Mr. ELLIOTT. But there is only one of them, up to date, perhaps, that has paid out?

Mr. BASHORE. I do not recall, Mr. Elliott, but I think the record of payment on reclamation projects is pretty good.

Mr. ELLIOTT. Can you secure that information for the record? Mr. BASHORE. A record of the number of projects that have paid up? Mr. ELLIOTT. Yes; and the ones that are behind in their payments. Mr. BASHORE. Yes. I think I can prepare for you a statement that will show you the status of payments on all reclamation projects. Would that be satisfactory?

Mr. ELLIOTT. Yes.

The CHAIRMAN. Would you like to have it put into the record?
Mr. ELLIOTT. Yes.

The CHAIRMAN. About how much information would it contain?
Mr. BASHORE. It would be two or three pages in tabular form.
(The tabulation referred to is as follows:)

Statement of reclamation fund construction charges paid and unpaid as of June

Mr. ELLIOTT. I want to make a further statement, Mr. Chairman, in reference to what has been said regarding irrigation and reclamation projects. The Central Valley project has been under consideration since 1935. It was to benefit the farmers in the San Joaquin Valley, but to date not one shovelful of earth has been moved. There has been a carry-over of from $10,000,000 to $20,000,000 every year. Mr. Ickes is not interested in reclamation or irrigation. He is interested only in power for electric light and power to run everything he sees fit, disregarding everybody else's rights. That is very definitely proved in connection with the Central Valley project. He has not given consideration to the people of the San Joaquin Valley that the project was set up to benefit. Nine hundred thousand acrefeet of water is wasting out to sea. The water table is going down and down, and the people are called upon to pay excessive power bills and to continue to produce foodstuffs. But not one shovelful of dirt was moved, long before we ever became involved in the war, or even before they were fighting in Europe. Nothing was done. They were piddling around on W. P. A. projects, trying to find something for people to do, and there was a carry-over each and every year. They were not interested in reclamation or irrigation for the people who are now doing their utmost to feed the American people. No wonder the people in my section are dissatisfied. They have seen it happen year after year. Large amounts of steel are used each year in repairs to the pumping plant system. Nothing has been accomplished. That is why I presented eight resolutions here this morning from chambers of commerce, county supervisors, and cities asking for the Corps of Army Engineers to do something. The Bureau has been given a chance, but nothing has been done for my people in the San Joaquin Valley. Still we are paying taxes and producing food at great cost.

It is not Mr. Bashore's fault; it is the fault of the ones above him that have held this thing back.

The CHAIRMAN. We are obliged to you for your help, Mr. Bashore. Mr. BASHORE. I want to express my appreciation to you, the chairman of the committee, and all the committee members for the fairness of this hearing and the patience which you have exhibited in dealing with me on this complex problem.

The CHAIRMAN. It occurs to me that the Commissioner of Reclamation has almost persuaded us, and if it is possible for you to agree with the view of the citizens of that district out there, and get together with the Chief of Engineers on it, I believe it will be a matter of. general satisfaction.

The committee stands adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. (Whereupon, at 12:10 p. m., the committee adjourned until tomorrow, Friday, February 11, 1944, at 10 a. m.)

FLOOD-CONTROL PLANS AND NEW PROJECTS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1944

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
COMMITTEE ON FLOOD CONTROL,
Washington, D. C.

The committee met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment, Hon. Will M. Whittington (chairman) presiding.

The CHAIRMAN. The committee will be in order.

We have under consideration today projects in the upper and lower Ohio River and tributaries, including Salt River at Taylorsville, Ky.; the Potomac River and tributaries; the New England region, including the Connecticut and Merrimack Rivers; the Middle Atlantic region, including New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey; and the South Atlantic region, including rivers flowing into the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico east of the Mississippi River.

Previously, in the hearings in June 1943, we considered all the reports that had been submitted since the act of 1941; and the only report that has been submitted since the June hearings, as I recall, is the report on the project on Salt River, in Kentucky. Am I correct about that?

Colonel GOETHALS. Yes; that is the only one; however, there is a report on Loyalhanna Creek at Latrobe, Pa., which is now enroute to Congress.

The CHAIRMAN. We have a number of witnesses for today. Representative Plumley, of Vermont, has furnished the committee, after a conference with the chairman, a list of witnesses with respect to the projects along the Connecticut River; and appearing with Representative Plumley today are Senator Austin and Senator Aiken. The witnesses who have come down especially to testify today are the attorney general of the State of Vermont, Mr. Alban Parker, Mr. Waterman, special counsel for the State of Vermont, and Judge Shea, representing an organization known as Freemen, Inc.

I believe, before you make your initial statements, it would be well to have a word from the engineers at this point, so as to keep it. connected.

STATEMENT OF COL. GEORGE R. GOETHALS, CORPS OF

ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY

The CHAIRMAN. Colonel Goethals, the project that the Senators and Representatives from Vermont are interested in is the general Connecticut River, and particularly a reservoir at Williamsville. For the record I will ask you to state whether or not Congress has approved that project and, if so, under what law and under what report.

