about 3 feet. Today I want to urge the committee to give consideration and study to what is known as the Harlan County Reservoir which is on the Republican River, a tributary of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers. This reservoir is of the multiple type and should be given a priority for consideration at the earliest opportunity. If additional authorizations are needed for it I sincerely urge the committee to approve them. The Republican River Valley is one stream that suffers seriously from flash floods and the excess water from these floods has caused serious damage down the main stem of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers. This reservoir should, in my opinion, be the first one constructed as a part of the basin development.

STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE WALTER E. BREHM, OF THE ELEVENTH DISTRICT OF OHIO

Mr. CHAIRMAN: Under the privilege granted me by your committee last Friday to extend my remarks, permit me to express the hope that your committee can see its way clear to recommend the approval of the reservoirs known as Delaware, Darby, Deer, Paint, and Rocky Fork, as designed by the Army engineers. This request is based solely upon a need for this water impoundment. STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE EDWARD G. ROHRBOUGH, OF THE THIRD DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA

GENTLEMEN: I am asking that the dam project at Burnsville, W. Va., in the Little Kanawha River, and the one at Sutton on the Elk River, and the one at Summersville on the Gauley River, be included in the new authorization, and that for these projects the engineers be requested to perpare designs and plans. While in ordinary times the Little Kanawha River is not a very large stream, it becomes quite large in flood times. I lived for many years 18 miles below Burnsville, at Glenville, and I recall at least in one instance when the river at flood stage attained a depth of 34 feet. This river empties into the Ohio at Parkersburg, and naturally, with the volume of water that it discharges, contributes substantially to the flood conditions at Parkersburg and below. From the site of the proposed dam at the mouth of the river at Parkersburg is a distance of some 75 miles, and the valley along this river is pretty completely inundated when the river is at its highest.

The dam at Sutton, on the Elk River, would pretty thoroughly control the floods to which the entire Elk Valley, from Sutton through the towns of Gassaway, Clay, Clendennin, and the city of Charleston, to some extent are subjected frequently. I understand considerable preliminary work has been done already with respect to designs and plans for this project, and I think it is a most important measure, not only because of the benefits that will accrue to the towns along the river, but also at the capitol city of Charleston at the mouth of the Elk.

While the Gauley River does not carry as large a volume of water as either of the other two projects mentioned, it still does discharge into the Kanawha River, at Gauley Bridge, a rather large quantity, and helps substantially to cause the Kanawha River to overflow its banks from Gauley Bridge to Point Pleasant, where it empties into the Ohio River. If this river had on it a dam, and the dam should be constructed at Sutton, the two projects would go far toward relieving the city of Charleston from the danger of floods to which it is subjected usually once or twice a year.

These three projects that I have enumerated are in the Third Congressional District, which I have the honor to represent, and I respectfully request that they receive from your committee your careful attention.

STATEMENT OF HON. THOMAS D. WINTER, REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF KANSAS

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I have appeared before this committee on two different occasions, April 4, 1940, and May 9, 1941, in behalf of the flood-control program as recommended by the Army engineers, in Documents 107 and 440, Seventy-sixth Congress, on the Verdigris River, the Neosho River, and

96833-44-vol. 1-27

Spring River in southeastern Kansas. These rivers and their tributaries have caused millions of dollars of damage in eight of the nine counties in the Third Congressional District of Kansas, which I represent. This area has just experienced one of the most devastating floods in the history of southeastern Kansas, which caused damage to highways, crops, and property damage running into the millions of dollars, and the need for flood control in this area is imperative. The Army engineers have filed a very comprehensive report dealing with this situation which is contained in the two documents which I have previously referred to.

In 1941 this committee saw fit to recommend legislation, which was subsequently passed by Congress, authorizing the construction of two flood-control dams in this area. Since that time one of the most severe floods we have ever had in this area has occurred. Additional authorizations should be made for floodcontrol work in this area as recommended by the Army engineers, and the citizens of this area will greatly appreciate any consideration given them in an effort to alleviate these floods, which are becoming more severe year by year. Proper flood-control measures in this area would materially relieve the flood damage in the Arkansas River Valley, as these streams are flood-producing tributaries of the Arkansas River.

