Mr. WHITTINGTON. Mr. Chairman, I desire to insert in the record resolutions adopted by representatives from Quitman, Holmes, Sunflower, Yazoo, Coahoma, Grenada, Tate, Tallahatchie, Panola, Tunica, Yalobusha, Humphreys, DeSoto, Leflore, Carroll, Washington, Marshall, Warren, Lafayette, and Benton Counties, Miss., on February 26, 1935, at a mass meeting held in Greenwood, Miss., furnished me by Archie Pepper, chairman, and Mildred S. Topp, secretary. I may add that similar resolutions have been adopted by the Chambers of Commerce and civic organizations in practically every community in the Yazoo Basin. Similar resolutions have been passed by the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board and by the Mississippi Board of Levee Commissioners. EXHIBIT C RESOLUTIONS ON FLOOD CONTROL Whereas destructive floods in the Yazoo-Yalobusha-Tallahatchie-Coldwater Basin are of ever-increasing occurence, causing millions of dollars of damage to property, great loss of life, and human suffering; and Whereas the affected basin is the most fertile and the most important agricultural area in the world; and Whereas the basin is unable to provide funds whereby an adequate system of control of floods may be effected, although surveys by competent engineers declare that such control is easily possible; and Whereas the United States Government, under the leadership of its great President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, is providing for a system of public works as a major measure for the recovery of the United States from depression and for the providing of employment for the unemployed people of the United States; and Whereas the inclusion of flood control in the Yazoo-Yalobusha-TallahatchieColdwater Basin would provide much employment and at the same time prevent the further destruction of a fertile producing area: Therefore be it Resolved by the citizens of the several counties affected in mass meeting assembled, That the Senators and Congressmen of Mississippi and the Public Works Administration are urged to use every effort for the adequate control of floods in the Yazoo-Yalobusha-Tallahatchie-Coldwater Basin under the supervision of and according to any plans which may be made by the Government of the United States, and we especially recommend that cleaning out and straightening of the streams, terracing of lands, and soil-erosion prevention be included in such plans; be it further Resolved, That Governor M. S. Conner, the Representatives and Senators of the various counties of Mississippi be urged to provide for the necessary legislation whereby the State of Mississippi or the affected area may cooperate with any agency of the United States Government in carrying out a program of flood control in the affected basin and soil-erosion prevention in the watershed of the rivers causing such floods; be it further Resolved, That we appreciate and approve the resolution of the Coldwater Basin Protective Association adopted at Senatobia, Friday, February 22, 1935, and pledge them our hearty cooperation in carrying out the aims of their association. The above resolution was introduced at a mass meeting of citizens in Greenwood, at the chamber of commerce, on February 26, 1935. On a motion duly put it was adopted unanimously. Representatives from the following counties were present, as follows: Quitman, Holmes, Sunflower, Yazoo, Coahoma, Grenada, Tate, Tallahatchie, Panola, Tunica, Yalobusha, Humphreys, DeSoto, Leflore, Carroll, Washington, Marshall, Warren, Lafayette, Benton. ARCHIE PEPPER, Chairman. Mr. WHITTINGTON. Mr. Chairman, I desire to insert in the record a resolution adopted by the Chamber of Commerce of Greenwood, Miss.; the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Greenwood; American Legion Post No. 49 of Greenwood; the Greenwood Kiwanis Club, endorsing the Yazoo-Tallahatchie-Coldwater River project as recommended by the Chief of Engineers. Similar resolutions have been passed and furnished to me by the Chamber of Commerce of Moorhead and by the Moorhead Rotary Club, Greenwood, Miss. Similar resolutions have been furnished me by the citizens and property owners of Quitman County, Miss.; by the Rotary Club, of Drew, Miss.; by the Rotary Club and by the Business and Professional Women's Club, of Tchula, Miss.; and by the Board of Supervisors of Humphreys County, Miss. RESOLUTION ON FLOOD CONTROL Whereas destructive floods in the Yazoo-Tallahatchie-Coldwater Basin are of ever-increasing occurrence, causing millions of dollars of damage to property, great loss of life, and human suffering; and Whereas the affected basin is the most fertile and the most important agricultural area in the world; and Whereas the basin is unable to provide funds whereby an adequate system of control of floods may be effected, although surveys by competent engineers declare that such control is easily possible; and Whereas the United States Government, under the leadership of its great President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, is providing for a system of public works as a major measure for the recovery of the United States from depression, and for the providing of employment for the unemployed people of the United States; and Whereas inclusion of flood control in the