REASONS FOR NECESSITY OF APPROPRIATION OF $25,000 1. Army engineers approved the entire project and estimated the entire cost at $116,000, also, estimated the return for the money invested would be 7 to 1. 2. $20,000 of the $116,000 was appropriated and this amount was spent to dredge the harbor and a channel to deep water which was a necessity to enable the watermen to get in and out with their boats. The manner in which the dirt was distributed around the harbor was done in anticipation of further appropriations because on the north side the entire harbor was left exposed to the winds and tides. In fact the harbor is not as safe today from the elements as it was before the dredging. A hurricane with northeast winds would create a catastrophe in this harbor. The hurricane which reached us last fall fortunately had northwest winds. The tides would come in and flood the entire area on the north side of the harbor and no one could ever reach their boats. It was the engineer's idea that when the harbor was enlarged the dirt from this operation would be piled on the north and east side of the harbor which would afford protection to boats in the harbor. 3. Just to the north of the mouth of the harbor there is a very small stream which runs into the channel which was dredged to deep water. At this point the channel is filling in and by this summer the larger boats will not be able to get in and out of the harbor. This problem was to be solved by this anticipated appropriation. The dirt from this project is to form a bulkhead at this point because the engineers anticipated this condition. Therefore, if the channel fills in we will have lost all the benefits from the original project. This point is of utmost concern to us all because large boats come in to Quinby to buy practically all the oysters. The Quinby people have been very fortunate in having an exceedingly profitable outlet for oysters. Watermen from surrounding areas, like Wachapreague and Willis Wharf, have been coming to Quinby to sell their oysters. If the oyster buyers cannot get their boats into Quinby this would have great economic effect on the community. This appropriation we are requesting would clear up this channel and be fixed so that it should not happen again. 4. There is no public dock in the entire harbor area. The highway which leads to this harbor area does not go to the deep water. It is therefore very obvious that loading and unloading boats and trucks is quite a problem. After approval of the entire project by the engineers, donations of the necessary lands from private individuals was made, and, anticipating the enlarged harbor, the people of Quinby went before the board of supervisors of Accomack County in 1948 and requested approval for a public dock or landing. It was agreed that $300 a year would be set aside for this purpose and the people in Quinby agreed to supply the labor to construct this dock. If we can secure the $25,000 for this project, then we will have an area for a public dock at deep water and a State highway leading directly to the dock. Therefore, with the money available and the labor of the people themselves, they will construct the dock if this appropriation is approved. 5. For further evidence that the people themselves are willing to aid, the project plans are already formulated for a gasoline pump on the dock and that all watermen buy gasoline from this pump, and all tax refunds on this gasoline be retained in a fund for harbor improvement. 6. The present harbor is not large enough to harbor the existing boats at Quinby. There are many boats tied to poles out in the open water, which is not deep enough to float the boats at all times. Imagine 88 boats of all sizes and kinds trying to get in the present area of 100 by 200 feet and to allow enough space to get in and out. If we had a larger harbor area we would be able to use larger boats with dredges of different kinds which would make our work more profitable. If we had a larger harbor area, we would be able to attract more seafood buyers who use large boats, which would make the purchase of seafood more competitive and would accrue to the benefit of the community. One of the largest oyster packers in our two counties has expressed his desire to construct an oyster shucking and packinghouse in Quinby if he could acquire the space and has sufficient harbor area for his boats. He can get the space if this work is done. 7. Quinby is the nearest port to Little Machipongo Inlet Coast Guard station by a saving of a half-hour's running time for their boats. This would result in quite a saving to the Coast Guard in gasoline, oil, etc., and be much more convenient to the personnel. But we have no docking facilities for them now. Quinby is the closest port to the inland waterway from Chincoteague to Cape Charles. There are a great many boats which use this waterway and we could Mr. KING. Yes, sir. Senator ROBERTSON. And have not all of the oystermen agreed to not accept the 6-cent refund of gasoline tax, but if they get the dock and gasoline pump, that they will not claim the refund, but will let all of it go into a permanent harbor maintenance fund? Mr. KING. Yes, sir; certainly. Senator ROBERTSON. Are there any questions, gentlemen? We thank you, sir. Senator ROBERTSON. Thank you. STATEMENT OF M. T. HICKMAN, QUINBY, VA. PREPARED STATEMENT Senator ROBERTSON. The next witness I want to present is Mr. M. T. Hickman. Mr. HICKMAN. