and these factors in addition to its value for power development indicate that its construction would be a logical next step by the Federal Government in the development of the comprehensive plan of improvement. The Chairman of the Federal Power Commission, in his letter to me of April 22, 1949, filed herewith, stated in part as follows: As presently proposed by the Corps of Engineers, the Smith Mountain project would consist of a concrete gravity dam about 244 feet high and 800 feet long located at mile 314 on the Roanoke River, and a reservoir with a controlled storage capacity of 825,000 acre-feet, and an uncontrolled surcharge capacity of 565,000 acre-feet. The power plant, located at the toe of the dam, would have an installed capacity of 33,000 kilowatts capable of producing about 88,000,000 kilowatt-hours of energy in an average year. The Smith Mountain project is important to the development of the Roanoke River Basin in view of its large reservoir capacity which could regulate the runoff from more than 1,000 square miles of drainage area for the benefit of seven future downstream power plants on the Roanoke River, including the Buggs Island plant now under construction. The project would also provide important flood control and recreational benefits. I have the feeling that maybe the flood-control provisions or the flood-control protection has not been fully determined. Less than 2 years ago, while on one of the large plantations through which the Roanoke River flows, and talking with a gentleman who has just been nominated as Ambassador to France, Hon. David K. Bruce, on whose plantation we were at that time, he and his farm manager told me then that his low ground was almost rendered useless by the frequent floods in that area and that in his case, this farm had been owned by his family for a great number of years-I don't know that he told me how many, but I believe his father and grandfather also owned the plantation. He told me their record since they had been keeping it under his ownership, three crops out of the ten from the low grounds along the Roanoke River. I am sure this would be true all along the river because there are many, many very good-looking areas or acres of bottom land, as we call them down there in Virginia-they call it low ground along the river there, that is out of cultivation and out of use because of the frequent floods they have in that area. It seems clear that the Smith Mountain project is an important unit in the general plan and will contribute greatly to the development of the basin for flood control, hydroelectric power development, and recreational purposes. In December 1945, Governor Darden of Virginia, upon the recommendation of the Virginia State Planning Board, authorized the board to investigate and submit reports to him on proposed development in the Roanoke River Basin. He further approved and authorized the formation of a River Basin Committee, made up of selected personnel from the three engineering schools in Virginia. The present Governor of Virginia, Hon. William M. Tuck, authorized the continuation of this committee. Dr. Raymond B. Long, commissioner, division of planning and economic development, Virginia Department of Conservation and Development, published and released in January 1949, a report in which he reviewed the progress of the development of the basin and reported upon proposed development. Dr. Long is director of the Virginia State Planning Board, which published in January 1947 the report of the river basin committee of the board. I did not file that report because it is rather voluminous and I would be glad to bring it to file it if the committee would refer to it. I refer to these reports as evidence of the fact that there has been conformity with the policy prescribed by Public Law 534, Seventyeighth Congress, relative to the conduct of investigation by the Chief of Engineers and the preparation of plans and proposals dealing with flood-control projects so as to provide full information to the State or States affected. In further compliance with such policy, I am informed that the district engineer, Norfolk district, will make available to the States affected full information relative to the recent review mentioned in the letter of the Chief of Engineers, of May 6, to which I have already referred. Now, Mr. Chairman, I would like to file with the committee a letter dated May 6, 1949, Department of the Army, signed by Maj. Gen. Lewis A. Pick, addressed to me; and also a letter from the Federal Power Commission dated April 22, 1949. Also, one dated May 3, 1944, signed by Leland Olds and addressed to Gen. Eugene Reybold. The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the exhibits may be filed. (The letters referred to are as follows:) Hon THOMAS B. STANLEY, United States House of Representatives, FEDERAL POWER COMMISSION, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR