COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, Maj. Gen. THOMAS W. ROBINS, Acting Chief of Engineers, War Department, Washington, D. C. DEAR GENERAL ROBINS: I acknowledge receipt of a copy of the proposed report of the Chief of Engineers on a review of the Lehigh River, Pa., for improvements, in the vicinity of Bethlehem, Allentown, and Easton. Our engineers have given careful consideration to this report and, upon their recommendation, I can assure you that, upon favorable action by Congress, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is prepared to give the necessary assurances of cooperation and to meet its obligation of the costs and conditions which this report presents. As requested in your letter of November 5, the report will be considered as "not for public release." Very sincerely, Colonel HERB. That completes the résumé. The CHAIRMAN. Any questions by Mr. Allen? EDWARD MARTIN. Mr. ALLEN. Colonel, how far by water is it from this proposed reservoir to Allentown? Colonel HERB. I do not recall that figure off-hand. Mr. ALLEN. About how far is it by land? Colonel HERB. About 35 or 40 miles, sir. Mr. ALLEN. In other words, it is a short stream? Colonel HERB. That is correct. Mr. ALLEN. I believe this map shows it is about 28 miles. What did you say the ratio of cost to benefits was? Colonel HERB. 1 to 1.03. Mr. ALLEN. That is near the borderline, is it not? Colonel HERB. Yes, sir. Mr. ALLEN. In other words, the benefits there would be only three one-hundredths of 1 percent, is that right? Colonel HERB. No, sir; the benefits would exceed the cost by 3 per cent. Mr. ALLEN. The benefits would exceed the costs by 3 percent? Colonel HERB. That is right, sir. Mr. ALLEN. That is a pretty low ratio. Mr. ALLEN. That is true. What about the cultivatable land that has been flooded ordinarily? I believe you said there were about 2,000 acres. Colonel HERB. There were 2,800 acres inundated in the flood of May 1942. Mr. ALLEN. That was the maximum flood of record? Mr. ALLEN. I judge from your testimony, Colonel, that this is being proposed largely to protect the manufacturing cities; is that right? Colonel HERB. That is correct: the largest benefits accrue to the industrial area of this valley. Mr. ALLEN. In connection with that, I am wondering how much actual city property was flooded in 1942. Colonel HERB. I can get that for the record. I do not have that with me. (The following statement was inserted for the record:) During the 1942 flood the following city property was affected at Allentown : Two hundred and thirteen residences, involving a total of 1,012 persons, 37 industries, and 72 commercial businesses. At Bethlehem, 174 homes were affected, ânvolving 201 families, 7 industries, and 43 business establishments. Mr. ALLEN. That would be important for the reason that you are so close to the border line. In connection with your statement as to the damages, I think you should break it down. Mr. Chairman, I think that is all. The CHAIRMAN. Any question by Mr. Clason? The CHAIRMAN. Any questions by Mr. Davis? The CHAIRMAN. Any questions by Mr. Robertson? The CHAIRMAN. Any questions by Mr. Adams? Mr. ADAMS. I believe not. The CHAIRMAN. We are glad to have had your statement. With respect to the matter of costs and benefits, is it fair to say that there is being required of the local interests $10,000 annually under the recommendations for operation and maintenance of the dam? Colonel HERB. No, sir; not for the operation and maintenance of the dam. There are nonfederal costs of the local protection projects of $10,000 for Allentown and $19,000 for Bethlehem annually. The CHAIRMAN. Not for the dam but for local maintenance? The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Walter, the distinguished representative of the district involved is here. We will be glad to hear any statement you care to submit at this time, Mr. Walter. I would like to say, with your permission, before you proceed, that we have a telegram from Mr. James A. Allen, executive secretary of the Interstate Commission of the Delaware River Basin, the agency of the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware entrusted with the responsibility of securing a coordinated development of the land and water resources of the Delaware River watershed, urging the committee to approve the project. I will ask the reporter to insert the telegram in the record at this point. (The telegram referred to is as follows:) Hon. WILLIAM M. WHITTINGTON, PHILADELPHIA, PA., April 9, 1946. United States House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: The Interstate Commission on the Delaware River Basin, the agency of the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware entrusted with the responsibility to securing a coordinated development of the land and water resources of the Delaware River watershed. Endorses the Chief of Engineers recommendations for