97311-44-vol. 2-18

689

Colonel GOETHALS. The project is covered in House Document 724, Seventy-sixth Congress, third session, it being one of the reservoirs in the approved plan for flood control in the Connecticut River Basin adopted in the Flood Control Act approved August 18, 1941.

The CHAIRMAN. And in that act there was an authorization for the initiation of reservoir projects along the Connecticut River?

Colonel GOETHALS. Yes, sir. The previously approved plan was modified and the authorization was increased.

The CHAIRMAN. My recollection is that $10,000,000 was authorized for the prosecution of the comprehensive plan approved in the act of 1938 as modified by the document to which you have referred? Colonel GOETHALS. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. So that so far as Congress is concerned and so far as this committee is concerned, the Williamsville Reservoir is among the reservoirs that have been authorized and approved along the tributaries of the Connecticut River?

Colonel GOETHALS. Correct, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you for your statement.

If you will come around, please, Mr. Plumley, we will be glad to have your statement at this time.

STATEMENT OF HON. CHARLES A. PLUMLEY, A REPRESENTATIVE AT LARGE IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES FROM THE STATE OF VERMONT

Mr. PLUMLEY. All the statement that I care to make at this time, Mr. Chairman, is that I would like to insert a statement in the record. Senators Austin and Aiken, Hon. Alban J. Parker, Attorney General of the State of Vermont, Hon. Sterry R. Waterman, special counsel for the Governor of the State of Vermont, and Hon. Edward J. Shea, of Brattleboro, representating Freemen, Inc., are in Washington to protest the construction of the proposed West River Valley Dam. These gentlemen have come down here not only to protest the violation of State's rights, but also to protest the Federal Government's undertaking to inundate, devastate, and destroy a large piece of valuable territory and the homes of old settlers in a historic section of the country in order to contribute a minimum toward flood control.

They believe, as I do, that the ruination of the West River Valley region would follow as a sequel to the construction of the proposed power-flood control dam. The benefit to be derived therefrom does not warrant the obliteration of villages, the resultant necessity for the relocation of miles of highway, and the invasion of the right of the people to be safe and secure in the communities they have built.

The advantage to be obtained by carrying out this project is so minor as compared with the damage to be done that any reasonable man, it seems to me, would be opposed to the proposition on the basis of

common sense.

At this time, in view of the fact that on the 23d day of February Members of Congress and Senators are entitled to be heard, and I assume that you expect us to be heard, at that time, I would like now, just for the purpose of your being able to recognize these witnesses when you call on them, to have you know Senator Austin, the senior

Senator from Vermont, and Senator Aiken, the junior Senator from Vermont..

The CHAIRMAN. We know them both, and they have both appeared before the committee previously.

Mr. PLUMLEY. I assume that might be so.

I would like to have Mr. Parker, the attorney general of the State of Vermont, rise so that you will get an idea of what he looks like. The CHAIRMAN. We are glad to have you here, sir.

Mr. PLUMLEY. And Mr. Waterman, the special counsel for the State of Vermont.

The CHAIRMAN. We are glad to have you, Mr. Waterman.

Mr. PLUMLEY. And Judge Shea, representing Free Men, Inc.
The CHAIRMAN. We are delighted to have you, sir.

Mr. PLUMLEY. They are at your service and will await your pleasure.

The CHAIRMAN. Not only do the members of the committee know the Senators from Vermont, but everybody in the United States knows of Senator Austin and Senator Aiken.

Do you have a statement, Senator Austin?

Senator AUSTIN. I have no statement to make at this time. Of course, our appearance here shows how deeply we are interested in the question; and on the 23d we will be present and make statements. The CHAIRMAN. We are glad to have you with us this morning and shall be glad to have your further statement.

Do you desire to make a statement, Senator Aiken?

STATEMENT OF HON. GEORGE D. AIKEN, A SENATOR OF THE UNITED STATES FROM THE STATE OF VERMONT

Senator AIKEN. Mr. Chairman, I think the representatives who have come down here from Vermont will make all the statements that are necessary at this time.

I am personally very much interested in the so-called Williamsville project which has also been called the Newfane project and the West Dummerston project. We feel that it is one project that will definitely do more harm than good to the State.

The chairman probably recalls that when I was Governor of the State of Vermont I gave my approval to the construction of the Union Village project, and I certainly am not against all reasonable methods of flood control.

I have nothing more to say at this time, but to thank the chairman for this opportunity.

The CHAIRMAN. We will be glad to have a supplemental statement when we reach the time allotted for Senators and Representatives. Senator AIKEN. I might have such a statement, Mr. Chairman, at that time. It depends upon whether there is anything left to be said at that time.

The CHAIRMAN. We recall your former appearance before the committee and your interest in flood-control work in Vermont. I believe it was during your administration as Governor of the State that several reservoirs were constructed. Am I correct about that?

Senator AIKEN. The largest one was completed while I was Gov