Mr. Chairman, I want to urge that your committee seriously consider further authorization for flood-control work in southeastern Kansas as recommended by the Army engineers.

STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE C. W. (RUNT) BISHOP, TWENTY-FIFTH DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS, BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FLOOD CONTROL ON JUNE 17, 1943

The great midwestern section has just witnessed the most disastrous flood in the past 99 years, and since part of this flood condition was experienced by sec tions of the Twenty-fifth Illinois Congressional District, I am privileged to represent, I want to take this opportunity to tell the House Committee on Flood Control certain conditions which should be corrected if we are to avoid a repetition of such disasters.

The Mississippi River was the principal stream involved in the recent flood, inasmuch as this river is the heart of the great American River system. The crest of the flood in the Mississippi at St. Louis was 38.9 feet, which was just under the record-breaking crest of 41.39 feet at that same place in 1844.

As a result of this flood condition, 43,000 acres of Randolph County and 55,450 acres of Jackson County were inundated. In the city of McClure in Union County floodwaters swept through the city with such force that approximately 52 houses were literally swept away. Water in the streets ranged to 12 feet deep. In addition, homes, places of business, roads, and bridges were ruined.

I am in receipt of information from the American Red Cross that the total inundated area throughout the Midwest was 1,250,000 acres and the crop acreage was about 750,000, and in all more than 11,000 families were affected. It is estimated that 300 homes were destroyed and at least 4,000 damaged. Most damage of this character was along the Illinois River, which does not pass through the Twenty-fifth District.

It is my thought that when the necessary flood-control program is developed that by all means sufficient levees should be included throughout the Mississippi System, and by all means I want to suggest that that be considered along the affected areas in Randolph, Jackson, Alexander, and Union Counties in the State of Illinois.

Hon. C. W. BISHOP,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. 0.

HERRIN, ILL., June 14, 1943.

DEAR SIR: After our telephone conversation yesterday and as I already explained in telegram, went through a part of the flood area in Union and Alexander Counties, did not make any attempt to reach Gorham and Grand Tower district.

As you already know from reports the entire district bordering Mississippi River from a few miles below Chester to the Cashe River dikes 10 miles or so up river from Cairo has been subjected to the most devastating flood since 1844.

The first break in the levee, in the district you represent, occurred slightly up river from Wolfe Lake at 11:45 p. m., May 23. Big Muddy levee, south of Cand Tower, was broken shortly afterward. At McClure directly north of the

village a large section of levee went out on May 27. This last break caused quite extensive property damage to buildings located directly in front of the break.

I own 2,500 acres of land in that vicinity a part of the property is Devils Island, Picayune Island, and a strip of land between the levee and the village of McClure, extending up hard road a distance of about 1 mile. I owned a fine group of buildings near where break occurred, some of the buildings were on north side of levee, remainder were on the south side facing the hard road, route 3. Three dwellings, one entirely modern, and two large barns were torn to pieces and scattered over the countryside, another large building partly demolished, and several small buildings, several privately owned small homes in vicinity of my property were wrecked and scattered over the territory. The crop damage as I explained in telegram is 100-percent lost.

This territory is largely inhabited by tenant farmers, most of them are poor and financially unable to properly reestablish themselves. I thought perhaps in your position it might be possible for you to use your influence in having the Government send in a labor battalion without cost to the natives to clean up the wreckage and place it back on land where it came from. The expense to the Government would be slight since outside of two or three small communities property damage could not be considered great, except, of course, water damage in the territory is considerable. The farmers and tenants are accustomed to that type of damage and in my opinion expect no help since in a few days they can clean out the mud and repaper, themselves.