Yazoo-Tallahatchie-Coldwater Basin would provide much employment, and at the same time prevent the further destruction of a fertile producing area: Therefore be it Resolved by the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and the undersigned civic organizations of Greenwood, Miss., in meeting assembled, That the Senators and Congressmen of Mississippi and the Public Works Administration are urged to use every effort for the allocation of funds from the Public Works Administration for the adequate control of floods in the Yazoo-Tallahatchie-Coldwater Basin under the supervision of and according to any plans which may be made by the Government of the United States; be it further Resolved, That Gov. M. S. Conner, the representatives and senators of the various counties of Mississippi be urged to provide for the necessary legislation whereby the State of Mississippi or the affected area may cooperate with any agency of the United States Government in carrying out a program of flood control in the affected basin. Adopted February 11, 1935. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF GREENWOOD. JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. GREEN WOOD ROTARY CLUB. AMERICAN LEGION POST No. 49. GREENWOOD KIWANIS CLUB. Mr. WHITTINGTON. Mr. Chairman, I desire to present for record a resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Humphreys County, the Belzoni Rotary Club, the Humphreys County Chamber of Commerce, the Belzoni Business and Professional Women's Club, the American Legion of Belzoni, Miss., on February 15, 1935, advocating a flood-control project along the Yazoo River system, as follows, to wit: RESOLUTIONS ON FLOOD CONTROL Whereas a disastrous flood again prevails over the Yazoo-Tallahatchie-Coldwater River, resulting in great loss of life, human suffering, and great property loss in the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta, in which lies the most fertile land in the world; and Whereas such destructive floods have been of frequent occurrence and their recurrence is certain; and Whereas by reason of such floods the Federal land bank, the joint-stock land banks, life-insurance companies, and other lending agencies in which the United States Government is financially interested are in jeopardy of losing their investments in the affected area; and Whereas the solution of the flood-control problems of this river will be of incalculable benefit in the treatment of flood control in all other parts of the United States; and Whereas these flood losses, added to the present economic distress, have impoverished the inhabitants of this area so that they are unable to provide financially for their protection against such floods; and Whereas the President of the United States is about to promulgate a great system of public works to serve also as a major measure for the relief of unemployment: Therefore be it Resolved, That all of the Senators and Congressmen of Mississippi and the Public Works Administration are hereby urged to use every effort so that flood control for the Yazoo-Tallahatchie-Coldwater River, by any plan which may be made by the United States Government, be included in such Public Works program; be it further Resolved, That Gov. M. S. Conner and the representatives and senators from all of the counties of the State of Mississippi be hereby urged to provide the legislation required so that the affected area can cooperate with the Federal Government in carrying out a comprehensive plan of flood control. Adopted February 15, 1935. Belzoni Business and Professional Women's Club, by Annie M. Putnam, president; Belzoni Woman's Club, by Mrs. James Vincent, president; American Legion. Arthur Alexander Post, No. 68, by C. Sevier, service officer; Board of Supervisors, Humphreys County, by B. A. Holaday, president; the Belzoni Rotary Club, by Will Solomon, secretary; Humphreys County Chamber of Commerce, by Enoch Haga, president; city of Belzoni, by A. C. Bradley, clerk. Mr. WHITTINGTON. Mr. Chairman, I ask permission to insert a petition signed by citizens and residents of Quitman County, Miss., dated February 14, 1935, the petition being signed by W. A. Cole and many other citizens and taxpayers endorsing the Yazoo-Tallahatchie-Coldwater River project, as follows: MEETING OF THE CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN OF LAMBERT AND COMMUNITY, IN QUITMAN COUNTY, MISS., HELD ON FEBRUARY 14, 1935 We, the undersigned mayor and board of aldermen of the town of Lambert, Miss., commissioners of drainage districts, citizens, and residents of Lambert and community, in Quitman County, Miss., respectfully request that you use your influence and support in securing flood relief for the people of this community and county. Approximately 85,000 acres of the most fertile land in the State, in Quitman County, have reverted to the State for the nonpayment of taxes due to the flood waters of Yocona, Coldwater, and Tallahatchie Rivers. All local drainage districts in our county are now practically bankrupt. We are no longer able to handle this situation locally, and hereby appeal to you for help. Due to the fact that 85,000 acres of land have gone back to the State, it increases the tax burden on the taxpayers on all other lands. The flood waters from these rivers