STATEMENT OF HON. FRANK P. GRAHAM, A SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

Senator GRAHAM. Senator, this is a project both for the farm people, since it is in an important trucking area, and also the people of the Elizabeth City, because the overflows from that excessive rainfall damages the crops of the farmers and also gives great concern to the people who live in Elizabeth City which is on the Pasquotank River.

So we thing it is sound economically; it is needed humanly; and it has a great deal of meaning to the northern part of our State. Senator HOLLAND. We are very happy to have had you gentlemen here.

Senator HOEY. Now we would like to take up the Oregon Inlet project.

Senator HOLLAND. You may proceed.

Senator HOEY. That has passed the Budget and is recommended by the Army Engineer Corps. And we think that is a most important

matter.

I would like for the Congressman to make a short statement about that.

Mr. BONNER. This is without a doubt, Senator, one of the most meritorious projects in North Carolina. There is no navigable inlet north of the Hatteras Inlet to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, which is quite a distance by water.

And in the area of the banks of Hatteras there is a fishing fleet that uses the banks. At intervals there will be 50 to 150 trawlers. On account of the weather they are often cut off in stormy weather with no opportunity to get into shelter other than through Hatteras Inlet, Ocracoke Inlet, which is farther south, or back into Chesapeake Bay. And the Coast Guard has been called on repeatedly to render aid to this type of vessel in distress.

There have been many of them lost in that vicinity.

The project, of course, in addition to its commercial value will have national defense value. Off the coast was the greatest concentration of German submarines there was any place on the Atlantic coast for the commerce north and south passes around the Hatteras Point. And Oregon Inlet would be a natural refuge for small boats that would operate in behalf of the national defense.

The commercial value in dollars and cents is given in the report as outweighing by a great extent the cost of the project.

Senator HOEY. Senator Graham.

Senator GRAHAM. Mr. Chairman, you know this is the ocean area where the waters from the north, the great currents from the north meet the currents from the south-right off the coast. And it affords a great variety of species of fish, about 19 important species.

One hundred and one years ago nature did most of the engineering there by cutting this passage through this sand bar which gives an outlet to the fisherfolk of that area.

94522-49-pt. 1-37

Senator HOLLAND. Would you mind pointing out the situation on the map, Senator, or the engineers can do so.

Senator GRAHAM. It is right here. Nature cut this passageway through here 101 years ago and the fisherfolk are in these five counties. I might say that fishing is one of the main sources of living for the people who live in this area. About a quarter of a million people live here.

Senator HOLLAND. How far is it from that channel to the Atlantic to Hatteras southeastward?

Mr. BONNER. About 30 miles down.

Senator GRAHAM. Down this way. This is the only outlet between Hampton Roads and Hatteras Inlet.

Now nature did that job for us but we need-the Army engineers, of course, can show this-to put a 14-foot channel through here so it is safe for these people to come through, and it will save a day or two in time.

Then they propose to have a 12-foot channel leading up to Manteo, another to Wanchese, and another down into Pamlico Sound. There are five sounds here, Mr. Chairman, the confluence of five sounds. Making a channel right through here is very important to this enterprise.

We have had the good fortune that nature did the engineering job but we ought to streamline it.

Mr. BONNER. On the distance from this inlet, going out around Diamond Shoals and coming south again to Hatteras Inlet, when you asked me about the distance

Senator HOLLAND. I meant the land distance. I am trying to place the matter geographically. How far along that sand dune is it from the channel entrance there southeasterly to Hatteras?

Mr. BONNER. I imagine about 60 or 65 miles. Is that right, Colonel? Colonel MOORE. It is about 45 miles from Oregon Inlet to Hatteras Inlet.

Mr. BONNER. You would have to go in navigable water from the mouth of Oregon Inlet to Hatteras Inlet.

Senator HOLLAND. I am not trying to place it by water.
Mr. BONNER. By land?

Senator HOLLAND. Yes.

Mr. BONNER. About 50 miles-40 to 50 miles.

Senator GRAHAM. They get caught out in heavy storms and are in a pretty bad fix, and have to go up to Chesapeake Bay or down to Hatteras.

up

Colonel MOORE. It is about 45 miles. The distance from Cape Henry here near Norfolk to Hatteras Inlet is 125 miles.

Senator GRAHAM. You spoke of the Coast Guard, Congressman. They have been out to rescue over 800 people.

