The strongest recommendation, of course, is the report of the United States district engineer. He estimates the first cost of the improvement at $1,079,574, including $231,480 to local interests for lands, bridges, and damages. The total annual charges for maintenance and operation are estimated at $45,294, including $2,460 to local interests. The plan is designed to eliminate flood damages from all floods except for slight damages from a flood estimated to occur once in 100 years. The district engineer estimates the average annual benefits at $98,100, which consists of $92,000 for the prevention of direct flood damages and $6,100 for enhancement of property values. The report recommends the improvement of Kawainui Swamp, to provide an unlined tidewater flood channel and a concrete and timber control structure at the inlet to the channel, at an estimated cost to the United States of $848,094, with the understanding that local interests will provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements, rights-of-way, and spoil-disposal areas necessary for the construction and subsequent maintenance of the project; construct all highway and street bridges, alterations, and other related works made necessary by the construction of the project; hold the United States free from any damages resulting from the construction and maintenance of the works; and maintain and operate all works after completion of the project in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Army. I hope the committee will find in this report adequate reason for acting favorably and including this project in the omnibus bill. Mr. LARCADE. I might say that Congressman Angell and myself are quite familiar with this project as a result of our visit with members of a special committee of Congress. Mr. FARRINGTON. Mr. Chairman, I desire to file with the committee the petition from the people of this area. Mr. DAVIS. I do not think it is necessary to include the newspaper clippings; they build up the record rather fast. Mr. FARRINGTON. I would like to have official letters from the Governor and the board of health. Mr. DAVIS. Yes; the official letters should be made a part of the record. (The communications referred to follow :) TERRITORY OF HAWAII, Honolulu, February 5, 1949. Re survey report for flood control, Kawainui swamp, Kailua district, island of Oahu, T. H., 1948, by B. M. Harloe, colonel, Corps of Engineers, district engineer. B. M. HARLOE, Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Fort Armstrong, Honolulu, T. H. DEAR SIR: Upon being informed by Delegate Farrington that the marginal survey report will be acted upon by the Chief of Engineers and forwarded to me for my approval. I am writing this letter to expedite the Kawainui Swamp project. I hereby notify you that I have had this project studied on the basis of the report on file in your office and I approve the plans for and completion of the flood-control project for Kawainui swamp outlined therein. I consider completion of this project essential to the health and welfare of the large part of the residents of the island of Oahu. The constant threat of floods in the Kawainui swamp area is a menace to the safety of the residents of that area. 92329--49-62 I have today notified the Chief of Engineers, Department of the Army, of my approval of this project by radiogram, and would appreciate whatever action you may take to expedite favorable final action on this project. Upon approval of this project I will recommend to the legislature of the Territory that an appropriation be made providing the funds for the local cooperation necessary to complete financing arrangements in line with the present report. Your very truly, Hon. JOSEPH R. FARRINGTON, INGRAM M. STAINBACK, HONOLULU, T. H., February 7, 1948. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR JOE: By this time the Kawainui flood-control survey as now planned by the district engineers should have reached Washington. Recent rains have again started flooding the area adjacent to the swamp. Some residents have had to evacuate. The $70,000 losses sustained in 1940 will be a mere drop in the bucket if normal rains continue this winter. I have seen the Governor, seeking emergency aid. He claims neither authority nor funds. The Hui O Kailua has submitted a letter to the board of supervisors appealing for emergency aid. What they may do, if anything, can only be emergency. This situation is serious for a large number of taxpayers. Are they to be evacuated to some camp somewhere? Perhaps to the $35,000,000 Tripler Hospital? If that much money can be spent on a hospital with 1,500 beds for possible future use, why can't a hundred thousand or so be spent to safeguard more than that number of residents in dire need? For 10 years we have been trying to get something done. Many, many more people are living in the area now than in 1940. The total cost of saving them will be less than the annual cost of keeping Tripler's 350 acres clean. DEAR SIR: Heavy rains during the week-end of January 16, 1949, caused the Kawainui swamp at Kailua, Oahu, to overflow its banks and inundate a portion of the Coconut Grove residential area located on the makai bank of the swamp. The yards of approximately 100 occupied dwellings were flooded and water entered 20 homes, in some cases to a depth of 12 inches. It was necessary for 10 of the dwellings to be evacuated. Sewage has seeped from some cesspools because of their flooded condition. On January 26, 