benefits would be realized the district engineer concludes that the proposed improvement is economically justified and recommends its construction by the Federal Government subject to the conditions that no dredging shall be done by the United States within 50 feet of any existing wharf or structure except the State highway bridge at mile 12.5 and the county highway bridge at Orangefield and that local interests provide free of cost to the United States all necessary rights-of-way and spoil-disposal areas and agree to maintain that portion of the project above the proposed turning basin and to hold and save the United States free from any damages that may result from the construction and maintenance of the project. The division engineer concurs generally in the conclusions and recommendations of the district engineer. While he concurs in recommending authorization of the project, he believes construction of the proposed turning basin should be deferred until the need therefor is clearly demonstrated. He recommends that improvement of Cow Bayou be subject to the additional conditions that local interests agree to make all necessary alterations requested by the Secretary of War to any highway bridges maintained across the improved waterway and to maintain and operate such structurees after completion of the project, and agree to bear the expense of any necessary alterations of all pipe lines and submarine cables at crossings where the improvement occupies the existing channel of Cow Bayou. VIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS 7. The Board concurs in general in the views and recommendations of the reporting officers. Cow Bayou at Orangefield, Tex., and below is subject to damaging floods which could be alleviated by the proposed improvement and in addition substantial navigation benefits would be secured. The Board considers the proposed channel and turning basin to be suitable for the improvement of Cow Bayou, and as the benefits to be expected are in excess of the costs, the project is justified. 8. The Board recommends improvement of Cow Bayou, Tex., by the construction of a channel 100 feet wide and 13 feet deep at mean low tide and about 7.7 miles long, extending from the navigation channel in Sabine River to a point 0.5 mile above the county highway bridge at Orangefield, Tex., with a turning basin 300 feet wide, 500 feet long, and 13 feet deep at Orangefield, generally in accordance with the plans of the district engineer at an estimated cost to the United States of $323,000 for construction including alterations to pipe lines and cables in land cuts, and $5,000 annually for maintenance, subject to the conditions that no dredging shall be done by the United States within 50 feet of any existing wharf or structure except the State highway bridge at mile 12.5 and the county highway bridge at Orangefield, and that local interests furnish assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of War that they will (a) provide free of cost to the United States all rights-of-way and spoil-disposal areas for initial construction and subsequent maintenance when and as required; (b) maintain after completion that portion of the project above the proposed turning basin in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War; (c) make all necessary highway and highway-bridge changes and maintain and operate such structures after completion of the project; (d) bear the expense of any necessary alterations of pipe lines and submarine cables at crossings where the improvement occupies the existing channel of Cow Bayou; and (e) hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction and maintenance of the project. For the Board: R. C. CRAWFORD, WAR DEPARTMENT, The CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON FLOOD CONTROL, Washington. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: 1. The Committee on Flood Control, House of Representatives, by resolution adopted March 20, 1945, requested the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors to review the report on Sabine River, Tex., submitted to Congress on April 5, 1944, with a view to determining whether any modifications of the recommendations contained therein with respect to flood control and the utilization of water for power development are advisable at this time. I enclose the report of the Board in response thereto. It is also in review of an interim report by the district and division engineers on preliminary examination and survey of "Sabine River, and tributaries, Tex., in the interest of navigation, flood control, and other water uses," authorized by the River and Harbor Act approved March 2, 1945. A final report in response to the above authorizations will be submitted at a later date. 2. After full consideration of the interim reports secured from the district and division engineers, the Board recommends improvement of Cow Bayou, Tex., by the construction of a channel 100 feet wide and 13 feet deep at mean low tide and about 7.7 miles long, extending from the navigation channel in Sabine River