"Seventh. That under the Boeuf plan a region settled by 100,000 persons will be involved.

"Eighth. That under the Boeuf plan such prosperous and populous centers and towns as Oak Ridge, Collinston, Mer Rouge in Morehouse Parish, such towns as Girard, Start, Alto, Buckner, Charlieville, Rayville (parish seat), Mangham, Archibald in Richland Parish, and such towns as Fort Necessity, Liddieville, Gilbert, Wisner, and Winnsboro (parish seat) in Franklin Parish, and such towns as Bosco and Riverton in Ouachita Parish, and Sicily Island in Catahoula Parish, will be directly or indirectly affected, and these towns for the most part will be utterly ruined and inundated.

"Ninth. That the lack of wisdom and feasibility from an engineering standpoint of a fuse-plug system and uncontrolled spillway as is suggested in the Boeuf plan as compared with a controlled, well-defined floodway as suggested in the Markham plan, has heretofore been thoroughly demonstrated by interested parties to Congress, to the Mississippi River Commission, and to the heads of all governmental departments, as well as United States Army Engineering Corps at previous hearings and are presently part of the record: be it further

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Resolved, That the police jury of Richland Parish, La., specifically concurs in the actions and resolutions of the Tensas Basin Levee Board and in the recommendation of the Mississippi River Commission that the Markham plan be utilized in lieu of the Boeuf floodway plan, and, be it further

"Resolved, That the police juries of each interested parish, be requested to provide a sufficient appropriation to send not less than two delegates to the hearing to be conducted in Washington, D. C., by House Committee on Flood Control, commencing April 1.

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That said delegates be instructed to meet together in Washington and perfect an organization for the purpose of best presenting their side of the controversy to the appropriate committee, and especially their objection to the Boeuf floodway plan: be it further

"Resolved, That the parishes of Ouachita, Morehouse, Richland, West Carroll, Franklin, and Catahoula are unalterably and intensely opposed to the Boeuf floodway, and that the statement hereinabove first set forth relative to the objection not being intense is untrue.

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Adopted at Rayville, La., April 3, 1935. "Attest:

"J. M. HATCH, president. "R. DOUNES, Secretady."

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Summerlin, have you anyone else you want to make a statement?

Mr. SUMMERLIN. Mr. J. Lester White.

STATEMENT OF J. LESTER WHITE, OF BASTROP, LA.

Mr. WHITE. Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee; my name is J. Lester White, of Bastrop, La., I am the parish engineer of Morehouse Parish. I am one of the representatives of Morehouse Parish, that parish being located just below the Arkansas line, below Ashley County, and located about 50 miles west of the Mississippi River.

We suffered a very bitter experience in 1927 caused by the flood of that period which came down through the Boeuf Basin, which was part of the water that escaped from the Arkansas River and inundated some 250 or 300 miles of highways, destroyed some of our bridge structures, and was a very serious disaster.

We, of course, are looking for protection. We want to get protection for our properties, for our people, for our homes, and we know that something is necessary, just as all of you know, to control the superfloods that we may have on the Mississippi River and its tributaries.

We have been present in New Orleans at the various meetings recently. We have studied the Markham plan, which was recently presented by General Markham, and we believe that it gives adeuate protection for those areas that were so seriously affected in 1927. While there may be features other than the engineering features that may be changed, or which people here have asked to be changed, particularly down in the lower section with which we are not so familiar, the police jury of Morehouse Parish does endorse the Markham plan from an engineering standpoint because it provides the guide-line levees, with payment for flowage rights, a controlled spillway as compared to an uncontrolled spillway, lateral drainage, and also provides parallel roads.

Of course, our position is sympathetic to all of the territory east of us. We do not know whether one and one-half times the assessed valuation is just compensation. We do not believe that it is, in view of the fact of the low assessments that exist. As was stated in other meetings prior to this, and as we have heard here, we believe that twice the assessed valuation would be more equitable and fair.

