Page 2 University Daily Kansan Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1954
If History Repeats-
Spring May Bring Crippling Floods
The advent of spring—just around the corner—makes most persons think only of a "reawakening" after the long winter, of the more pleasant things ahead, of vacation. But what about some of the more serious things this approaching season will bring . . . if history repeats itself?
Spring ought to make even the casual observer recall the disastrous floods past years have brought and undoubtedly will continue to bring despite efforts to prevent them.
Floods are natural phenomenons. Man cannot prevent floods, he can only retard losses—sometimes. This is a fundamental law of nature that cannot, with man's present knowledge and abilities, be broken.
We are familiar with the various methods used to retard floods —dikes, dams, floodwalls, et al—but the easiest and least costly method has been almost overlooked.
Highways, factories, towns, and cities have been built directly in the path of recurrent floods as if challenging the waters to ruin them. Relocation is an easy solution.
The solution is to get out of the way of the flood.
Kansas City, one of the hardest hit areas in the big deluge of 1951, had an elaborate and costly system of levees built to protect its river bottom firms but the water got in behind the man-made structures anyway. You know the rest of that story.
And another factor most persons forget when remembering that disastrous flood—what would have happened had the Missouri river, into which the Kaw empties its waters, been flooded at the same time? It wasn't, yet the swollen Kaw still had its troubles spilling into it.
If the firms had not been there, the dikes would not have had to have been built in the first place and the water could have taken its natural course and not damaged anything but possibly some of the soil in the immediate area.
North Lawrence was flooded badly in 1951, but if the river had had a larger, natural channel as it originally had before the advent of the white man, that area in all probability would not have been covered.
In spite of the millions of dollars worth of damage done to buildings, homes, etc., in that flood, the simple fact remains that about 80 per cent of the actual land, or soil, covered was improved by silt deposition.
Thus, if all the land flooded had been in farm land (possibly with the farmers' main buildings and stock on the overlooking bluffs) the floods would have benefited the nation by 80 per cent rather than causing the expense and worry it did.
If man persists in locating his industries in river bottoms he can possibly lessen damage by such maneuvers as channel-straightening, levees, retarding basins upstream, spillways, reservoirs, dams, soil conservation, and a host of others.
If man would take the easy way out he would move out!
In the long run the cost involved in withdrawal of present construction would be much less than the damage that is sure to come about in the next 100 years from flood damage.
The least any farsighted, progressive community can do is pass zoning laws preventing any new construction in river basins.
If rivers and streams are given the room they originally had, rather than forcing them through ridiculously narrow man-made channels, the nation could sit back and let nature do its best during the flood season and not have to worry about flood relief for the homeless and jobless.
The flood problem could be removed from the list of vital problems of the federal government. Will the people help the cause?
—Stan Hamilton
Short Ones
A Kansan headline tells us that 11 lawyers passed the bar, and the newsroom grouch hazards that it's the only bar they ever passed.
A classified ad promises "Beverages, ice cold, all kinds, by the six-pack or case," and Simon Pure, college junior, is disappointed to learn the offer doesn't include buttermilk.
Probable forthcoming sign on William Allen White Memorial Reading room: "Please do not read here--you may disturb museum visitors."
One Man's Opinion
Having completed the required number of hours and garnered enough grade points, by one means or another, something in excess of 1,000 seniors will walk down the hill this spring, but not before one little detail has been taken care of.
That detail is a matter of $12 one must pay as a diploma fee.
Now, we agree that diplomas are nice and in many instances necessary. Webster defines a diploma as "a letter or writing conveying some privilege, honor, or power." For that we pay $12?
It takes the majority of students four years to get through college. This is eight semesters at a cost of around $87 per for registration and enrollment or a total of around $700.
It would seem that after paying this sum, in addition to numerous other fines and fees, into the University coffers, said University would be able to find it possible to award, rather than sell, its diplomas.
