It has been suggested that the flood problems may be solved by creating new outlets to the seas, but Major Olivecrona has found that the topographical aspect of the country is such that it would be impossible to cut new channels and furnish relief in this manner, Nor is it practicable to store flood water in giant reservoirs, releasing the impounded water gradually after flood conditions have ceased to exist. No proper site for such reservoirs could be found without making use of, thousands of aeres of rich agricultural land. Large numbers' of the its would lose their property, even were the government to build these artificial storage tanks fon the sites of acres of farm property only a slight lowering of the Jextreme flood height would be attained by so impounding the water when heavy storms occur.
No appreciable amount of relief would be afforded by cutting off bends in the rivers, making their courses straighter, and doing extensive dredging work. The only successful method of protecting the country inst damage. from floods is by building embankments which, even! when the highest water level has been reached, will not be overtopped.
The engineer-in-chief has recom "the present dyke systems along the main rivers of Kuangtung should be strengthened by substantial earthfll, and protected on the river side against' scouring. Their height should be increased to a level reaching at least three feet above the expected hight water level." At present, the like system extends along' the banks. of innumerable creeks and channels running into the mein streams, and Major Olivecrona be: eves that gates or movable dam: should' be constructed so that the rivers could be out off from these branches in time of flood. Then it would not be necessary to keep up the dykes except along the main channels, 'A. $35,000,000 Scheme Tt. would cost no more than '$85,000,000 to carry out this conrrvancy scheme, $19,500,000 _for along the West} 10,900,000 to construct dykes, etc, along the North River, and remaining $4,600,000 would pro-the necessary dykes to keep the East River from overflowing. Three proposed regulation dams will make possible such a reduction of the flow of the Pearl River that there will Ibe no danger of this stream ever {flooding the land along its course.
The works needed to eliminate the Jdanger of floods in the province of Keangtung could be paid for by taxing the farmers $4.60 per mow of cultivated land. Since it is es-ated that it would take 15 years to complete the scheme, a payment: of about 30 cents per year a mow. would suffice to cover the cost.
"Considering that one rice-crop revalue of $25 to $30 says Major Olivecrona, cost for necessary protection work of $4.60 is insignificant."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.