the control of floods in the Lehigh River Valley and urges your committee's approval thereof. JAMES H. ALLEN, Executive Secretary. The CHAIRMAN. All right, Mr. Walter. STATEMENT OF HON. FRANCIS E. WALTER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA Mr. WALTER. Mr. Chairman, at the offset, I want to express to this splendid committee the appreciation of many thousands of people for your indulgence in permitting us to appear and also for your cooperation in having the original resolution adopted and this resolution on which this hearing is being conducted. At the outset, I think I ought to explain to you that this damage of which we seek to prevent recurrence comes in one of the most highly industrialized sections in the United States. There is a population of nearly 270,000 people involved. The damage in 1942 exceeded by several million dollars the estimated cost of this project. The damage was largely to the industrial areas along the river. In addition to the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, it affected nine other communities ranging in population from 1,500 to 8,000 people. All along the river there has been a steady encroachment, which is usually the case along our principal streams and along arteries of commerce, that are manufacturing, with the result that the river has been narrowed considerably. These floods we are cursed with do not come at regular intervals. They come at any time. The one in 1942 very seriously interfered with the operation of the Bethlehem steel plant, which, as you know, was engaged in the war effort. The damage sustained has been not only to the industrial property but to the residential properties all along the river. Because of the seriousness of the problem a committee was formed in the Lehigh Valley consisting of leading businessmen, industrialists, representatives of every municipality, every political subdivision of the State, and this committee worked industriously for the past 4 years. They employed at their own expense a very competent engineer who cooperated with the War Department and who has seen to it that every political subdivision of the State is ready to cooperate fully in the acquisition of properties and in the providing of easements and right-of-way. I might say that the State of Pennsylvania made an appropriation. True enough, it is quite modest, at present. However, I have every reason to believe that there will be an adequate appropriation by the State of Pennsylvania. This community is prepared now to do its full share in trying to bring about an improvement that so vitally affects the community. The CHAIRMAN. Any questions? Mr. WALTER. May I say one thing more? The CHAIRMAN. Yes. Mr. WALTER. So far as the ratio of the benefits to the costs is concerned, I do not know how you can arrive at that ratio in a situation such as this. Experts have estimated that in the next 100 years there will be 44 major floods. If they approximate the flood of 1942, then, the damage will exceed by several million dollars the entire cost of this project. At this point I would like the following statements inserted in the record. EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL HELD ON Mayor Pfeifle then reported to council that he forwarded the following communication to Washington in connection with the proposed improvement of the Lehigh River for flood-control purposes: RESIDENT MEMBERS OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS, AUGUST 31, 1945. 2 New York Avenue NW., Washington 16, D. C. GENTLEMEN: Supplementing our letter of August 3, approving the report of division engineers of the War Department relative to the proposed improvements to Lehigh River for flood-control purposes, city council has authorized me to say to you that the city of Bethlehem will furnish, without cost to the United States, all lands, easements, and rights-of-way lying and being within the territorial limits of the city of Bethlehem, necessary for the construction of the proposed improvements; that the city of Bethlehem will hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction of the contemplated work; that the city of Bethlehem will maintain and operate said construction after its completion in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War; the city of Bethlehem will also provide new superstructure and road approaches to the Main Street Bridge, will construct new approaches to Lehigh Avenue Bridge and also construct necessary intercepting storm-water sewers. The city is vitally interested in the proposed improvements, and I trust that the statements herein contained are satisfactory to your Board and to the Secretary of War. If you desire any further assurances, we will gladly cooperate with you in that respect. Very truly yours, ROBERT PFEIFLE, Mayor. Messrs. Hinkle and Yonik moved this communication be received, spread upon the minutes, and the action of the mayor