REPRESENTATIVE STANLEY: Reference is made to your letter of March 30, 1949, requesting such information as might be available to the Commission regarding the Smith Mountain Dam and hydroelectric power plant project, a unit in the approved plan for the Roanoke River Basin. Enclosed with your letter was a copy of the bill H. R. 3250 introduced by you in the Eighty-first Congress, which would authorize the construction of this project. As stated in your letter, the staff of the Commission cooperated closely with the Corps of Engineers during its investigation of the Roanoke River and participated in some of the studies leading to the formulation of the plan of development. Subsequently, the Commission, in its letter of May 3, 1944, to the Chief of Engineers, a copy of which is enclosed, concurred generally in the comprehensive plan of 11 dam and reservoir projects with power. Currently, the Commission's Atlanta regional office and the Norfolk District Office of the Corps of Engineers are cooperatively engaged in further studies and investigations of the basin. As presently proposed by the Corps of Engineers, the Smith Mountain project would consist of a concrete gravity dam about 244 feet high and 800 feet long located at mile 314 on the Roanoke River, and a reservoir with a controlled storage capacity of 825,000 acre-feet, and an uncontrolled surcharge capacity of 565,000 acre-feet. The power plan, located at the toe of the dam, would have an installed capacity of 33,000 kilowatts capable of producing about 88,000,000 kilowatt-hours of energy in an average year. The Smith Mountain project is important to the development of the Roanoke River Basin in view of its large reservoir capacity which could regulate the runoff from more than 1,000 square miles of drainage area for the benefit of seven future downstream power plants on the Roanoke River, including the Buggs Island plant now under construction. The project would also provide important flood control and recreational benefits. I trust that this information will be adequate to serve your purpose. Maj. Gen. EUGENE REYBOLD, NELSON LEE SMITH, Chairman. MAY 3, 1944. Chief of Engineers, War Department, Washington, D. C. Subject: Roanoke River, Va. and N. C. DEAR GENERAL REYBOLD: This is in response to your letter dated February 14, 1944, forwarding copies of the reports of the district and division engineers, and of the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors on the Roanoke River, Va. and N. C., and requesting comments of the Commission thereon. The Board recommends improvement of the Roanoke River and tributaries for flood control, navigation, the generation, transmission, and sale of hydroelectric power, and for other beneficial uses, by the construction of dams and hydroelectric power plants at Buggs Island, Gaston, Roanoke Rapids, Smith Mountain, Leesville, Taber, Melrose, Randolph, Philpott, Stuart, and Schoolfield, in general accordance with the plans of the district engineer with such modifications as may be advisable, at an estimated cost of $124,000,000. The aggregate installed capacity at these 11 projects would be 386,300 kilowatts, and on the average the generation of electric energy would amount to 1,695,200,000 kilowatt-hours annually, of which 1,229,700,000 kilowatt-hours would be primary energy. The average cost of generation would be 2.91 mills per kilowatt-hour and the ratio of benefits to cost for the complete development has been estimated at 1.47. The Board believes that it would be advisable, in order to insure the best service in the area, that provision be made to construct, operate, and maintain transmission lines, substations and facilities, and structures appurtenant thereto, as may be found necessary for the transmission, interchange, and sale of energy. As an initial step in this improvement the Board recommends the construction of the large Buggs Island and the Philpott projects, both including power, at an estimated cost of $36,140,000. The initial installation at these projects would aggregate 94,500 kilowatts, and on the average the generation of electric energy would amount to 455,000,000 kilowatt-hours annually, of which 300,000,000 kilowatt-hours would be primary energy. The cost of energy at the Buggs Island project is estimated at 3.04 mills per kilowatt-hour, and at Philpott 4.05 mills. The ratios of benefits to costs are estimated at 1.35 and 1.30, respectively. In response to the letter dated May 5, 1942, from your office the Commission, by letter dated July 23, 1943, transmitted to you its comments with respect to the proposed large Buggs Island project and raised the question as to whether it would be advisable to develop the head available at the Buggs Island site by the construction of two smaller dams. The thoroughness with which your Department has gone into this question and has presented the