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee. Senator CORDON. Do you have a written statement? Mr. HICKMAN. I have a written statement. I do not know whether Senator Robertson has put it in the record or not. Senator ROBERTSON. I am sorry, but I have not. If you wish, I will ask for permission for you to file your written statement and then summarize it very briefly. Mr. HICKMAN. Yes, sir. Senator CORDON. Without objection, the written statement will be printed in the record at this point, and you may summarize it. Mr. HICKMAN. Yes, sir. (The statement referred to follows:) STATEMENT OF MR. M. T. HICKMAN ON FACTS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE PROPOSED QUINBY, VA., DREDGING PROJECT Principal types of cargo: Eating stock and seed oysters, clams, and hard and soft shell crabs, fish. REASONS FOR NECESSITY OF APPROPRIATION OF $25,000 1. Army engineers approved the entire project and estimated the entire cost at $116,000, also, estimated the return for the money invested would be 7 to 1. 2. $20,000 of the $116,000 was appropriated and this amount was spent to dredge the harbor and a channel to deep water which was a necessity to enable the watermen to get in and out with their boats. The manner in which the dirt was distributed around the harbor was done in anticipation of further appropriations because on the north side the entire harbor was left exposed to the winds and tides. In fact the harbor is not as safe today from the elements as it was before the dredging. A hurricane with northeast winds would create a catastrophe in this harbor. The hurricane which reached us last fall fortunately had northwest winds. The tides would come in and flood the entire area on the north side of the harbor and no one could ever reach their boats. It was the engineer's idea that when the harbor was enlarged the dirt from this operation would be piled on the north and east side of the harbor which would afford protection to boats in the harbor. 3. Just to the north of the mouth of the harbor there is a very small stream which runs into the channel which was dredged to deep water. At this point the channel is filling in and by this summer the larger boats will not be able to get in and out of the harbor. This problem was to be solved by this anticipated appropriation. The dirt from this project is to form a bulkhead at this point because the engineers anticipated this condition. Therefore, if the channel fills in we will have lost all the benefits from the original project. This point is of utmost concern to us all because large boats come in to Quinby to buy practically ail the oysters. The Quinby people have been very fortunate in having an exceedingly profitable outlet for oysters. Watermen from surrounding areas, Tike Wachapreague and Willis Wharf, have been coming to Quinby to sell their oysters. If the oyster buyers cannot get their boats into Quinby this would have great economic effect on the community. This appropriation we are requesting would clear up this channel and be fixed so that it should not happen again. 4. There is no public dock in the entire harbor area. The highway which leads to this harbor area does not go to the deep water. It is therefore very obvious that loading and unloading boats and trucks is quite a problem. After approval of the entire project by the engineers, donations of the necessary lands from private individuals was made, and, anticipating the enlarged harbor, the people of Quinby went before the board of supervisors of Accomack County in 1948 and requested approval for a public dock or landing. It was agreed that $300 a year would be set aside for this purpose and the people in Quinby agreed to supply the labor to construct this dock. If we can secure the $25,000 for this project, then we will have an area for a public dock at deep water and a State highway leading directly to the dock. Therefore, with the money available and the labor of the people themselves, they will construct the dock if this appropration is approved. 5 For further evidence that the people themselves are willing to aid, the project plans are already formulated for a gasoline pump on the dock and that al watermen buy gasoline from this pump, and all tax refunds on this gasoline be retained in a fund for harbor improvement. 6. The present harbor is not large enough to harbor the existing boats at Quby. There are many boats tied to poles out in the open water, which is not deep enough to float the boats at all times. Imagine 88 boats of all sizes and krds trying to get in the present area of 100 by 200 feet and to allow enough space to get in and out. If we had a larger harbor area we would be able to use larger boats with dredges of different kinds which would make our work more profitable. If we had a larger harbor area, we would be able to attract more seafood buyers who use large boats, which would make the purchase of seafood more competitive and would accrue to the benefit of the community. ne of the largest oyster packers in our two counties has expressed his desire to construct an oyster shucking and packinghouse in Quinby if he could acquire the space and has sufficient harbor area for his boats. He can get the space if this work is done. 7 Quinby is the nearest port to Little Machipongo Inlet Coast Guard station by a saving of a half-hour's running time for their boats. This would result in quite a saving to the Coast Guard in gasoline, oil, etc., and be much more convetent to the personnel. But we have no docking facilities for them now. Quinby is the closest port to the inland waterway from Chincoteague to Cape Carles. There are a great many boats which use this waterway and we could Mr. KING. Yes, sir. Senator ROBERTSON. And have not all of the oystermen agreed to not accept the 6-cent refund of gasoline tax, but if they get the dock and gasoline pump, that they will not claim the refund, but will let all of it go into a permanent harbor maintenance fund? Mr. KING. Yes, sir; certainly. Senator ROBERTSON. Are there any questions, gentlemen? We thank you, sir. Senator ROBERTSON. Thank you. STATEMENT OF M. T. HICKMAN, QUINBY, VA. PREPARED STATEMENT Senator ROBERTSON. The next witness I want to present is Mr. M. T. Hickman. Mr. HICKMAN. