reely deposited upon the bank to be
carried out into the river. Thus the channel has been constricted
laterally, the bottom raised, and there is left for the flood waters no
alternative than that of extending themselves in the upward direction.
It would seem that this, at least, should have been unobstructed. Such,
however, is not the case.

The bridges across the Passaic have apparently been erected without
reference to channel capacity. The authorities have evidently considered
it more important to retain established approach levels than to provide
proper capacity for river water. As an example the following instance
may be cited: During the flood of 1902 a steel truss bridge across the
river in Paterson was carried away. The point of crossing was one of
the narrowest places in the stream and it should have been clear to
everyone that the space beneath the bridge was not large enough to carry
flood waters. It should have been apparent that a new bridge, if erected
at that point, must be higher than the old one, to be thoroughly safe.
Notwithstanding, the new bridge was erected at the level of the old one,
and in addition to this, it was a concrete arch structure, and the great
piers and low arch springs reduced the former channel capacity about 15
per cent. This new bridge, as might be expected, collapsed during the
October flood.

Along the entire course of the stream in the lower valley we find a
continuation of instances of unreasonable encroachment and
ill-considered bridge engineering, and there is opportunity for
relieving a large part of the purely local obstructions by straightening
the channel at chosen points.

Although this matter has not been thoroughly investigated it is readily
apparent to one traversing the river bank that considerable relief may
be secured in this manner. Damage, however, can not be prevented by this
means alone. It would, of course, be possible to erect high and
resistant levees along the entire course of the river, but this would be
extremely expensive and would destroy the water front for commercial
purposes. In fact, such a plan is quite visionary. At the present time
there are no obstructions in lower Passaic River the removal of which
would give relief in the event of floods like those of 1902 and 1903.
When one considers the amount of water which was carried into the lower
valley, the heights which it reached, and the area which it inundated,
the futility of any local improve