Senator HOLLAND. This is roughly 60 percent of the way down from Cape Henry to Cape Hatteras where this inlet comes out?

Colonel MOORE. Yes.

Senator HOLLAND. And there is no inlet between Cape Henry and Cape Hatteras except this, is that correct?

Colonel MOORE. That is correct.

Senator GRAHAM. The potential take of fish there is about 1,000,000 pounds.

Mr. BONNER. Yes. The fishermen come there from New England, Chesapeake Bay, and from the Florida area. They follow the fish, and in certain seasons they congregate off Diamond Shoals and north of Hatteras Inlet.

In addition to commercial fishing, in the spring and summer the pleasure fishing is there. There will be at the mouth of that inlet 50 to 75 small craft pleasure fishing, and often they need assistance.

The idea of this project is to stabilize the channel. The inlet has broadened and the channel jumped from one course to another and nature does not provide a stable depth in the channel sufficient to bring in these trawlers and other vessels that come in here.

Senator HOEY. Mr. Chairman, I want to subscribe very heartily to what Senator Graham and Congressman Bonner have said about this. I regard this as about the most important development we have of any project in our State. I am extremely anxious for it to be included in the authorization. We will be glad to have the engineers give you the facts.

Senator HOLLAND. Thank you, and we will hear from Colonel Moore.

Colonel MOORE. Mr. Chairman, the report on Oregon Inlet, N. C., is in response to resolutions adopted August 23, 1945, April 1, 1946, and April 5, 1946, by the Committee on Rivers and Harbors of the House of Representatives. The report is also authorized by an item in the River and Harbor Act approved July 24, 1946. The comments of the Bureau of the Budget have been received.

Oregon Inlet, N. C., connects Pamlico Sound with the Atlantic Ocean through the barrier beach which separates a number of shallow sounds, bays, and estuaries from the ocean. The channels from Pamlico and Roanoke Sounds merge to form a gorge through the inlet. Albemarle Sound on the north is connected with Pamlico Sound by two shallow bodies of water, Roanoke Sound on the east side of Roanoke Island and Croatan Sound on the west. A portion of the waterway from Norfolk, Va., to the sounds of North Carolina, passes through Croatan Sound. Manteo Bay is a natural indentation on the northeast side of Roanoke Island. Mill Creek is a small estuary on the east side of Roanoke Island, near Wanchese. Old House Channel and Davis Slough extend southwesterly from Oregon Inlet to deep water in Pamlico Sound.

The area commercially tributary to Oregon Inlet and connecting channels comprises about 291 square miles. It is predominantly rural and has a population of 4,500. The principal towns with their populations are Wanchese, 598, and Manteo, 571. Fishing is the most important occupation in the area. The barrier beach is a summer resort which thousands of tourists visit in season.

The improvement authorized by Congress for Manteo Bay, N. C., provides for a channel 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep at mean low water from that depth in Roanoke Sound to the town of Manteo, about 2.6 miles; and for a connecting channel of the same dimensions extending south through Roanoke and Pamlico Sounds to Oregon Inlet, about 11 miles. Costs under the existing project to June 30, 1948, were $63,384 for new work and $84,169 for maintenance. The latest approved estimate of annual cost of maintenance is $10,000. Average annual maintenance costs for the past 5 years were about $7,600.

Commerce of Manteo Bay for the years 1937 through 1946 fluctuated between a high of 15,133 tons in 1937 and a low of 4,691 tons in 1943 and averaged 9,140 tons annually during that period. Commerce during 1946 was 8,414 tons, which consisted principally of petroleum products transported in 178 round trips by motor tankers drawing up to 7 feet. Also during 1946, motor freight vessels drawing up to 6 feet made 15 round trips between Manteo and Norfolk and 31 trips from Manteo to Hatteras. Motor vessels drawing up to 5 feet made 2,155 trips transporting marine products from the Atlantic Ocean, Pamlico and Roanoke Sounds to Manteo, and sport fishing vessels drawing up to 4 feet made 810 trips from Manteo.

Commercial installations on Mill Creek or at Wanchese include four wholesale fish houses, one seasonal sea-food canning plant, several stores and filling stations, a bulk gasoline distribution plant with 10,000 gallon storage capacity, a marine railway, a small sawmill, a small concrete block manufacturing plant, and two tourist homes.

