258 The Ohio Floods. [April,
might have been done, the Boston A short time ago a committee of
Association has no cause to be ashamed conference, made up of eight leading
of its history. Beginning with all ready city clergymen and as many laymen,
to criticize, and many disapproving, the two of each denomination, unanimously
Association has worked itself into the passed the following resolutions : —
confidence of the community ; and the " Resolved, That the great and pecu-
Reverend Joseph Cook, who was intro- liar dangers to which young men are
duced as a lecturer to Boston under exposed in this, as in other cities, clearly
its auspices, thus speaks of the Associa- calls, for the work of the Young Men's
tion at the close of its quarter-century. Christian Association.
He says : — " Resolved, That the Association rep-
" First, That there is a vast amount of resents the Church working through its work which should be done for young young men for the redemption of young men in cities, and that, as the propor- men, and, therefore, it is entitled to the tion of the American population living continued confidence, support, and co- in cities had increased since the opening operation of the churches." of this century from one twenty-fifth to After long years of patient and steady one fifth, the importance is great and work, the Boston Young Men's Chris- growing, tian Association has secured the confi-
" Second, That neither individual dence of the Christian community to
churches taken separately, nor individ- the extent of more than $300,000, in
ual denominations taken separately, can the palpable form of stone and brick,
do this work easily or adequately. which beautifies one of the finest sites
" Third, That all the evangelical in our city. It stands also as a monu-
denominations united in a city can do ment of the liberality of Christian Boston
this work easily by the organization of and her appreciation of this great work
a Young Men's Christian Association for young men in the Master's name, as their representative."
��THE OHIO FLOODS.
By the Hon. George E. Jenks.
Several causes are assigned for the heavy, and prolonged rains occur,
excessive rise of water in the Ohio excessive floods must be the result,
valley. This water-shed is accredited Add to these coincidents the fact that
with an area of two hundred thousand forests, once existing, are now so nearly
square miles, and it lies upon the annihilated that little protection is
border-line of hot and cold tempera- offered against a rapid dissolution of
tures. It is subject to heavy storms, the snow, and the sudden freezing of
and sometimes, in winter, to large the earth in an interval of the late
accumulations of snow. It is presum- storm preventing absorption of rain
able also, the rainfall is greater than the falling thereafter. The waters thus
average of the country. When, follow- produced fall into the main streams
ing great deposits of snow, warm, without hindrance, like rain from roofs
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