Flood Control in the Mississippi Valley

It has been perfectly evident to the Mississippi River Commission and myself that any solution of the problem of the lower Mississippi River is impossible, so far as unanimities are concerned. As you talk individually with Tom, or Dick, or Harry, each has his own opinion and will stick to it very tenaciously. That, of course, is just human nature.

Therefore, in finding ultimately a solution, we have done it with complete disregard of those who individually cannot understand it, or individually cannot agree with it. Our hands and feet are tied with respect to the lower Mississippi Valley, except as we attempt to develop a solution that represents the most reasonable and, perhaps, even the most generous thing the Corps of Engineers can advocate, if, in fact, a flood-control solution is to be had at all.

In the past, as you all know, there has been a general conception hat the flood waters should go down the Boeuf and down the tchafalaya, that they must go in these areas, and that the United ates is legally unconcerned.

The Engineer Corps expressed to this committee the opinion that to these legal matters we have no responsibility or authority as where the flood waters go. I want to make that statement pery flat-footed, because that seems to be the legal situation, as nderstand it. Of course, the equitable side of the picture is of erent color.

have tried to find what I think is decently expressed in the ation of the two words "generous equity ", and that generous so far as I am concerned, is represented in what we have

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have been theories, as we all know, that the United States o into these areas natural to flood waters and pay some eage value, to the end that the people are reimbursed, 1 everything returns to the woods and the bees and the the grasses.

lutions have been suggested, to the effect that the Govv out these basins and put them back into the national ne kind or another.

neither of these solutions as being reasonable or having rd for the conservation that, without doubt, the people States have very strongly in mind.

d to me that to take more than a minimum amount of taxation and production would represent the lowest vation, if any.

1, therefore, without the suggestion or assistance of I will make that very flat-to the theory of getting the east of Macon Ridge, that would occupy minior the fundamental purpose of protecting the bal, and would leave in production and taxation the to the benefit of the States and to the benefit of

rongly, we think that that floodway to the east of engineeringly economical, and to be the best soluown the river we have the option of insisting upon of the fuseplugs at the head of the Atchafalaya the same theory as to the legal obligation.

adjust those differences, if possible, this committee passed a resolution asking the then Chief of Engineers to make a complete review of the entire project, with recommendations for such modifications that might be made therein, leading to its final completion.

The main disputed features were floodways, as to whether the flood waters should be, if necessary, regulated at the outlet, and controlled there; whether compensation should be paid for lands taken and used, if they were found to be absolutely essential.

Under that resolution the Chief of Engineers of the Army, at that time General Brown, appointed a special committee of which Gen. Harley B. Ferguson was chairman. General Ferguson is now president of the Mississippi River Commission.

Later the work passed to General Markham, the present Chief of Engineers, and following a request of the Congress and of this committee practically 3 years have been spent in a study and making experiments at the experimental station at Vicksburg. Every request made by the citizens of the valley and in connection with the action taken by this committee and the Congress has been complied with in studying and experimenting, and recommendations have finally been made, contained in committee document no. 1, Seventyfourth Congress, first session, which contains the report of the Chief of Engineers, with a report of the Mississippi River Commission appended thereto.

These hearings are called to discuss these recommendations prior to the completion of this, the greatest engineering project ever undertaken in this or any other nation.

Of course, I appreciate the interest of those concerned in the Mississippi Valley, and their presence here today.

We will arrange these hearings so that the Chief of Engineers may direct them insofar as his assistants are concerned.

I now introduce General Markham, the Chief of Engineers of the Army, and I suggest that he make a general statement to the committee in reference to this matter, without interruption, and then questions will be asked by members of the committe, beginning at the head of the table. That will be the limit on the procedure of the present time.

General Markham, the committee will be glad to hear you now. STATEMENT OF MAJ. GEN. EDWARD M. MARKHAM, CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY

General MARKHAM. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I have been carrying the ball for about 15 months or thereabouts, and sometimes I feel like the Negro in France who did not know the name of the village because he had not been there but a week. I am sure I do not know many things that pertain to the lower Mississippi Valley.

On the other hand, I have given it such time and attention, rather continuously for 15 months, as to find myself in substantial disagreement with matters suggested, interdepartmentally, last year, leading to my disinclination to make any report last year, as you

will recall.

This matter of study and attempted understanding has been continuous since that time, and has resulted finally in the report about which you all know.

It has been perfectly evident to the Mississippi River Commission and myself that any solution of the problem of the lower Mississippi River is impossible, so far as unanimities are concerned. As you talk individually with Tom, or Dick, or Harry, each has his own opinion and will stick to it very tenaciously. That, of course, is just human nature.

Therefore, in finding ultimately a solution, we have done it with. complete disregard of those who individually cannot understand it, or individually cannot agree with it. Our hands and feet are tied with respect to the lower Mississippi Valley, except as we attempt to develop a solution that represents the most reasonable and, perhaps, even the most generous thing the Corps of Engineers can advocate, if, in fact, a flood-control solution is to be had at all.

In the past, as you all know, there has been a general conception that the flood waters should go down the Boeuf and down the Atchafalaya, that they must go in these areas, and that the United States is legally unconcerned.

The Engineer Corps expressed to this committee the opinion that as to these legal matters we have no responsibility or authority as to where the flood waters go. I want to make that statement perfectly flat-footed, because that seems to be the legal situation, as we understand it. Of course, the equitable side of the picture is of a different color.

We have tried to find what I think is decently expressed in the combination of the two words "generous equity ", and that generous equity, so far as I am concerned, is represented in what we have reported.

There have been theories, as we all know, that the United States should go into these areas natural to flood waters and pay some small acreage value, to the end that the people are reimbursed, whereupon everything returns to the woods and the bees and the birds and the grasses.

Other solutions have been suggested, to the effect that the Government buy out these basins and put them back into the national reserves of one kind or another.

I could see neither of these solutions as being reasonable or having any due regard for the conservation that, without doubt, the people of the several States have very strongly in mind.

It has seemed to me that to take more than a minimum amount of ground out of taxation and production would represent the lowest form of conservation, if any.

That has led, therefore, without the suggestion or assistance of anybody-and I will make that very flat-to the theory of getting a floodway to the east of Macon Ridge, that would occupy minimum acreage, for the fundamental purpose of protecting the balance from flood, and would leave in production and taxation the highest acreage, to the benefit of the States and to the benefit of the people.

Rightly or wrongly, we think that that floodway to the east of Macon Ridge is engineeringly economical, and to be the best solution. Passing down the river we have the option of insisting upon the maintenance of the fuseplugs at the head of the Atchafalaya Basin under the same theory as to the legal obligation.