Local interests request a channel 12 to 15 feet deep and of suitable width from the Atlantic Ocean through Oregon Inlet, thence a channel 10 to 12 feet deep and of suitable width by way of Davis Slough, Old House Channel, or other more suitable route, to like depth in Pamlico Sound; deepening the existing 6-foot channel from Manteo to Oregon Inlet to 12 feet with suitable width; and provision of a side channel 12 feet deep from the existing manteo-Oregon Inlet Channel to a point on Mill Creek at or near Wanchese.

They claim that: The improvements would provide a harbor of refuge inside Oregon Inlet and thereby reduce marine insurance 50 percent; vessels from Manteo would save from 1 to 2 hours running time between Wanchese and points south of Roanoke Island; trawl fishermen would save from 2.5 to 3 days per trip to market; and that large quantities of fish would again move into the sounds through Oregon Inlet.

The district and division engineers concur in recommending that the existing Federal project for Manteo Bay, be modified to provide for a channel 14 feet deep and 400 feet wide over the bar and through Oregon Inlet, thence 12 feet deep and 100 feet wide from Oregon Inlet via Old House Channel to the 12-foot contour in Pamlico Sound; a channel 12 feet deep by 100 feet wide from Oregon Inlet to Manteo, with a turning basin 12 feet deep, 200 feet wide, and 600 feet long at Manteo; and a side channel 12 feet deep and 100 feet wide from the Manteo-Oregon Inlet Channel in Roanoke Sound to wharves in Mill Creek, near Wanchese, including a 200-foot square turning basin, with such modifications as the Chief of Engineers may deem desirable, subject to certain conditions of local cooperation.

The Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors concurs generally in the views of the reporting officers. The Board notes that Oregon Inlet is the only opening in the barrier beach between Cape Henry and Cape Hatteras and that it affords entrance from the ocean to the only harbor of refuge in that area. Its improvement, together with that of the connecting channels and turning basins, is justified by the benefits that would accrue to general small-boat navigation in the area. The Board therefore recommends modification of the existing project for Manteo Bay, N. C., in accordance with the plan recommended by the reporting officers.

In accordance with existing law a copy of the Chief of Engineers' proposed report was furnished the Governor of North Carolina for comment. He stated:

In view of the great importance of this improvement to the economy of North Carolina, and to the effect it would appear to have on the natural resources of the State, I sincerely hope that favorable action will be taken at an early date and that it can be included in the river and harbor bill during this session of the Congress.

In accordance with section 4 of Executive Order No. 9384 the report was submitted to the Bureau of the Budget for information as to the relationship of the proposed report to the program of the President. The Bureau of the Budget advised that there would be no objection to the submission of the report to Congress.

The Chief of Engineers after due consideration of these reports recommends the modification of the existing project for Manteo Bay, N. C., in accordance with the recommendations of the Board.

The modification is recommended subject to the provision that local interests give assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of the Army that they will (a) furnish without cost to the United States all lands, easements, rights-of-way, and spoil-disposal areas for initial work and subsequent maintenance, when and as required; (b) remove existing structures from the rights-of-way; (c) make necessary alterations to the existing sewer at the Manteo Harbor entrance; (d) continue the maintenance of the public landing in Mill Creek; and (e) hold and save the United States free from damage due to the construction and maintenance of the project.

The cost to United States for construction, as shown in the report, is estimated at $860,500.

The cost to local interests is estimated at $8,750.

The total cost is estimated at $869,250.

The annual carrying charge, including annual maintenance costs, is estimated at $137,470, of which $136,795 is Federal and $675 is nonFederal. Federal annual maintenance cost is estimated at $97,000 for dredging in addition to that now required.

The annual benefits are estimated at $193,455, of which $150,075 is due to an increased fish catch, $37,730 is from prevention of damage to boats, $4,250 is from savings in travel time, and $1,400 is from savings in transportation costs of petroleum products and merchandise. The benefit-cost ratio is 1.4.

Evaluated benefits indicate that the recommended improvement is economically justified. In addition to such benefits the improvement will provide for the safety and convenience of the very large fishing fleet using the adjacent waters. Oregon Inlet is the only opening in the barrier beach between Cape Henry and Cape Hatteras and it affords entrance from the ocean to the only harbor of refuge in the

area.

MONKEY RUN, N. Y.

PORT BAY, N. Y.

Senator HOLLAND. Senator Ives, I see the next project listed here is Monkey Run and Port Bay, N. Y. We will be glad to hear from you.