have caused losses of million of dollars in property, and loss of life, and immeasurable hardships on the people residing in this district. The flood situation is becoming more acute with each overflow of the rivers. In a recent overflow land was inundated that had never before been covered with water, this involved several thousand acres of land. Respectfully submitted. W. A. Cole, W. L. Riskiss, E. A. McVey, J. E. Harlow, John P. Black, Mr. WHITTINGTON. Mr. Chairman, I desire to insert in the record copy of a resolution adopted by the Boards of Supervisors of De Soto County, Tunica County, Marshall County, Tate County, Panola County, Quitman Copunty, Tallahatchie County, Sunflower County, Leflore County, Humphreys County, and Yazoo County, Miss., at Tutwiler, February 6, 1935, as follows: RESOLUTION UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED AT TUTWILER, MISS., FEBRUARY 6, 1935 Whereas the recent heavy rains have caused a major flood on the Coldwater River; and Whereas the waters coming from the Coldwater River and uniting with the flood waters from the Tallahatchie River, the Yocona River, the Yalobusha River, and their tributaries, have caused damage amounting to millions of dollars and have caused great loss of life; and Whereas this damage has been continuously recurring over a period of years; and Whereas the landowners and citizens of this flooded area have suffered such severe losses that they are unable to continue the losing fight against the flood waters; and Whereas the flooded area is of such size and the floods occur with such frequency and intensity as to constitute a national problem: Therefore be it Resolved, That we, the undersigned counties of Mississippi, hereby request that an allotment be made from the funds provided for public works in the United States in a sufficient amount to prepare and execute a comprehensive plan of flood and backwater control on the entire drainage area of the Coldwater, Tallahatchie, Yocona, Yalobusha, and Yazoo Rivers and their tributaries, to the point of their junction with the Mississippi River; be it further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be presented to the Mississippi State engineer for the Public Works Administration, to the President of the United States, and to the Mississippi Senators and Representatives in the Congress. De Soto County Board of Supervisors, Tunica County Board of Mr. WHITTINGTON. Mr. Chairman, I ask permission to insert in the record resolutions adopted by the Board of Levee Commissioners for the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta, as follows, to wit: RESOLUTION BY THE BOARD OF LEVEE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE YAZOO-MISSISSIPPI DELTA, CLARKSDALE, MISS. Clarksdale, Miss. Whereas the Commissioners of the Board of Levee Commissioners for the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta are deeply sensible of the tremendous loss in life and property to the people of the Coldwater-Tallahatchie-Yazoo Basin due to frequently recurring floods: Be it therefore Resolved, That in view of this fact they realize the extreme necessity of providing immediate relief from future floods, and they deem the use of reservoirs as advocated by Congressman Whittington to be the most logical and best means of controlling floods; Be it therefore Resolved, That this board will lend its support and influence to the end that reservoirs be constructed for the control of the waters of the ColdwaterTallahatchie-Yazoo Basin, and heartily approves the course now pursued by Congressman Whittington in advocating the plan of the United States Engineers for such control. Mr. WHITTINGTON. Now, Mr. Chairman, as in the case of St. Francis, it was my rather general understanding that both the St. Francis and the Yazoo proper would be taken up after the modifications along the Mississippi River had been disposed of, and I so advised some of my constituents as well as others who were interested, especially in the Yazoo River proper, and, for the present, Mr. Chairman, I would merely ask that the same privilege be accorded the constituents of my colleagues, Messrs. Doxey, Ford, and McGehee, in the event that they should come along, and, Mr. Chairman, I wish to point out that in the hearings of the last 6 years the representatives from the Yazoo Basin have consumed altogether not more than a few hours, and we will not consume very much time, in event that they come along, next week. Now, Mr. Chairman, at the convenience of the committee, I desire to make a statement as the representative of the Yazoo Basin, especially with respect to the Yazoo problem, before the hearings are closed, and inasmuch as there are a number here from that area and other areas, I believe that it would be more agreeable for me to make my statement later on, probably at the same time that Judge Driver makes his statement with reference to the St. Francis. That is all that I have now, unless anyone has any questions. Mr. DEAR. I would like to ask a question, or to make an observation, before you leave the Yazoo. The engineer for that district, in his statement, said that he did not know of any reason why there would be different treatment in the lands taken for the reservoirs of Mississippi and the lands taken |