Mr. Beall, we will be glad to have a further statement from you on other communities, in addition to the Cumberland area, covering the district which you represent so ably. STATEMENT OF HON. J. GLENN BEALL, A REPRESENTATIVE OF CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MARYLAND Mr. BEALL. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I would like to say for the benefit of the record that this project was inaugurated by Congressman Randolph and my predecessor, the late William D. Byron, to include first the Piedmont and Keyser, W. Va., area, and then also down to Luke and Western Port, Md. These towns have a total population, of the four towns, of between 30 and 35 thousand people. These towns have been flooded on numerous occasions and at Luke, Md., there is a large pulp and paper company which has a large manufacturing plant, paper manufacturing plant. That plant has an estimated value of some $10,000,000. It has been thrown out of operation for periods of time because of floods in the upper Potomac River. The Savage River is the chief tributary, or the main tributary to the upper Potomac River, and if this water is held back, so the Engineers have told me, it would help to eliminate the flood hazards that may arise in the future, and for that reason those large populated areas would be benefited. They would be more benefited in that immediate area, I agree with the Engineers, that it would be more beneficial to that area from flood-control projects than to the Cumberland and points east. And it would contribute eventually to the over-all picture. The CHAIRMAN. We recall that some statements you have made previously. If you wish to supplement your statement further we will be glad to have you do so. Mr. BEALL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. General Crawford, this project was originally initiated during the WPA days; was it under the supervision of the district engineer so far as construction is concerned? General CRAWFORD. I understand that we made the design, and the plans; the actual supervision of the construction work was not done by us. The CHAIRMAN. But even so the Government was protected and is protected on the plans and construction to the extent that the plans were devised by and concurred in by the Engineers? General CRAWFORD. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. And it is fair to say that in connection with your statement in regard to local contribution that ordinarily the local contributions were on a percentage basis with expenditures under WPA. General CRAWFORD. Yes; I think it was about $942,000 on this project. Mr. BEALL. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. The local contributions were around $942,000? The CHAIRMAN. We are glad to have had your statements. The CHAIRMAN. I am inserting for the record a statement together with its enclosures received by me from the Hon. Millard E. Tydings, United States Senator from the State of Maryland. UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON TERRITORIES AND INSULAR AFFAIRS, Hon. WILLIAM M. WHITTINGTON, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. April 19, 1946. DEAR CONGRESSMAN WHITTINGTON: I had hoped to be able to appear before your committee today in connection with the Savage River Dam project in western Maryland. However, another important matter to many Marylanders was before the Senate Appropriations Committee and as a member of that committee I found it necessary to be there and consequently could not get to your meeting. I appreciate very much the opportunity you give me to insert the following statement. About 1939 the United States Government, through the WPA, entered into an agreement with the Upper Potomac River Commission to construct an earthen dam known as the Savage River Dam. This work was done on a participating basis, with the WPA contributing 80 percent of the cost and the remaining 20 percent supplied by Allegany County, Md. When the WPA was abolished in the summer of 1942 the Upper Potomac River Commission then entered into a contract with a private contractor to complete the construction of the dam under the supervision of the United States Army engineers. This work was started under the new contract and proceeded until the fall or early winter of 1942, when, acting under Army orders, the contractor was sent to Alaska, taking with him all of his equipment, to work on the Alcan Highway. In the new fiscal year July 1, 1943, the money that was in the United States Treasury to the credit of the Upper Potomac River Commission reverted back to the General Treasury, which left no funds for the completion of the dam. At the time of suspension a total of approximately $4,000,000 had been spent by the United States Government and the county commissioners of Allegany County on this project. The dam is now about 75 percent completed and will require but a small percentage of the original cost to finish it. Unless this is done the money that has been spent will serve no useful purpose, whereas the completion of the dam would aid materially in holding the flow of the Potomac River and aid greatly in the elimination of pollution and stagnation. Furthermore, the entire water supply of the town of Westernport, about 4,000 people, is dependent upon the completion of this dam, and in addition the water therefrom would mean a great deal to three main industries of Allegany County-the Celanese Corp. of America, the Kelly-Springfield Tire Co., and the West Virginia Pulp & Paper