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee. Senator CORDON. Do you have a written statement? Mr. HICKMAN. I have a written statement. I do not know whether Senator Robertson has put it in the record or not. Senator ROBERTSON. I am sorry, but I have not. If you wish. I will ask for permission for you to file your written statement and then summarize it very briefly. Mr. HICKMAN. Yes, sir. Senator CORDON. Without objection, the written statement will be printed in the record at this point, and you may summarize it. Mr. HICKMAN. Yes, sir. (The statement referred to follows:) STATEMENT OF MR. M. T. HICKMAN ON FACTS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE PROPOSED QUINBY, VA., DREDGING PROJECT Principal types of cargo: Eating stock and seed oysters, clams, and hard and soft shell crabs, fish. REASONS FOR NECESSITY OF APPROPRIATION OF $25,000 1. Army engineers approved the entire project and estimated the entire cost at $116,000, also, estimated the return for the money invested would be 7 to 1. 2. $20,000 of the $116,000 was appropriated and this amount was spent to dredge the harbor and a channel to deep water which was a necessity to enable the watermen to get in and out with their boats. The manner in which the dirt was distributed around the harbor was done in anticipation of further appropriations because on the north side the entire harbor was left exposed to the winds and tides. In fact the harbor is not as safe today from the elements as it was before the dredging. A hurricane with northeast winds would create a catastrophe in this harbor. The hurricane which reached us last fall fortunately had northwest winds. The tides would come in and flood the entire area on the north side of the harbor and no one could ever reach their boats. It was the engineer's idea that when the harbor was enlarged the dirt from this operation would be piled on the north and east side of the harbor which would afford protection to boats in the harbor. 3. Just to the north of the mouth of the harbor there is a very small stream which runs into the channel which was dredged to deep water. At this point the channel is filling in and by this summer the larger boats will not be able to get in and out of the harbor. This problem was to be solved by this anticipated appropriation. The dirt from this project is to form a bulkhead at this point because the engineers anticipated this condition. Therefore, if the channel fills in we will have lost all the benefits from the original project. This point is of utmost concern to us all because large boats come in to Quinby to buy practically ail the oysters. The Quinby people have been very fortunate in having an exceedingly profitable outlet for oysters. Watermen from surrounding areas, Like Wachapreague and Willis Wharf, have been coming to Quinby to sell their oysters. If the oyster buyers cannot get their boats into Quinby this would have great economic effect on the community. This appropriation we are requesting would clear up this channel and be fixed so that it should not happen again. 4. There is no public dock in the entire harbor area. The highway which leads to this harbor area does not go to the deep water. It is therefore very obvious that loading and unloading boats and trucks is quite a problem. After approval of the entire project by the engineers, donations of the necessary lands from private individuals was made, and, anticipating the enlarged harbor, the people of Quinby went before the board of supervisors of Accomack County in 1948 and requested approval for a public dock or landing. It was agreed that $300 a year would be set aside for this purpose and the people in Quinby agreed to supply the labor to construct this dock. If we can secure the $25,000 for this project, then we will have an area for a public dock at deep water and a State Lighway leading directly to the dock. Therefore, with the money available and the labor of the people themselves, they will construct the dock if this appropriation is approved. 5. For further evidence that the people themselves are willing to aid, the project plans are already formulated for a gasoline pump on the dock and that an watermen buy gasoline from this pump, and all tax refunds on this gasoline be retained in a fund for harbor improvement. 6 The present harbor is not large enough to harbor the existing boats at Qut.by. There are many boats tied to poles out in the open water, which is not deep enough to float the boats at all times. Imagine 88 boats of all sizes and kinds trying to get in the present area of 100 by 200 feet and to allow enough space to get in and out. If we had a larger harbor area we would be abue to use larger boats with dredges of different kinds which would make our work more profitable. If we had a larger harbor area, we would be able to attract more seafood buyers who use large boats, which would make the purchase of seafood more competitive and would accrue to the benefit of the community. One of the largest oyster packers in our two counties has expressed his desire to construct an oyster shucking and packinghouse in Quinby if he could acquire the space and has sufficient harbor area for his boats. He can get the space If this work is done. 7 Quimby is the nearest port to Little Machipongo Inlet Coast Guard station by a saving of a half-hour's running time for their boats. This would result in qure a saving to the Coast Guard in gasoline, oil, etc., and be much more contenant to the personnel. But we have no docking facilities for them now. Quinhy is the closest port to the inland waterway from Chincoteague to Cape Charles. There are a great many boats which use this waterway and we could |