When I say we are endorsing the Markham plan, I am referring to the engineering features of the Markham plan.

I would like to present this resolution from the police jury of Morehouse Parish and have it incorporated in the record.

The CHAIRMAN. The resolution will be filed following the statement of Mr. White.

(The resolution referred to follows:)

STATE OF LOUISIANA,

Parish of Morehouse:

At the regular meeting of the police jury of Morehouse Parish, held in the city of Bastrop on Tuesday April 2, 1935, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

"Whereas the members of the Morehouse Parish police jury, representing the citizenship of the parish of Morehouse, have been apprised of the fact that citizenship of the parish of Morehouse have been appraised of the fact that strong opposition is being brought to bear by the citizens of the parishes of East Carroll, Madison, and Tensas against the Markham plan for the Eudora spillway, east of the Macon Ridge, in lieu of the Beouf River spillway, as provided in the Jadwin plan; and

"Whereas the citizens of the parishes of East Carroll, Madison, and Tensas did, under date of March 23, 1935, adopt resolutions which were published in the newspapers of the Fifth Congressional District and served upon all of the United States Representatives and Senators from the State of Louisiana, upon the heads of all interested departments of the United States Government, United States Army Engineer Corps, and the President of the United States; and

"Whereas said resolutions contained a statement that the opposition of the citizenship of those parishes is more wide-spread and intense than the opposition to the Beouf Basin spillway, which basin embraces portions of the parishes of Morehouse, West Carroll, Ouachita, Richland, Franklin, and Catahoula; and

"Whereas the police jury of Morehouse Parish has always, since the inception of the Beouf floodway plan, been unalterably opposed to such a floodway: Therefore be it

"Resolved, That the opposition to the Boeuf floodway by the citizens of Morehouse Parish and, in our opinion, by the citizens of all parishes affected cannot be overestimated and is of a most determined nature; that the parish of Morehouse has been represented at many meetings that were held in opposition to the Boeuf River spillway as contained in the so-called "Jadwin plan of flood control and that their position is now as it has always been, that is,

most bitterly opposed to the Boeuf Basin spillway; that a careful study of the report of the Chief of Engineers and dated February 21, 1935, that the recommendation embodied therein evidences most clearly a careful and exhaustive study of the problem by the Chief of Engineers in that it is proven to us most conclusively that the Eudora spillway as has been recommended in lieu of the Boeuf Basin spillway is by far the most practical and sane solution in that the agricultural acreage affected is far less; that the controlled spillway is substituted for the uncontrolled spillway or fuse-plug levee as provided for the Boeuf River spillway; that the towns placed in jeopardy by the Boeuf Basin spillway are far greater in number and assessed valuation than by the plan for the Eudora spillway; that the bonded indebtedness of the areas affected by the Eudora spillway is far less than those in the Boeuf floodway; that flowage rights are to be paid in the Eudora spillway as against none in the Boeuf floodway plan; that lateral drainage is to be cared for by the Government in the Eudora spillway as compared to no such provision in the Boeuf floodway; that parallel roads on top or adjacent to the proposed guide levees for the Eudora spillway are to be constructed by the Government with no such provision in the Boeuf floodway plan: Therefore be it

"Resolved, That the police jury of Morehouse Parish again goes on record most vigorously opposing the Boeuf floodway plan and concurring with the Chief of Engineers in his recommendation that the Eudora spillway is far more practical from an engineering standpoint and the physical features encountered and because of the provisions that are embodied therein protecting the rights of the landowners affected: Be it further

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Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be handed the Morehouse Enterprise, Shreveport Times, Monroe News-Star, Monroe Morning World, Times Picayune, Commercial Appeal, and copies hereof be forwarded to the President of the United States, the United States Army Engineering Corps, the Mississippi River Commission, the Senators and Representatives of the State of Louisiana in the United States Congress, and to the heads of all interested departments of the United States Government.