Early last week practically all of the high land in the river bottoms was clear of water and families were returning to their homes. By the middle of the week river was again rising and today families are again moving out. Flood stage at Cape Girardeau is 32 feet and is expected to reach 36 feet by Wednesday of this week. This rise on account of breaks in the levee will reflood most all of the bottom land. The total acreage in that territory, if I am not mistaken, is around 50,000 acres.

Not many crops of any kind can be expected this year, perhaps a few vegetables in the food line can be raised, such as late potatoes, beans for canning purposes, cucumbers, and tomatoes, it is doubtful if anything much in the way of winter feed can be produced for the stock.

The State militia are patrolling the entire flood district and are apparently looking after the interest of all of the residents. I also learned that the Red Cross was on the job and would make individual investigations of each family in view of rehabilitation.

I would suggest that you at once appoint a planning committee to study flood conditions in the Mississippi River bottoms, that they organize and meet immediately in view of determining what measures should be taken to protect the community from future floods, to provide for the needy, and to cooperate with the Red Cross, State militia, and the Government in this program.

I would select men who are property owners and well known. At Grand Tower I would recommend Ralph Hutchmacher, banker, C. E. Gardiner, mayor, they could represent Jackson County; in Union County, Hal Bishop, of Anna, Ill. Mr. Bishop was particularly helpful in moving people out of the flood district. He kept several large trucks busy day and night moving people, furniture, and equipment out of the territory and understand that he made no charge at all for this service. In Alexander County, I would suggest homas McClure, of McClure, Ill., there might be others you would like to select, I am merely making a suggestion.

I thought perhaps the Government might be willing to send some prisoners in to do repair work on the levee and other work considered advisable. If that could be done I would permit the establishment of a camp, free of charge, for an indefinite period of time on Devils Island. The island is high, more than 6 miles long, fine soil, well adapted to the growth of almost every type of vegetable.

Another matter I would like to discuss with you is the condition of channel at the head of Devils Island. Several years ago the Government moved the channel from Missouri side of the river to the Illinois side and paralleling my property. Devils Island banks were sloped, well rocked, which gives me fine protection against destruction of land due to shifting of channel, however, at the north and east end of island upstream a body of water known as Devils Chute passes south and west around south side of the island, a distance of several miles, during my entire lifetime this channel has existed with not much change until about 2 years ago the chute banks started crumbling into the chute, caving at

the present time is becoming very extensive and is destroying quite a lot of my land. This condition is caused by the Government not properly diking head of the chute when channel was moved from the Missouri to Illinois side. If this condition is not corrected very quickly, in my opinion, heavy current which should be diverted into river now going into Devils chute will continue to cause extensive damage. If this matter could be called to the attention of the Engineering Department, think perhaps they might correct it for me.

Yours sincerely,

C. E. DUNCAN, M. D.

STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE JOHN D. McWILLIAMS, OF THE SECOND DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT

Mr. CHAIRMAN: Because of my personal interest in a flood-control system for the Thames River Basin, I wish to thank you and your committee for your splendid and untiring work. My efforts in that direction started back in 1938, after the hurricane which wrought havoc and destruction throughout New England.

As first selectman of the town of Norwich since 1935, I have been, and still am, vitally interested in the culmination of this project. I trust that under your aegis the matter will be determined favorably on the floor of the House.

I assure you of my wholehearted cooperation.

(REPRESENTATIVE FRITZ G. LANHAM, OF THE TWELFTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS, SUBMITTED THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:)

RESOLUTION No. 15575, WITH RESPECT TO OVERFLOW CONDITIONS IN TARRANT

COUNTY

Whereas flood conditions of recent times in Tarrant County, and particularly in the valley of the west fork of the Trinity River, have caused the loss of human lives and loss of property of the value of millions of dollars, and have rendered homeless thousands of people; and