results of the further studies along these lines in the comprehensive report now under consideration is appreciated. Reviewing further the Commission's previous views with respect to the development of the Roanoke River Basin, the Commission by letter to you, dated November 10, 1943, agreed with the Board that the proposed Philpott multiplepurpose project, with modifications that may later prove to be desirable, would be an essential unit in the comprehensive development of the Smith and Roanoke River Basins. The Commission staff has continued its studies of the Roanoke River basin in cooperation with representatives of your Department and concurs in the conclusion of your reporting officers that the Buggs Island project should be constructed substantially as recommended by them. The staff is also of the opinion that the Buggs Island project and the previously recommended Philpott project taken together would comprise a desirable initial step in the development of the basin, and would afford substantial flood-control benefits in the lower Roanoke River and along the Smith River, respectively, in addition to making it possible to develop a substantial block of low-cost hydroelectric power. As proposed by the district engineer, the Philpott, Smith Mountain, Randolph, Stuart, and Schoolfield Reservoirs would not have gated spillways. The Commission staff believes that crest gates should be installed on the spillways of all of these projects, except Philpott, for the purpose of providing controlled flood storage and greater power storage with resulting increases in the benefits from both flood control and power. The staff also believes that it would be desirable to raise the top of the gates proposed by the district engineer on the Leesville, Taber, Melrose, Buggs Island, Gaston, and Roanoke Rapids projects in amounts varying from 2 to 5 feet for the same reasons; and that the Stuart project should be constructed to the higher level considered by the district engineer. With the modifications suggested by the staff, the initial installed capacity for the entire development would be increased from 357,800 kilowatts, exclusive of the proposed spare unit at Buggs Island, to about 428,000 kilowatts, and the average annual energy output would be increased to about 1,795,000,000 kilowatthours. The primary energy would be increased from 1,229,700,000 kilowatt-hours to about 1,450,000,000 kilowatt-hours. The staff reports that the cost of these modifications would be relatively small and well justified by the additional flood control and power benefits. A study of available maps and survey records reveals that there are additional dam and reservoir sites in the Roanoke River Basin which will merit investiga tion at some future date. These are the Walnut Cove site on the upper Dan River above Pine Hall, N. C.; the Anglins Mill site on the Mayo River, a tributary of the upper Dan River; the Carr Ford site on the Pigg River, a tributary to the upper Roanoke River; sites on the Banister River, a tributary of the Dan; and on the Hyco, also a tributary of the Dan. The first two of these are above the Schoolfield Reservoir and the third is above the Randolph Reservoir. Projects on the Hyco and Banister Rivers would have an effect only on the Buggs Island project and the lower river. Based upon the consideration given hereinbefore, and upon careful review of the reports of your Department, the Commission concurs in the conclusion of the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors that the comprehensive development of the Roanoke River Basin, in general accordance with the plans prepared therefor by the district engineer consisting of 11 dam and reservoir projects with power, is desirable and that the Buggs Island and Philpott projects would constitute a desirable initial step in the development of the Roanoke River Basin. The Commission believes that the power which could be produced at the Buggs Island and Philpott projects could be absorbed and profitably utilized in the postwar period within a reasonably short time following their construction and that plans, therefore, for these two projects should be prepared with the view to their construction in the early postwar period. The Commission also recommends that careful consideration be given to the suggestions of its staff for the modifications outlined herein, including the installation of gates at ungated spillways and the increase in the height of spillway gates where now proposed. The Commission will be glad to have its staff confer with representatives of your Department in this and in other matters having to do with the details of the dvelopment of this basin. Sincerely, Hon. THOMAS B. STANLEY, LELAND OLDS, Chairman. DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. STANLEY: Reference is made to your letter of March 8, 1949, in which you request an expression of my views