"Adopted at Bastrop, La., on April 2, 1935.

"Attest:

"THE POLICE JURY OF MOREHOUSE PARISH, "By J. W. BRODUAX, President.

"W. A. PAGE, Secretary-Treasurer.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. White, have you anyone else from Moreland Parish who desires to be heard?

Mr. WHITE. Yes; Mr. Smith and Mr. Shaw.

Mr. WHITTINGTON. Mr. White, I would like to ask you just one question:

Does the Boeuf River generally go through your parish?

Mr. WHITE. Yes, sir.

Mr. WHITTINGTON. How much of your parish is on the ridge? Mr. WHITE. About 450 square miles.

Mr. WHITTINGTON. That is on Macon Ridge?

Mr. WHITE. No, sir; not on the ridge; I thought you said back of the ridge.

Mr. WHITTINGTON. No.

Mr. WHITE. You mean what was affected in 1927?

Mr. WHITTINGTON. The ridge east of Oak Ridge there, what we call Macon Ridge.

Mr. WHITE. About 300 square miles.

Mr. WHITTINGTON. I thought there was some part of your parish there.

Mr. WHITE. Approximately 300 square miles.

Mr. WHITTINGTON. How long have you lived along the Boeuf River?

Mr. WHITE. Twelve years.

Mr. WHITTINGTON. You were not there before?

Mr. WHITE. No. I have lived there 12 years, in charge of highways and bridge structures.

Mr. WHITTINGTON. You were not reared in the parish?

Mr. WHITE. No, sir.

Mr. WHITTINGTON. Were you reared along the Boeuf Basin? I do not mean to be too inquisitive.

Mr. WHITE. No, sir. I was reared in southern Louisiana.

Mr. WHITTINGTON. So you do not know of your own knowledge the conditions there prior to 1927?

Mr. WHITE. No, I do not.

Mr. WHITTINGTON. In prior floods?

Mr. WHITE. Not prior to 1923.

Mr. WHITTINGTON. I want to say that it is a pleasure to have a witness like you appear before our committee.

The CHAIRMAN. Have you anyone else from Morehouse Parish that wishes to speak?

Mr. WHITE. Yes, sir; Mr. Smith and Mr. Shaw.

STATEMENT OF W. T. SMITH, OF BASTROP, MOREHOUSE
PARISH, LA.

Mr. SMITH. I have nothing further to add to what Mr. White has said. The question of the 1927 flood has been discussed pro and con, and I think the committee and everybody is thoroughly familiar with the disastrous results of the 1927 flood.

I was reared in Morehouse Parish, and have been there all my life. I have been through a number of water fights. What we want and would like is protection. We certainly, under the existing conditions with the fuseplug levee, have no protection. In other words, we are sitting over a keg of powder, so to speak.

In that connection, we did have the Red Cross that helped us out very materially during the 1927 flood. I do not know how we would have survived had it not been for the Red Cross assistance. If we have another 1927 flood, unless some strong arm comes to the rescue of the Boeuf Basin, we will practically be annihilated. Our credit is all gone. The Government realizes that fact, because they have set up different machineries all over the country for the purpose of assisting farmers in order to finance their production. So, as I say, if we have another 1927 flood under existing conditions, we will be practically annihilated from the agricultural sections of Morehouse Parish.

I am a member of the police jury from the Parish of Morehouse, but I also have a copy of the resolution that was adopted by the Kiwanis Club of Bastrop, of which I am a member, and I would like to submit that also.