to a point 0.5 mile above the county highway bridge at Orangefield, Tex., with a turning basin 300 feet wide, 500 feet long and 13 feet deep at Orangefield, generally in accordance with the plans of the district engineer at an estimated cost to the United States of $323,000 for construction including alterations to pipe lines and cables in land cuts, and $5,000 annually for maintenance, subject to the conditions that no dredging shall be done by the United States within 50 feet of any existing wharf or structure except the state highway bridge at mile 12.5 and the county highway bridge at Orangefield, and that local interests furnish assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of War that they will (a) provide free of cost to the United States all rights-of-way and spoil disposal areas for initial construction and subsequent maintenance when and as required; (b) maintain after completion that portion of the project above the proposed turning basin in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War; (c) make all necessary highway and highway bridge changes and maintain and operate such structures after completion of the project; (d) bear the expense of any necessary alterations of pipe lines and submarine cables at crossings where the improvement occupies the existing channel of Cow Bayou; and (e) hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction and maintenance of the project. 3. After due consideration of these reports, I concur in the views and recommendations of the Board. Very truly yours, R. A. WHEELER, Senator OVERTON. Is there any opposition to Grand Bayou? [No response.] The Chair hears none. Is there any opposition to the Cow Bayou project? [No response.] The Chair hears none. Senator CORDON. May I ask, Colonel, what you have in reference to the Yaquina proposition? Colonel FERINGA. The Yaquina project was also considered by the Board at the time these other two projects that I have just explained were considered. That report is still before the Department of the Interior and has not been returned to our office with their comments; hence we have not been able to send it to the Bureau of the Budget. Senator CORDON. How long has that report been before the Interior Department? Colonel FERINGA. I think about a week, Senator Cordon. Senator CORDON. How long, Mr. Chairman, do we expect these hearings to continue on this bill? Senator OVERTON. I expected to get through with them in 3 days. Senator CORDON. That will give him an opportunity to contact the Interior Department with reference to this report. I can see no reason why the Fish and Wildlife Bureau would have any interest in the improvement of a harbor for the purpose of accommodating fishing boats. Senator OVERTON. I am advised a representative of the Interior Department is here now. Mr. Powers. Mr. POWERS. Yes, Senator. Senator OVERTON. Do you know whether the Interior Department is ready to report on the project Senator Cordon mentioned? Mr. POWERS. I will find out about that. Colonel FERINGA. That is the Yaquina harbor project. Senator OVERTON. I wish you would look into that. If it is merely pigeonholed, at the bottom of the pile, you can bring it up to the top and we will dispose of it. Colonel FERINGA. It might well be that they have their report ready. Under the circumstances I cannot explain it. Senator OVERTON. No. You cannot do that under the law. RED RIVER BELOW FULTON, ARK. Senator OVERTON. Is there anyone appearing here in opposition to the Red River canal project? Mr. ROBERTS. The railroads have about a 30-minute statement they want to read into the record. Senator OVERTON. All right, sir. What is your name? Mr. ROBERTS. Henry Roberts. Senator OVERTON. Is there anybody from Texas who wants to testify? (There was no response). Senator OVERTON. Is there anyone from Louisiana who wants to testify in support of the Grand Bayou project? (There was no response). Senator OVERTON. Very well; we will proceed with this project which has been approved by the House and appears on page 5 of the bill, lines 12 to 17. Red River below Fulton, Ark. The report of the Chief of Engineers is dated April 18, 1946. STATEMENT OF HENRY N. ROBERTS, REPRESENTING THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS Senator OVERTON. Mr. Roberts, whom do you represent? Mr. ROBERTS. I am representing the Association of American Railroads, generally, and specifically I am speaking for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway; the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway; the Kansas City Southern Railway; the Louisiana & Arkansas Railway; the Louisiana & Northwest Railway; the Missouri Pacific Lines; the Paris & Mount Pleasant Railroad; the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway; the St. Louis Southwestern Railway lines; the Texas & New Orleans Railroad; the Texas & Pacific Railway; and the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railway. Senator OVERTON. Which ones of these railways actually traverse the Red River Valley through this project? Mr. ROBERTS. All of them. |