6. Other projects in Montana Project Description Local protection projects in 35 locations, 2 of which are in Authorized by the 1936 and 1944 Flood Control Acts. Plan 1 As of July 1, 1953. For advance engineering and design. For advance engineering and design on units not located in State of Montana. Senator MANSFIELD. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Senator KNOWLAND. I have a letter from Senator Murray urging appropriations for the Havre, Mont., project. That letter will be placed in the record at this point. Hon. WILLIAM F. KNOWLAND, UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE, Chairman, Army Civil Functions Subcommittee, Senate Appropriations Committee, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR: Noting that your subcommittee is presently holding hearings on civil functions appropriation items, I should like to bring to your attention my interest in the appropriation item recommended for the Havre, Mont., floodcontrol project, As you know, the Congress has heretofore appropriated nearly $800,000 to carry forward the construction of this unit whose estimated Federal cost exceeds $2 million. The Bureau of the Budget has recommended an item in the amount of $700,000 to continue construction during the next fiscal year. The benefitto-cost ratio of this particular project is 2.9 to 1, and I think the record will show the extreme urgency of completing this unit that is so vital to the control of the Bull Hook and Milk Rivers that for many years have caused extensive damage in and near the city of Havre. All members of the Montana congressional delegation have made numerous appearances before the congressional Appropriations Committees, and I am sure I need not go into detail in attempting to impress upon the members of your subcommittee our concern about this problem. The record is replete with factual data with respect to flood damage that has occurred in the Havre area during the past years. It is my sincere hope that your subcommittee will give the most careful and sympathetic consideration to the appropriations requested to further the work on this flood-control project, and I shall be most happy to provide your subcommittee with any additional information that might be desired. Because of the fact that there is a recognized need for this flood-control unit, and in view of the extensive testimony that has been given in past years on this subject, I feel it is unnecessary for me to take any of the committee's valuable time in appearing personally before you in behalf of the project, but I respectfully request that this letter he entered in the record of the committee's hearings on this project. Sincerely yours, JAMES E. MURRAY. Senator KNOWLAND. I would like to place in the record at this point a letter from Senator Morse concerning the need for funds for Oregon projects. (The letter referred to follows:) Hon. WILLIAM F. KNOWLAND, UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS, March 4, 1954. Chairman, Subcommittee on Army Civil Functions, Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR KNOWLAND: Administration budget recommendations for the fiscal year 1955 for Army engineers civil works projects in the State of Oregon are sho k ́n ly inadequate, in view of the present economic distress in the State, and the great need for low-cost electric power. DELAYS AT THE DALLES AND CHIEF JOSEPH The President's recommendation of only $34,100,000 for continuing construction of the Dalles Dam on the Columbia River, when $58 million was requested by the Corps of Engineers to keen the work on schedule, will result in a 1-year postponement of initial power generation. A dev from No en her 1957 to No ember 1958 in the initial power generation will result in the following power losses: 183.000 kilowatts in 1958; 312,000 kilowatts in 1959 and 1960-a total of 807,000 kilowatts through 1960. 42592-54- -96 reen Peter projects, flood-control projects such →River (where power can also be generated); on works on the Calapooya River; projects prors for multiple-purpose use on the Grand Ronde nany projects which were postponed because of ently needed. r the President's promises to be kept. rea should have brought new starts on authorized new projects. Work on these projects no longer military needs, and indeed, would strengthen the ited States. New starts on needed projects would iems left in the wake of the armistice. ale military operations in Korea is out of date for endations do not include sufficient funds to resume a Funds for survey reports, the first step toward new it is unlikely that any new studies can be undertaken. in unscheduled by the engineers because there are not them. Irvey purposes must be restored to normal levels. The as where projects, such as the proposed water storage and e Yamhill River Basin, are needed must not be the victims am. nance >commendations as to funds for preservation, operation, "e of existing harbor and river works do not meet all current sufficient to provide assurance that authorized depths and and rivers will be maintained. regon are to take their place in the Pacific coast forward deal funds are needed for operation and maintenance of shipping Tumbia River serving the ports of Astoria, Portland, The Dalles, at Coos Bay, and on the rivers which meet the sea on the Poast. e8 ee of new heavy public works in the President's recommendations onwide adverse effect on industry and will seriously hamper the i, is shown in a letter which I received a few days ago from George esident of the Guy F. Atkinson Co., one of the west coast's leading tion contractors. he absence of new starts in the recommendations, Mr. Atkinson said, on, it is necessary both