By Marshall O. Leighton . INTRODUCTION. In the following pages is given a brief history of the disastrous flood which occurred in the Passaic River Basin in October, 1903. In the report by George Buell Hollister and the writer, entitled "The Passaic Flood of 1902," and published by the United States Geological Survey as Water-Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 88, are discussed the principal physiographic features of the drainage basin and their general relations to the stream flow. This report wil

GENERAL DISCUSSION. In the consideration of means of preventing damages by floods every plan proposed falls under one of two general heads—the storage of flood waters or an increase in the capacity of the streams. The first plan involves the construction at selected localities of reservoirs of sufficient size to hold all or a greater part of the waters which run over the surface during and after storms. This plan is not practicable except where valleys or plains are inclosed by high ridges and t

1. Great floods in the Passaic Basin arise only after a specially violent precipitation. 2. Under present conditions floods may be expected at frequent intervals. 3. A part of the damage along the lower valley is the result of encroachments on the part of individuals and public and private corporations. 4. The channel in the lower valley may be improved at certain points by straightening it and judiciously making cut-offs. 5. Without the construction of numerous levees the lower valley channel c