The Mississippi Valley is the backbone of the economic structure popularly known as Uncle Sam. Every time flood waters break out of bounds and sweep destruction in their new-made path to the ocean, Uncle Sam, for the time-being, is in much the same position as a man with a broken backbone. Not only are millions of dollars in damage done, but the buying power of the Valley is impaired. Thus control of the flood-making condition is of vital interest to Iowa, or any other great section that has something to sell. Control of floods in the Mississippi Valley is a national question and not a local one.