for defense purposes and for the general he industry that major public works be built in a sufficient volume industry alive and healthy. Any curtailment so drastic that it ples the industry is penny-wise and pound-foolish." hat during the last war much of the country's ability to mobilize es rapidly was due to the ease with which major construction organizacalled into service for large installations and heavy works, he dee present condition in the industry: "With virtually no work to even any major organizations are faced with the prospect of being disbanded. adverse effect on the heavy equipment industry will not be far behind, lack of new work to be started will be felt in many industrial States," kinson said. "We feel that we must vigorously call your attention to the of the present policy and the permanent injury to both the construction and ment industries." ployment in Oregon a letter written to the Director, Bureau of the Budget, on December 24, 1953, or to the recommendations, I told him that according to a report issued by the egon State Unemployment Compensation Commission, unemployment in Oregon is the highest in the Nation. The latest figures which I have been able to obtain from the United States Department of Labor, for the week ending February 13, 1954, show covered unemloyment of 11.4 percent in Oregon, as compared to an unemployment average of 6 percent for the rest of the Nation. Generation of power in the last 12 units of the initial installation at Chief Joseph Dam in Washington, close to the Oregon border, will have to be postponed from September 1955 to September 1956, if the President's recommendation is followed. This will result in the loss of another great block of power to the Bonneville system. Funds should be appropriated sufficient to assure that construction will proceed as planned. The needs of Oregon, the Northwest, and the Nation demand early completion of these projects. I call the attention of the committee to a report of the Joint Congressional Committee on Defense Production, released in December 1953: "The availability of electric power generated by the Bonneville Power Administration bears a close relationship to defense production in the Northwest. This area is the source of production of approximately 40 percent of all aluminum manufactured in the country, and approximately 10 kilowatt-hours of electricity are required to produce each pound of aluminum. One of the principal magnesium plants is located there, and ferroalloys, aircraft, abrasives, paper, and chlorine are other important defense products.' Last September the Senate Small Business Committee reported that achievement of the Government aluminum stockpile program was uncertain because of power problems. The Danes and Chief Joseph are self-liquidating projects which will pay for themselves by power sales. of interest on the Government's investment will be increased, and millions of dolIf power production is delayed, costs in the form lars of expected revenue will be lost forever. How many businessmen would hold back from operation a plant in which they have a large capital investment, just when the plant is ready to pay dividends? To hold back the appropriations needed to put these dams into operation is poor business. Willamette bank protection slowed The President has recommended a cut from $400,000 requested by the Corps of Engineers, to $300,000 for bank protection work on the Willamette River and its tributaries. This 25-percent reduction will further delay that vital work, which was slowed by the $90,000 cut which I protested last year. A great many letters addressed to my office testify to the urgent need for this protection work. Farmlands in the rich Willamette Valley are being washed away, with substantial losses to this food-producing area. This is another illustration of economy carried to absurdity. There is no saving in holding back a few thousand dollars, only to see Oregon's potential agricultural farm income sink to the bottom of the river. New starts needed in Northwest No construction funds were recommended by the President for the start of any of the 65 other projects previously authorized by the Congress. John Day Dam, located at the broad part of the Columbia River, on the OregonWashington border between the sites of the Dalles and McNary Dams, would be second only to Grand Coulee in the production of power in the Northwest. In comparison to the initial completed installation of 1,092,000 kilowatts at The Dallas; 1,024,000 kilowatts at Chief Joseph; and 980,000 kilowatts at McNary, the John Day Dam will provide 1,105,000 kilowatts at initial completed installation. An immediate appropriation of funds to start this great project should be made. John Day Dam will provide for an expanded economy in the Northwest which will be reflected in increased benefits to all of the Western States. Green Peter Dam on the Middle Santiam River close to Sweet Home has been authorized for flood control and water storage. Power generation facilities capable of producing 81,000 kilowatts of power, as recommended by the Corps of Engineers, should be authorized. This project is urgently needed to prevent annual damage of $1,570,000 now being suffered. As a candidate in November 1952, the President stated: "I shall support programs for soil and water conservation and shall zealously encourage the conservation of natural resources and the cooperation of every appropriate agency of the Federal Government in them. In the development of water-storage basins for reclamation of the lands of the great West, I shall reeommend that the Congress make available public money for construction of such projects wherever needed.” |