and the
storage capacity 7,200,000,000 cubic feet.

RAMAPO SYSTEM.

Along the Ramapo Valley there are alternative propositions, one of which
involves the construction of a dam below Darlington and another across
the head of Pompton Lake.

In either case the water might be raised to the 300-foot contour, and if
the dam across Pompton Lake were constructed a continuous lake would be
formed extending 10-1/2 miles to Hillburn, N. Y. The improvement in
either case would be positive, for as the country surrounding is hilly
or mountainous it affords excellent opportunity for the location of
summer homes and parks, the lake being a potent factor in beautifying
the situation and increasing the value of the surrounding region. There
are, nevertheless, several things to be taken into consideration, the
most important of which are the improvements which have been made by
wealthy residents along the valley where it has already been developed
as a summer resort.

By the construction of a dam at Darlington 1,100 feet long and 70 feet
high, the water would be raised to the 300-foot contour. The reservoir
would have a water area of 2,064 acres, and the approximate storage
capacity of 2,325,000,000 cubic feet.

A dam across the head of Pompton Lake 2,850 feet long and 100 feet high
would raise the surface of the proposed lake to the 300-foot contour.
This reservoir would have an area of 6.19 square miles and a capacity
of 6,300,000,000 cubic feet, equal to 17.5 inches run-off from the
drainage area. Here the measure of safety is wide, and if there were
drawn from the lake an amount of water equal to 12 inches on the
drainage area there would still be 5.5 inches which could be used for
compensating purposes.

The construction of either one of the above-described reservoirs would
involve interstate complications, as the 300-foot contour in Ramapo
Valley includes a considerable part of the State of New York. This
obstacle was deemed insurmountable by the northern New Jersey flood
commission, and that commission directed studies to a reservoir which at
the time of maximum flood would not back water into New York State to a
greater height than it already rises during such floods. The following
description is taken from the report of the engineering committee of the
flood commission:

An admirable dam site is offered on Ramapo River about 2 miles
above Oakland village. The drainage area tributary to this point is
ab