The CHAIRMAN. Without objection that may be filed. (The resolution referred to follows:)

At a regular meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Bastrop, Morehouse Parish, La., held in the city of Bastrop on April 2, 1935, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

"Whereas it has come to the attention of this club, which is a civic organization vitally interested in the welfare of Morehouse Parish, that the citizens of the parishes of East Carroll, Madison, and Tensas are opposing the Markham plan for Mississippi Flood Control, as recommended by the Mississippi River Commision; and

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Whereas the citizens of the parishes of East Carroll, Madison, and Tensas did, under date of March 23, 1935, adopt resolutions which were published in the newspapers of the Fifth Congressional District and served upon all of the United States Representatives and Senators from the State of Louisiana, upon the heads of all interested departments of the United States Government, the United Sates Army Engineering Corps, and the President of the United States; and

"Whereas said resolutions contained a statement that opposition of the citizens of the parishes of East Carroll, Madison, and Tensas is more widespread and intense than the local opposition in the Boeuf Basin to the Boeuf floodway plan, which basin embraces portions of the parishes of Morehouse, West Car roll, Ouachita, Richland, Franklin, and Catahoula; and

'Whereas, the Kiwanis Club of Bastrop, Morehouse Parish, La., did several years ago go on record as being unalterably opposed to the Boeuf floodway plan as a means of flood control, and ever since then has given its aid to fighting this plan: Therefore be it

"Resolved: That the opposition to the Boeuf floodway by the citizens of Morehouse Parish, and, we believe, by the citizens of all of the parishes affected is as wide-spread and is as intense as it can possibly be; that the records and hearings heretofore held, where objections to the Boeuf floodway were asked, are filled with legal and practical reasons and considerations offered by the parishes affected, showing why the Boeuf floodway is most objectionable.

"That it has always been our belief that the territory east of Bayou Macon Ridge offers a site for the most feasible and practical method of controlling floods of the Mississippi River instead of the Boeuf Basin and it is further our thought that the floodway should have been located in that area in the beginning instead of in the Boeuf Basin.

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'That the Markham plan floodway east of Bayou Macon Ridge is now recog nized and scientifically known by the Mississippi River Commission, General Markham and others, including ourselves, as being the one affecting the smaller amount of cultivated land, the smaller total acreage, the smaller population, the one least affecting natural drainage and watersheds and the plan which would be far more economical to the Government.

"That the lack of wisdom and feasibility from an engineering standpoint of a fuseplug system and uncontrolled spillway, as is suggested in the Boeuf floodway plan, as compared with a controlled and defined floodway, as suggested in the Markham plan, has thoroughly been demonstrated heretofore by interested parties to Congress, heads of all interested governmental departments, heads of the Mississippi River Commission, as well as the United States Army Engi. neers Corps at previous hearings and are presently part of the record.

"That the Boeuf plan does not include any provision for the purchase of flowage rights but that under the Markham plan there is provided a sum for the purchase of flowage rights, although in our opinion such flowage rights should be purchased for not less than twice the assessed value, plus actual value of improvements thereon.

"That under the Boeuf plan one of the largest gas fields in the world, including pumping stations and networks of gas lines furnishing gas to St. Louis, Birmingham, Memphis and other large centers will be seriously damaged and partially destroyed, and that under the Boeuf plan a larger number of public utilities, including railroads, high power transmission lines, telegraph and telephone lines, as well as public schools, public roads and other projects will be completely ruined than in the area affected by the Markham plan; and "Whereas under the Boeuf plan, a larger bonded debt will have to be taken care of in some manner by the Government than under the Markham plan; and be it further

"Resolved, That the Kiwanis Club of Bastrop, Morehouse Parish, La., concurs in the actions and resolutions of the Tensas Basin Levee Board and in the recommendations of the Mississippi River Commission that the Markham Plan, (but in our opinion amended so as to provide larger payments for flowage rights and provisions for outstanding bonded indebtedness) be utilized in lieu of the Boeuf Floodway Plan; and be it further

Resolved, That the Kiwanis Club of Bastrop, Morehouse Parish, La., does go on record once again as being unalterably opposed to the Boeuf floodway plan and should the citizens of the Boeuf Basin floodway once again be in danger of having their property rights taken from them without just compensation we, the Kiwanis Club of Bastrop, Morehouse Parish, La.. do go on record individually and collectively as being ready to oppose the said Boeuf