However we would hazard a very liberal guess and say they might cost $2 for a de luxe model. And where, pray tell, does the rest of the money go?
We made an attempt to find out just how much a diploma cost to make, but about all we got was passing chuckles and some buck passing.
For those of you lucky people who will be receiving higher degrees this spring, we have some good news. You'll be required to pay $10 for a diploma.
And for you readers who are sitting back with a smile and saying "sotr grapes"—you're right, the author of this opinion is a graduating senior.
We will stick to our guns, however,
because we have been wondering for
some time: are we students or
statistics?
—Don Tice.
Now that Valentine's day is over, budding young Edgar Guests can lay aside their creative pencils and budding young University women can lay aside the pounds put on via boxes of chocolates.
A good team of Arctic sled dogs, pushed by an expert driver, can cover 100 miles in a day with a light load.
Daily Hansan
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ON MARCH 3, 1879.
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NEWS STAFF
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 Society editor Elizabeth Wolgenthum
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LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
"He marked and severely criticized my paper—I didn't have the courage to tell him the whole thing was a direct quote from his book."
Recent Eisenhower Progress Result of Careful Planning
The sterling character, high ideals, sincerity, and tact of President Eisenhower are beginning to show. At the beginning of his administration, he made careful plans and considered every angle before making decisions. Now, he is making progress toward their accomplishment.
Democrats in Congress complained this week that members of the Eisenhower administration had been engaging in "smears and unjust attacks for political reasons."
Several months ago, President Eisenhower stated that the U.S. should take the initiative in dealing with Russia, and that strong talk would likely gain better results than would attempts at cooperation.
At the Big Four conference in Berlin last week, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles talked down every propaganda-filled proposition offered by Soviet Foreign Minister V. M. Molotov. He bared the facts, stripped them of all disguise, and exposed them to members of the conference, explaining the probable consequences. In fact, Mr. Molotov had his back to the wall, after having exhausted all tactics. Mr. Dulles manner probably left a higher esteem in the eyes of the other nations represented at the conference.
At a press conference recently, the President stated he would counsel members of his administration not to engage in bitter partisan dispute with the Democrats, winning the respect of Sen. Johnson (D-Texas), minority leader, who said the "President's attitude is one of a gentleman and an American."
Sen. Hennings (D-Mo.) said that "as head of the Republican party, there is no question that the President can stop this contemptible and un-American pattern of attacks upon the Democratic party, and by implication, all Democrats."
This commendable suggestion might well be extended to include "mud-slinging" during political campaigns against any and all parties. Candidates for office that represent the citizens of the United States would certainly appear more competent and dignified if each attempted to prove his own merits rather than to denounce those of his opponent. It is time that such dignity were brought to positions of public office, and that such opportunity be considered an honor and a privilege.
Some members of Congress have expressed growing concern that the sending of 200 U.S. Air Force technicians to Indo-China might draw us into war in that country.
The idea in furnishing mechanics is to make it even more certain that Indo-China will not need ground forces. There is no plan to send U.S. pilots to fly the planes, it was explained.
The President explained that any move by this government to aid Indo-China was aimed at keeping America out of a hot war.
Sen. George (D.-Fla.), a long-time member of the foreign relations committee, commended the president's stand. "If we sent any sizable number of men over there, however," Sen. George said, "China would move in openly and use it as an issue to solidify the entire continent."
In dealing with the Bricker amendment, the President's views were approved by many members of Congress.
It is not unlikely that the man with the friendly grin and good neighbor policy, who works to secure freedom and equality for the common man, and to do the most good for the greatest number, will not only out-do and out-smart the Communists but might even win their approval and cooperation—such as it might be.
—Valera Tebben.
Short Ones
Kansas politicians seem to be practicing the Eisenhower waltz. The dance is easy—take two steps backward, a side step, then go around in a circle.
With so many conventions here last week, you'd think Lawrence had a railroad station or something.
A Kansan writer named Hack gets a byline, and people say they wonder which hack it was.