regarding construction of the Smith Mountain project as being the next step in the comprehensive plan to develop the Roanoke River Basin. As you know the Smith Mountain project was one of the reservoirs included in the comprehensive plan for this basin recommended by the Corps of Engineers in a report set forth in House Document 650, Seventy-eighth Congress, second session. The Flood Control Act of December 22, 1944, approved this plan and authorized the construction of the Buggs Island Reservoir on the Roanoke River and the Philpott Reservoir on the Smith River as the initial step of this development. After a careful review of this plan, including consideration of the most recent data from the division engineer, North Atlantic division, and the district engineer, Norfolk district, it appears that the Smith Mountain Dam is favorably located in the Roanoke River Basin for flood control and recreational purposes, and these factors in addition to its value for power development indicate that its construction would be a logical next step by the Federal Government in the development of the comprehensive plan of improvement. If I can assist you further in this matter, I shall be pleased to do so promptly upon your request. Sincerely yours, LEWIS A. PICK, Major General, Chief of Engineers. Mr. STANLEY. Mr. Chairman, if I may, I have a few resolutions that I would like to file with the committee. The CHAIRMAN. Will you identify them, please? Mr. STANLEY. I shall be glad to. One is from the Gretna Chamber of Commerce in Virginia. Gretna is a small town adjacent to this project in Pittsylvania County. They are in favor of it. I have another from the city of Roanoke, Va., also in favor of the proposed Smith Mountain Dam. I would like to file that. I have another resolution by the board of supervisors of Charlotte County through which the Roanoke River flows. They are in favor of the project. I would also like to file that one. I have another one from a great number of citizens from the county of Pittsylvania, who are filing this petition in support of the authorization and construction of the Smith Mountain Dam. Then I have copies of a letter, one each addressed to the senior and the junior Senators from Virginia, from the board of supervisors of Pittsylvania County, going on record as favoring the filing. The CHAIRMAN. Those communications attached to the statement may be included in this part of the record without objection. (The documents referred to are as follows:) Hon. T. B. STANLEY, GRETNA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. Gretna, Va., May 12, 1949. DEAR MR. STANLEY: At the regular monthly meeting on May 10, 1949, the Gretna Chamber of Commerce passed the following resolution: "Be it resolved, That the Gretna Chamber of Commerce go on record as supporting the Smith Mountain Dam project and that copies of this resolution be sent to the Honorable T. B. Stanley, Congressman, Fifth Virginia District, and to Senators Harry F. Byrd and Willis A. Robertson." Very truly yours, Hon. THOMAS B. STANLEY, M. H. AYLOR, Secretary. CITY OF ROANOKE, VA., March 18, 1949. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: I am attaching hereto copy of Resolution 9872, endorsing House hills 3250 and 3416 authorizing and providing for "the construction of the Smith Mountain Dam and hydroelectric power plant project in the Roanoke River Basin," as adopted by the Council of the City of Roanoke at its meeting on Monday, March 14, 1949. Very truly yours, M. K. MOORMAN, City Clerk. IN THE COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VA., THE 14TH DAY OF MARCH 1949 No. 9872 A resolution endorsing House bills 3250 and 3416 authorizing and providing for "the construction of the Smith Mountain Dam and hydroelectric power plant project in the Roanoke River Basin." Whereas the proposed Smith Mountain Dam and hydroelectric power plant project on the Roanoke River in Virginia is a unit of the general plan for the comprehensive development of the Roanoke River Basin for flood control and other purposes as approved by the act of December 22, 1944, entitled "An act authorizing the construction of certain public works on rivers and harbors for flood control, and for other purposes," and Whereas this council is interested in the carrying out of the purposes of the aforesaid act of December 22, 1944, and especially in that portion thereof calling for the construction of the Smith Mountain Dam and hydroelectric power project on the Roanoke River in Virginia: Therefore, be it Resolved by the council of the city of Roanoke that said council go on record as endorsing the carrying out of the purposes of the aforesaid act of December 22, 1944, and especially in that portion thereof calling for the construction of the Smith Mountain Dam and hydroelectric power plant project on the Roanoke River in Virginia as soon as practicable: Be it further |