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11 Another serious conflict exists between protection on tribu- taries of a river such as the Ohio, and on the main river itself. Floods on the tributaries are of short duration. The floods on the main river ~ last JIIllllf weeks. It the water is held back in the basin. on the tributary long enough to protect the main river, then the protection afforded to the lands along the tributary is lost, as experience shows that two or IROre floods can and do take place on the smaller drainage areas within a few days. The size of the basins required to fully pro- tect the lands along the tributary, and at the same time hold back for long periods of time, enough water to give beneficial results on the main river, would be very great - far beyond the capability of the reser- voir sites that exist in JIIOst basins. Reasons such as these explain why flood control on the Missis- sippi and on other major rivers is being handled entirely by levees and channel improvement. The ArnrT Ehgineers are trying to find an answer to the cOl'lplex flood control problems of the Mississippi River basin by experimental methods. Using German war prisonere, they are, according to the public press, constructing a ecale model of the entire Miesissippi Vall.ey covering a square IlIile near Vicksburg, Mississippi. On this Jlodel they expect to reproduce in llliniature every type of flood that can happen on tributaries and main rivere, in order to study their characteristics and determine, if poseible, the best way of meeting the flood problem. This is an intelligent approach. It seeme evident that no plans involv- ing flood control projects in the Mississippi Vall.ey should be m&de until results are available from this experiment. In recent years the IlIUlti-purpose project has appeared, and is now being advocated by some persone as e. cure for the flood evil. Under the IlIUlti-purpose theory, power development is combined with one or _re of the navigation, irrigation and flood control objectives on a baeie of equality, with minor objectives, such ae water conservation, recreation, sUt control and etre8J1l polution abatement, as added benefits.