Co. I am attaching hereto a letter I received under date of December 3, 1945, from the American Legion of Westernport, Md., urging the completion of this dam, and also a letter received from Dr. Robert H. Riley, director of the Department of Health of the State of Maryland, written me under date of October 27, 1944. I shall be very much obliged to you if your committee can see fit to make this letter, with the accompanying ones, a part of your testimony in support of the completion of the Savage River Dam. Thanking you, and with best wishes, I am M. E. TYDINGS. Hon. MILLARD TYDINGS, THE AMERICAN LEGION, VICTORY POST NO. 155, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: Victory Post No. 155, American Legion, wishes to go on record as favoring the completion of the Savage River Dam. As you well know, this dam was surveyed in 1936 with an appropration of $80,000. The actual construction was begun in October 1939, and suspended in December 1942, to release manpower and materials for war work. At the time of suspension, a total of ap proximately 41⁄2 million dollars had been spent. The project was operated as a WPA unit and was sponsored by the Upper Potomac River Commission. Allegany County furnished $1,000,000 of the funds. The completion of this dam means a great deal to the town of Westernport as the entire water supply of this town of about 4,000 people is dependent upon it. In addition, the water from this dam means a great deal to three main industries of Allegany County-the Celanese Corp. of America, employing 11,000 people; the Kelly Springfield Tire Co., 3,000 people; and the West Virginia Pulp & Paper Co. with about 1,800 people. This dam is now about 75 percent completed and it will take only a small percentage of the original cost to finish it. As well as being a big aid to our community this dam would also be a great help in the reconversion and postwar unemployment problems of this vicinity. We trust therefore that you will use every effort to bring about the speedy finish of this dam. Yours very truly, Senator MILLARD TYDINGS, VICTORY POST No. 155, AMERICAN LEGION, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. STATE OF MARYLAND, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, Baltimore 18, October 27, 1944. DEAR SENATOR TYDINGS: The State board of health at its October 19 meeting adopted the following resolution regarding the Savage River Dam project: "That the board bring the matter to the attention of Maryland's Senators and Representatives in the Federal Congress, and to officials of the Federal Government and urge that funds be made available for the completion of the Savage River Dam at the earliest possible time." The board is very much concerned over stream-pollution conditions in the State and is desirous of having the objectionable situations relieved as soon as it is possible to do so. In the case of the Potomac River in the Cumberland area, it is realized that many factors are involved in the correction of the pollution but that the present obnoxious stream conditions, particularly during the summer season, can be greatly improved if the flow of water in the river could be materially increased during this season of the year. For a number of years complaints have been received from Cumberland residents living near the river regarding the unsightly appearance of the stream during the summer months and the ill-smelling ordors from it. It is believed, therefore, that an increase in the flow of water in the stream during these seasons of the year will receive the objectionable conditions now complained of until permanent corrective measures in the form of adequate sewage and waste tratmnt facilities, can be provided for all of the communities and industries now contributing pollution to the river above this point. The completion of the Savage River Dam project which, when placed in operation, will provide for increases in low flows in the Potomac River during the summer months, is urgently recommended by the board as part of the postwar construction program. The State board of health, therefore, requests pour support in seeing that provisions are made for completing this project at the earliest possible time. Yours very truly, (April 9, 1946—Continued) R. H. RILEY, Director. LOCAL PROTECTION FOR WAYNESBORO, VA., AND WASHINGTON, D. C. Now, Colonel Herb, with respect to this project which is now pending with the Director of the Budget, as I understand the recommendation, it is that local protective works for Waynesboro, Va., be constructed at an estimated cost of $1,431,000 with local interests providing rightsof-way? Colonel HERB. That is correct, sir. The CHAIRMAN. And secondly, a project for Washington, D. C., be adopted. Will you discuss the problems in these areas and the recommendations of the Chief of Engineers. STATEMENT OF COL. E. G. HERB, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, CIVIL WORKS DIVISION, WAR DEPARTMENT Colonel HERB. The authorities for this study are contained in the Flood Control Acts approved May 5, 1936, June 22, 1936, and August 28, 1937. Potomac River is formed by the junction of its North and South Branches about 20 miles southeast of Cumberland, Md. It flows southeasterly for 285 miles and empties into Chesapeake Bay, 116 miles below Chain Bridge at Washington, D. C. It drains 14,670 square miles in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. The basin has a temperate climate and a mean annual rainfall of about 38 inches. In 1940 the