Kindly to our special representatives Sherrill, Kaupke, Haehl, and Henderson. express our appreciation to all the Congressmen on your committee. TULARE BASIN WATER STORAGE DISTRICT, By W. E. DIngley, Chairman of Executive Committee. Hon. WILL M. WHITTINGTON, Chairman, Flood Control Committee, LATON, CALIF., April 8, 1940. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: Laguna irrigation district in Fresno and Kings Counties, Calif., comprising 35,000 acres highly productive diversified farming land divided into small farms. Approximate population 4,500 water users wholly dependent on irrigation for their farming operations. Irrigation district organized and in operation since 1921. Board of Directors are elected by qualified electors of the district. The past year of 1937 three floods occurred causing damage in moneys expended, soil erosion, crops, and livestock to over one-half million dollars. We are very much interested in the Pine Flat project and have given careful consideration to the report of the Bureau of Reclamation and the report of the Army engineers. We appreciate construction by the Army engineers as provided for in H. R. 9046 as best protecting the interests of our district. We have been advised of your interest and assistance in the presentation of the Army project to the flood control committee. May we express our appreciation of your services and the many courtesies extended to our special representatives in Washington. Kindly express our appreciation to the other members of the committee. Hon. WILL M. WHITTINGTON, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, LATON, CALIF., April 9, 1940. Chairman, Flood Control Committee, Washington, D. C.: The Board of directors of the Laguna Reclamation District No. 779, situated in Fresno and Kings Counties, Calif., and comprising a large acreage of rich farm land adjacent to and subject to flood and overflow waters of Kings River, have followed the progress of plans for construction of Pine Flat project by different Government agencies and have given careful consideration to the report of Bureau of Reclamation and the report of the board of the Army engineers. We approve construction by Army engineers as provided for in H. R. 9046 as best protecting the interests of our district. We have been advised of your interest and assistance in the presentation of our Army project to the flood control committee. We appreciate your service and many courtesies extended to our special representatives in Washington. Please express our appreciation also to Congressman Engelbright and the other Committee members. LAGUNA RECLAMATION DISTRICT No. 779, ANDREW JENSEN, Director, Judge WILL M. WHITTINGTON, FRESNO, CALIF., April 7, 1940. Chairman, Flood Control Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: In order to dispose of any doubt in the minds of your committee on the authority of our three representatives, Kaupke, Haehl, and Sherrill, to commit this association as being definitely in favor of the Army project on Kings River at Pine Flat and to state without equivocation our willingness to make required local contribution I hereby advise you that I endorse and ratify everything that they said at the hearing on April 3. Each of 20 members making up associations containing 1,000,000 acres have filed with Colonel Chambers at Sacramento a statement that they are able and willing to contribute such sum as the Army board of engineers shall determine as their share as a local contribution to cost of said project. I had expected to attend hearings to say just this much but circumstances made it impossible. I have been advised of your interest and assistance in the presentation of the Army, Board of Engineers project to the Flood Control Committee. May I express my appreciation for these services and the many courtesies extended to our representatives in Washington. Please express to our California Congressmen Englebright and Voorhis and other members of your committee our deep and lasting appreciation for their efforts in our behalf. W. P. BOONE, President, Kings River Water Association. (Chairman, Kings River Pine Flat Association.) FRESNO, CALIF., April 7, 1940. Hon. WILLIAM M. WHITTINGTON, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. The Southern San Joaquin Valley Flood Control Association Comprising Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Kern Counties, embracing Kings, Kaweah, Tule, and Kern Rivers, and Tulare Lake areas, all of which are under study by Corps of Army Engineers primarily as flood-control projects in well-coordinated plan to avoid future flood disasters are unanimously in favor of the Kings River Army project now before your committee. We heartily approve Gearhart bill, H. R. 9046; also Kern River bill by Congressman Elliott of California, also an Army project. Reclamation Bureau project as outlined for Kings River, Tulare Lake areas does not fit coordinated flood-control plan for entire area. Messrs. Kaupke, Sherrill, Henderson, and Haehl, now in Washington are our duly authorized representatives with full power and authority to act on our behalf. Have been advised of your interest and assistance and that of Congressman Englebright in presentation of the Army project to the Flood Control Committee. desire to express my appreciation for your valued services and the many past courtesies you both extended our representatives now in Washington. R. F. SCHMEISER, President, Southern San Joaquin Valley Flood Control Association. Hon. WILL M. WHITTINGTON, DINUBA, CALIF., April 7, 1940. Chairman, Flood Control Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. Alta irrigation district in Tulare, Fresno, and Kings Counties, Calif., comprising 130,000 acres of highly productive and diversified farming land divided into smali farms under intensive cultivation. Total population of approximately 20,000 with 6,424 water users wholly dependent on irrigation for their farming operations. Irrigation district organized and in operation since 1888. District is third largest diverter of water from Kings River. Board of directors are elected by the qualified electors of the district. For past years we have followed progress of plans for construction of Pine Flat project by different Government agencies and have given careful consideration to the report of Bureau of Reclamation and the report of board of Army engineers. We approve construction by Army engineers as provided in H. R. 9046 as best protecting the interests of our district. We have been advised of your interest and assistance in the presentation of our Army project to the Flood Control Committee. May we express our appreciation of your services and the many courtesies extended to our special representatives in Washington. Kindly express our appreciation to Congressman Englebright and Voorhis and the other members of the committee. ALTA IRRIGATION DISTRICT, Hon. WILLIAM H. WHITTINGTON, BAKERSFIELD, CALIF., April 7, 1940. Chairman, Flood Control Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. Sincere thanks in appreciation to you and your committee for your interest and effort on behalf of our Kern River flood-control project. BAKERSFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, BAKERSFIELD, CALIF., April 6, 1940. Hon. WILLIAM M. WHITTINGTON, Washington, D. C. KERN COUNTY WATER ASSOCIATION. Hon. WILL M. WHITTINGTON, Chairman, Flood Control Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. Unanimous gratitude of citizens to you and your committee for your effort and action for our Kern River flood control project. Hon. WILL M. WHITTINGTON, CITY OF BAKERSFIELD, Manager. BAKERSFIELD, CALIF., April 7, 1940 House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. The city of Bakersfield is vitally concerned in approval of our Kern River floodcontrol project and greatly appreciate your interest on our behalf. Hon. WILL M. WHITTINGTON, FRED W. NIGHBERT, BAKERSFIELD, CALIF., April 6, 1940. Chairman, Flood Control Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. We extend to you and the members of your committee our sincere thanks and appreciation for your courtesy in hearing the local representatives of the Kern River flood-control project. Everyone in our community is concerned with the problem of controlling floods in the Kern River and there is an unanimity of opinion among all of our people that the proposed plan of the Army engineers is the only feasible method for effecting a permanent solution. KERN RIVER LEVEE DISTRICT. The CHAIRMAN. Now, gentlemen, this completes our hearings unless somebody else desires to make a statement. The committee stands adjourned subject to the call of the chairman. (Whereupon, at 7:10 p. m., the hearing was adjourned.) |