley, a physician of Pittston, and James, at home, and Miss Elizabeth O'Malley, at home.

The funeral will be held from her late home Wednesday morning with a solemn high mass in Sacred Heart Church and Interment Sacred Heart Cemetery. Death of Mrs. Anne Turner On Saturday morning at 12:20, at the residence of her grandson, A. L. Turner, 70 St.

Clement street, occuted the death of Mrs. Anne Richards Turner, widow of George Turner, an old Plymouth family, aged 85 years. She was the daughter William Richards and Mary (Prune) Richards and was born June 26, 1829, and was married Jan. 15, 1852. She is survived by one son, William R.

Turner of Binghamton, N. also seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. The funeral will be held on Monday at 2 p. m. at 70 St.

Clement street. Rev. R. B. Webster of Westminster Presbyterian Church, of which the dewas the oldest member, will offlcaite.

Pennsylvania Railroad's Stockholders On December 1 the Pennsylvania Railroad had 91,159 stockholders the largest number its history. This is an increase of 3,863 over the same date last year. Instead of showing a decrease in tho number of its foreign shareholders as compared to Dec. 1, 1913 the tion shows that on Dec. 1914, it had 11,882,.

or an, increase of ovar the on Dec. 1, 1913 31,186, more than one-third of all the Pennsylvania stockholders are citizens of Pennsylvania. The remainder of the company's stocks are distributed as follows: New York, 15,545, New England 16,539, scattered 16,007. of the total number of shareholders 43,913, or 48.17 per are women. Death of Aged Berwick Woman Mrs.

Elias Hoppes, aged 82, one of the oldest residents of Berwick, died suddenly on Friday night of apoplexy. She was born in Valley and lived in Berwick the past fi'2 one years, where she had a wide hequaintance. She had been twice married, her first husband being the late Hiram Smith. She is survived by her second husband and ten children; also by one sister, one half-sister, two halfbrothers, sixteen grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren. Holiday Season at the Hampton In preparation for the holiday season; management of the Hampton is planning for two especially entertaining weeks, the frst event of which will be conducted to night in connection with the cabaret.

Vaude4, ville entertainers have been secured for the Tuesday evenings preceding Christmas and New Year, while special features, including favors, surprises demonstrations of dances will be presented on the Thursday evenings before the holidays. On the evening of New Year's Day the cabaret features will resemble a watch party and dancing will be enjoyed later than usual. Dies in California Word has been received here of the death of P. F. Snee, who died of pneumonia at Richmond, Dec.

12. He was formerly of this city, but went to the West about six years ago. He in sure vived by his wife and the following brothers: Thomas and John of this M. J. of Atlantic City, and James J.

San Francisco..