approved, which motion prevailed on roll call by the votes of the following: Messrs. Hinkle, Wear, Yonik, and Pfeifle, 4. Certified a true and correct extract from the minutes of the meeting of city council held on September 4, 1945, this 4th day of April 1946. [SEAL] BERTRAM L. NAGLE, City Clerk. OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Resolved by the Council of the City of Allentown, That whereas on August 29, 1945, city council of the city of Allentown passed resolution No. 9321, which reads as follows: "That city council is in favor of the plan as submitted by Army engineers for flood control of the Lehigh River in the city of Allentown and will assume its share of land damages for said project within city limits"; and Whereas the city of Allentown is now willing to extend further cooperative to the proper flood authorities of the United States in this matter: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the council of the city of Allentown, That the city council is in favor of the plan as submitted by the Army engineers for flood control of the Lehigh River in the city of Allentown and will assume its share of land damages for said project within city limits; Also, the city will hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction of these works; Also the city of Allentown will maintain and operate them after completion in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War. This is to certify that the above copy of resolution No. 9521 was adopted by city council and signed by the mayor on April 8, 1946. [SEAL] GEO. W. KISTLER, City Clerk. The CHAIRMAN. Any questions by Mr. Allen! Mr. ALLEN. There is one thing I want to settle in my own mind right now. I will direct this question to the colonel. In estimating the damages and costs, and so forth, do you take into consideration only this particular section of the river between, say, the proposed reservoir, and, say, Allentown, or do you consider the secondary benefits that would flow on down the Delaware? I do not know what cities are on down the Delaware, but there are cities down there. That is what I would like to know. In other words, do you consider the particular area involved or do you go on down the river and consider the damage that is withheld from those communities down the Delaware section? Colonel HERB. I can answer that question. It varies with each stream. It so happens that at Easton most of the damage is caused by the backwater from the Delaware River. On this particular stream, the Lehigh River, the average annual preventable damages, computed since the year 1902, have been estimated at $722,100. This protection we are proposing will eliminate a certain amount of those damages. Mr. ALLEN. Maybe I have not made myself clear. It strikes me that you ought to consider the benefits that will accrue to cities on down the main stream as a result of this water being held back. Colonel HERB. We do that, sir. Mr. ALLEN. For instance, on the Red River in Louisiana, if we adopt suitable measures to hold back the water in Red River, then that affects cities on the Mississippi River and Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Do you take into consideration the secondary benefits? General CRAWFORD. We do, Mr. Allen, particularly on the streams flowing into the Mississippi. In this case, the benefits are taken down as far as Freemansburg, which is above Easton. We have not figured any additional benefits, you might say, on the Delaware. Although, if you followed the same rule we follow with regard to the Mississippi, there might be some benefits reaped on the Delaware. Mr. WALTER. I can point out to you very easily that you ignored a very important thing, General. These floods which have been the most serious floods came at a time when the Delaware River was low. It was not a case of the Delaware backing up and preventing the Lehigh from flowing off. This flood in 1942 came at a time when the Delaware River was very low. Here is what happened. As you know, the State of Pennsylvania recently enacted laws that require the coal companies to stop dumping the silt in these rivers. Tons and tons of this stuff is carried down the Lehigh River and the Delaware necessitating very large appropriations annually in order to get our battleships up to the navy yard in Philadelphia. There can be no question about the secondary benefits. When the Delaware is high and the Lehigh floods, there is carried enough floodwater down the Delaware to do about $200,000 worth of damage to the interstate bridges annually. Mr. ALLEN. If we adopt measures to hold back water in the Lehigh River, holding it out of the Delaware River, that is secondary benefits down the Delaware? Mr. WALTER. Exactly. The CHAIRMAN. Any questions by Mr. Clason. Mr. CLASON. No, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Any questions by any other members of the committee? Any further statements? |