1948, a heavy rain resulted in the flooding of 29 premises in the same area and the evacuation of 4 homes. The storm this year was much more intense, 8.0 inches falling as again 3.37 for the 1948 storm. The occurrence of these two floods within a period 12 months points up the urgent need for the early completion of the flood-control project initiated by the Corps of Engineers of the War Department. These floods constitute a threat to the health of the residents of the area because of the unsanitary conditions they cause. In correspondence dated March 15, 1948, you kindly advise me of the status of the flood-control project at that time. The report on the project was then being prepared by the district engineer at Honolulu and the division engineer of the Western Ocean Division at Sausalito, Calif. When completed, it was to be forwarded to the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors in Washington, D. C. for review. In view of the need for this project, I respectfully request that you use your good office to secure early and favorable action on it by the Washington authorities and agencies concerned. It is my sincere opinion that the project is necessary for the protection of the health of the residents in the area involved. Sincerely yours, C. L. WILBAR, Jr., M. D., RESOLUTION No. 50 (1949) RELATING TO THE PROJECT OF DRAINING THE KAWAINUI SWAMP, KAILUA, OAHU, T. H., AND PROVIDING OF FLOOD-CONTROL WORKS Whereas, the recent heavy rains have caused the Kawainui Swamp, Kailua, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, to overflow and cover much of the low area of the rest of Kailua between the swamp and the sea with standing water; and Whereas the seriousness of this flood caused families to be evacuated from the area immediately adjoining the swamp; and Whereas the long period of standing water in the residential area of Kailua from this flood, like other similar occurrences in the past, is a condition which is detrimental to the health of the affected residents and the rest of the community; and Whereas temporary measures taken last year by the local authorities to provide some means of draining this swamp and lowering the level of the standing water therein has proven entirely inadequate to cope with the situation; and Whereas the pres on Saturday, January 29, 1949, carried a news item to the effect that Delegate Joseph R. Farrington has been informed by the United States Army Board of Engineers that it has approved a recommendation of the district engineer at Honolulu for the expenditure of $1,079,000 for the Kawainui Swamp project at Kailua, which sum contemplates an appropriation of $848,094 of Federal funds, the balance to be supplied by the local sources; and Whereas the press account aforesaid indicates that the project now is before the Chief of United States Engineers and it is assumed that this approval will be immediately forthcoming, after which it will be submitted to the Governor for his approval; Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Board of supervisors of the City and County of Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, That in view of the foregoing, and the urgent need for expediting this project, that the Delegate to Congress from Hawaii, the Governor of the Territory of Hawaii, and the United States Chief of Engineers be respectfully requested hereby to use their good offices in pressing for the expeditious progress of the proceedings for this proposed construction so as to relieve the minds of the affected owners of property in Kailua, and this community in general, from further concern against the further flooding of their homes; be it further Resolved, That the clerk be directed to forward a certified copy of each of this resolution to the Delegate to Congress from Hawaii, the Governor of the Territory of Hawaii, and to the Chief of United States Engineers, for their consideration of this appeal. Introduced by: Noble K. Kauhane, Supervisor; M. D. Beamer, Supervisor; R. M. Kageyama, Supervisor; M. C. Pacheco, Supervisor; J. M. Asing, Supervisor; Ernest N. Heen, Supervisor. Date of introduction: February 1, 1949, Honolulu, T. H. JOHN H. WILSON, Mayor, City and County of Honolulu. CERTIFICATE I hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy of original Resolution No. 50, adopted by the board of supervisors of the city and county of Honolulu on the 1st day of February, A. D. 1949, and approved by its mayor on the 3d day of February, A. D. 1949, and now on file and of record. Given under my hand and seal of the city and county of Honolulu this 4th day of February, A. D. 1949. LEON K. STERLING, Sr., The CHAIRMAN. May I say again that this project is in the same situation as the project that Representative Reed told us about a few moments ago, in that it has not reached us from the budget, and you can help us by getting it out of the budget. Mr. FARRINGTON. My information is that it has left the budget. Mr. FARRINGTON. And it is in the hands of the United States Engineers and if it is not in your hands it will be very shortly. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. DAVIS. Thank you, Mr. Farrington. QUINCY AND BEARDSTOWN, ILL. STATEMENT OF HON. SID SIMPSON, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS Mr. DAVIS. Mr. Simpson, this project for Beardstown, Ill., has not yet come to the committee, but as an accommodation to you, a former member of this committee, we wanted you to be permitted to make a statement this morning. This project, as the chairman has stated, and a number of other projects are in the same status, and it may be you can help get it to us. Mr. SIMPSON. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and as a former member of the old Rivers and Harbors Committee I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you. I would like to have the privilege of introducing for the record the action that has been taken on both of these bills, H. R. 2826 and H. R. 2827, for Quincy and Beardstown, in chronological order, of what has transpired within the engineers to date; I would like to have that permission if I may. Mr. DAVIS. Yes. (The statements referred to follow :) WILLIAM H. WHITTINGTON, House Committee on Public Works, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., February 24, 1949. House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. WHITTINGTON: During the past three Congresses and while you were chairman of the House Flood Control Committee prior to the Reorganization Act and committee consolidations, you very kindly helped our area on needed floodcontrol matters. The city of Beardstown, located on the Illinois River in Illinois, has been in constant danger of being flooded. In 1943 some two or three thousand of the citizens, over half the city, were evacuated. Federal troops came in to help and did save the city from being inundated. The population of Beardstown is probably 6,000. It is a railroad division point for the Burlington and has one of the largest flour mills in the Midwest located there. There are several other factories there. The factory area on the river front in Quincy, Ill., has been having the same experience as Beardstown. Quincy is on the Mississippi River and has a population of 40,000. On February 17 I introduced two flood-control authorizations for Beardstown and Quincy. The amount happens to be the same for each place. I did this in accordance with recommendations of the division and Chief of Engineers plans. I consulted with them before doing it. Attached please find an editorial taken from the Beardstown (Ill') Star this morning relative to Beardstown. Also please find an editorial from the Quincy Herald Whig on their situation. I would appreciate both editorials being returned to me at your convenience. I am taking the liberty of calling all of this to your attention hoping that these authorizations can and will be granted. Thanking you, I remain, Yours truly, SID SIMPSON, M. C. COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., March 1, 1949. Re: H. R. 2826, 2827. Hon. SID SIMPSON, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIMPSON: I acknowledge receipt of your letter of February 24 to say that the above two bills will have the careful consideration of the Committee on Public Works. As requested, I return herewith the two clippings which were enclosed with your said letter. DEAR GENERAL PICK: The Honorable Clifford Davis, chairman of the House Flood Control Subcommittee, stated at the National Rivers and Harbors Convention that his subcommittee would start holding flood-control hearings early in May. As you know, I have introduced H. R. 2827 providing for the construction of flood-control improvements at the town of Beardstown, Ill., and H. R. 2826 providing for the construction of flood-control improvements at the city of Quincy, Ill. This is in accordance with the plans of the engineers. I would like to know if everything is in order relative to these two projects so that no stone will be left unturned as far as this office is concerned before the Flood Control Subcommittee starts these hearings for Beardstown and Quincy. As of today we have gone as far as we can go in introducing this legislation and now request that the good office of the United States Engineers have everything in readiness for their testimony. I do hope legislation for these two cities will be authorized at this session of Congress. Thanking you, I am, Yours truly, SID SIMPSON, M. C. DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, Hon. SID SIMPSON, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. SIMPSON: Reference is made to your letter of April 14, 1949, in which you request assurance that this office is prepared to testify at hearings before the House Flood Control Subcommittee on H. R. 2827, providing for the construction of flood-control improvements at the town of Beardstown, Ill., and H. R. 2826, providing for the construction of flood-control improvements at the city of Quincy, Ill. As you know, the problem at Beardstown has been investigated by the Corps of Engineers and a report recommending certain improvements has been submitted. This report will, in the near future, be reviewed by the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors. After the review by the Board, the proposed report of the Chief of Engineers, together with the reports of the Board of Engineers and division and district engineers, will be forwarded to the governors of the States involved and to various Federal agencies interested for their respective comments. Following receipt of these comments, the reports and comments will be forwarded to Congress through the Bureau of the Budget. The information contained in these reports will provide the basis for any testimony requested by the House Flood Control Subcommittee on H. R. 2827. A detailed study of the problem at Quincy, Ill., will be included in a review of reports on the Mississippi River above the Missouri River, which is scheduled to |