Whereas this condition was sought to be alleviated in part by the creation of the Fort Worth and Tarrant County water control and improvement district No. 1, and the construction by said district of the Bridgeport and Eagle Mountain Dams and a levee system, all built for the purpose of retarding floodwaters within the basins created by the construction of such dams and by thereafter releasing such floodwater gradually, such dams and levees being constructed at a cost of some six or seven million dollars, financed by tax-supported interest-bearing bonds; and

Whereas many people, relying upon the sufficiency of such dams and levee systems to protect lowland areas from floodwaters, have constructed their homes on lands formerly overflow lands and are now living in such homes; and

Whereas the Federal Government, as a wartime measure, has and does require of the above-named district that the waters in such lakes or reservoirs, and particularly Eagle Mountain Lake, be maintained at spillway level, thereby increasing the danger of floods below such dams and rendering such lakes of no value as flood-prevention factors; and

Whereas unless additional levees are built and other flood-prevention measures are adopted immediately great loss of property will occur and the probability of loss of human lives will ever be present; and

"Whereas most of the property owners and residents of such danger zones are people who are laborers, many of them being employed in defense plants and are, therefore, not able by taxation to bear the burden of financing any other or further flood-prevention projects, their property already being subject to taxation to pay for bonds issued to construct the present dams and levees now rendered practically useless as flood prevention measures: Now, therefore, be it "Resolved by the Commissioners' Court of Tarrant County, Tex., That the county judge of Tarrant County be authorized, on behalf of Tarrant County, to lay the whole matter before the proper Federal authorities and to enlist the aid of the Honorable Fritz G. Lanham, our Congressman, in so doing, making it clear to such authorities that the construction of flood-control projects is not a function given or delegated to counties of Texas as counties, and further making it clear that the danger of floods has been greatly increased by the policy of the Government in requiring such lakes to be maintained at spillway level, and that the loss, if and when it occurs, will fall heavily upon a class of war workers

employed in Consolidated Aircraft plant and other defense plants, and therefore, upon a class least able to bear the burden of such loss; be it further

"Resolved, That the aid of the Federal Government be sought in financing the construction of such additional flood-prevention projects as will make the territories in question at least as safe as they were prior to the time the Federal Government made the requirement as to maintaining the lakes at spillway level."

The above resolution was unanimously adopted by the Commissioners' Court of Tarrant County, Tex., on this the 31st day of May, A. D. 1943.

(REPRESENTATIVE FRANCIS E. WALTER, OF THE TWENTY-FIRST DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA, APPEARED AND SUBMITTED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:)

Mr. CHAIRMAN: I just saw an article in the Engineering News Record to the effect that hearings are being conducted on proposed flood-control projects. If this article is correct, I appreciate very much your giving me an opportunity to discuss the possibility of having preliminary work done on a project for the Lehigh River. As I have pointed out to you on numerous occasions, the damage done annually by floods not only cause great damage in the Lehigh Valley, but very seriously interfere with the normal operations of many large steel companies, including the main plant of the Bethlehem Steel Co. Last year the damage done in the Lehigh Valley was substantial, a break-down of which is attached hereto. In view of the fact that the district engineer recommended a specific project which the Board here did not approve, it seems to me that a new study of all of the available data should be undertaken.

The entire matter has been brought up to date by furnishing to the United States Army's district engineer in Philadelphia, a complete report of our latest disaster.

I assure you I will appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

Total.

1, 415, 000. 00

655 44, 361.20 2,737, 780. 51 139, 932. 36 2, 559, 450 388, 744. 02 400,000 5, 267, 274. 64

Submitted by Robert Pfeifle, mayor, Bethlehem, Pa.

STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE HAROLD C. HAGEN, OF THE NINTH DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA

Mr. Chairman, I kindly ask your committee's consideration of two bills I introduced in this session of Congress, namely:

H. R. 2551. Authorizing an appropriation for the relief of the States of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota on account of losses arising from floods.

H. R. 2829. To authorize a preliminary examination and survey of the following streams, which are tributaries to the Red River of the North;