watershed had a population of 1,633,000, the largest concentration being in the Washington area where 753,500 resided. The largest city in the upper basin is Cumberland, Md., with a population of 39,500. Waynesboro, Va., in the Shenandoah Basin, a community which suffers frequent flood damage, has 7,400 residents. Textiles, rayon, aircraft, chemicals, and other products are manufactured. Large quantities of coal are mined in the western part of the basin and other minerals are found. About 65 percent of the watershed is in farm land, producing forage crops, grain, fruit, livestock, and dairy products. The existing navigation project provides for a channel 24 feet deep and 200 feet wide in Potomac River between the mouth and Washington. Also, the Flood Control Act approved June 22, 1936, authorized Federal projects for local flood protection at Washington, D. C., the Arlington Experimental Farm, Bolling Field, the Anacostia Naval Air Station, Cumberland, West Cumberland, and South Cumberland, Md., and Ridgeley, Moorefield, and Harpers Ferry, W. Va. Several communities have constructed levees, walls, and similar improvements to afford partial flood protection. The Potomac River and its tributaries are subject to frequent floods. The flood of March 1936, which had a discharge at Washington, D. C., of 484,000 cubic feet per second, was the greatest of record at many points and the most damaging, but the floods of June 1889 and October 1942 reached comparable stages below Harpers Ferry. Total losses during the 1936 flood are estimated at $12,631,000. Average annual flood damages are estimated at $517,100 on the North Branch of Potomac River, $298,000 on the Potomac River, $255,400 along the Shenandoah River and its tributaries, and $100,500 on the South Branch of the Potomac River, making a total of $1,171,000. The plan of improvement for protection of Waynesboro, Va., provides for levees and flood walls, enlargement of the existing south channel, and a pressure conduit to carry the flow of spring run through the city. Four pumping plants and the necessary intercepting sewers will provide for interior drainage. The recommended project for Washington, D. C., provides for modification of existing projects. Stage 1 provides for the immediate undertaking of a small amount of levee and wall work at Seventeenth Street, and raising a short section of P Street SW. Stage 2 is to be initiated after the temporary war-housing facilities are removed, which includes appropriate landscaping and a removable closure at Seventeenth Street and filling a small area near the Lincoln Memorial. The CHAIRMAN. What is the estimated cost for that part of this project? Colonel HERB. I do not have the break-down. The total cost is $500,000. The CHAIRMAN. What is the local contribution? Colonel HERB. There is none for Washington, D. C., as the Federal Government owns the rights-of-way. The CHAIRMAN. And it is for the protection of metropolitan Washington, D. C.? Colonel HERB. Yes, sir. The total estimated first cost for the projects at Waynesboro, Va., and Washington, D. C., is $2,228,000, of which the non-Federal cost at Waynesboro is $297,000. The ratio of costs to benefits for the Waynesboro project is 1.0 to 1.08. The recommendation of the Chief of Engineers is in accord with the plan of improvement I have presented, subject to certain conditions of local cooperation for the project at Waynesboro, Va., which provides that local interests furnish assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of War that they will provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements, and rights-of-way necessary for the construction of the project; hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction works; and maintain and operate all the works after construction in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War. (The report of the Chief of Engineers with the comments of the Governor of Virginia are as follows:) WAR DEPARTMENT, Subject: Potomac River and tributaries, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and To: The Secretary of War. 1. I submit for transmission to Congress my report with accompanying papers and illustrations on preliminary examination and survey of Potomac River and tributaries authorized by the Flood Control Act approved June 22, 1936, and by the act of May 5, 1936, which directed that a preliminary examination be made of Potomac River and its tributaries, with a view to the control of its floods, in accordance with the provisions of the act of March 1, 1917. It is also in response to the Flood Control Act approved August 28, 1937, which authorized preliminary examination and survey of North Branch of Potomac River and its tributaries in the vicinity of Keyser, W. Va. The survey of the Anacostia River which is being made under authority of the act of June 22, 1936, will be reported upon separately. 2. The Potomac River is formed by the junction of its North and South Branches about 20 miles southeast of Cumberland, Md., flows southeasterly for 285 miles and empties into Chesapeake Bay, 116 miles below Chain Bridge at Washington, D. C. It drains 14.670 square miles in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia of which 11,580 square miles are above Chain Bridge. The largest tributary is Shenandoah River which flows along the westerly base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, draining 3,054 square miles, and enters Potomac River Harpers Ferry, mile 171. The North Branch of Potomac |