Mr. JONES. I was going to make the same request. There are sev eral representatives from local districts and other organizations wh are here and we did not want to impose on the committee. They wi file statements. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. CANNON. I see that Judge Davis is here. We shall be very glad to hear from you, Judge Davis. Mr. DAVIS. Thank you, gentlemen and members of the committee You allowed us 45 minutes and we finished right on the minute I do not want to spoil a perfect record. Thank you very much. Mr. CANNON. You are very kind. If you desire to extend your remarks, you may do that when the transcript comes to you. Mr. DAVIS. Thank you very much. Mr. EVERETT. I want to thank you for the privilege you have given us to appear today, Mr. Chairman. (Further statements on the Mississippi Valley follow :) CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. STATEMENT OF EARL R. SCHULTZ Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Earl R. Schultz and I am chief engineer and secretary-treasurer of the Little River Drainage District of Missouri. I am here to represent the drainage and levee districts in the southeast part of the State of Missouri. Southeast Missouri has 142 miles of front line levees of which approximately 90 percent are up to grade and section. There is one short reach along the headwater diversion channel which must have levee construction to prevent an overflow to the south during extreme high water stages. This is an approved project and we ask that funds be appropriated for this work. More revetment work should be done along the Mississippi River in southeast Missouri in the very near future to prevent further erosion. If this is not done it will eventually require the setting back of main line levees. THE LOWER ST. FRANCIS BASIN PROJECT Over 4,000 miles of ditches and levees have been constructed by drainage and levee districts in southeast Missouri at a cost to the landowners of more than $90 million. The outlet for most of the surface water from southeast Missouri is through Big Lake Arkansas, to the St. Francis River and then through the St. Francis River to the Mississippi River near Helena, Ark. The present outlet is entirely inadequate for agricultural drainage and this lack of adequate outlet is felt by all drainage districts in southeast Missouri. Due to lack of outlet through Big Lake Arkansas none of the drainage districts, which outlet through the Little River drainage system, can enlarge their ditches to give better drainage locally. Conditions are getting worse each year as farmers throughout the area are digging private ditches to better drain their lands and these ditches are overloading the ditches to the drainage districts and causing flooding to the lands downstream. The loss to farmers in southeast Missouri alone was estimated at $45,800,000 in 1957. This amount is unusual because of the excess rainfall during the year. However there is a large loss each year, which is due to inadequate outlet for the southeast Missouri drainage systems. The average loss to farmers in this area due to inadequate drainage outlet will probably average from $3 million to $5 million annually. These losses are reflected in National and State income taxes. We are asking for better outlet for the drainage from southeast Missouri lands which drain through the Little River drainage district. The farmers in this are attempted to dig many miles of farm ditches. This development is overtaring the outlet ditches and the drainage districts are unable to keep up with these developments due to lack of outlet. Many millions of dollars have been invested in the land, improvements, and equipment and this investment must be protected to keep the country going forward. Work is now being done on the St. Francis Basin project as outlined in House Document 132, 81st Congress, 1st session, in Arkansas. This work is progressing at such a slow rate that the lands in Missouri have received no material benefits to date. We ask that for the fiscal year 1961, Congress appropriate $4,600,000 for the St. Francis Basin project as requested by the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association and that adequate funds be appropriated for main line levees, bank stabilization and maintenance as requested by the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association. We further request that the funds for the St. Francis Basin project as outlined in House Document 132, be increased annually and that the work be pushed to completion in the very near future. With losses suffered by the farmers in the Little River Drainage District area, we must have relief soon and we feel that with the work progressing as it has in Arkansas we are entitled to relief. Increased appropriations will get this done. Respectfully submitted. EARL R. SCHULTZ, Chief Engineer, The Little River Drainage District. ST. FRANCIS BASIN PORTAGEVILLE Mo., April 4, 1960. To Appropriations Committee, U.S. Congress: Gentlemen, my name is Hilton L. Bracey. I am executive vice president of Missouri Cotton Producers Association with offices at Portageville, Mo., and I am offering this statement on behalf of the association's committee on drainage, flood control, and water policy. This association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the agricultural interests of the seven Missouri Delta counties of Butler, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Scott, and Stoddard. These counties comprise approximately 18,000 farm units with a total cropland of nearly 2 million acres. The average annual income from sale of crops in these seven counties is $120 million or about 27 percent of all crops sold in Missouri. Organized drainage districts cover two-thirds of the land area involved. This general area known as the Missouri Delta embraces some of the richest and, at least potentially, some of the most highly productive agricultural land to be found anywhere in the United States. The future development of this area, which is currently producing only a fraction of its potential crop income, depends primarily upon an adequate outlet for the increasing rapid runoff of sur lace waters. The Missouri Delta has outgrown its drainage facilities which were originally planned for conditions prevailing when 85 percent of the land area was a dense wilderness, and before the agricultural importance of the area was recognized. Extensive land clearing, land leveling and grading, the construction of a larger system of field and lateral ditches, have combined to hasten the runoff of surface water into major floodway ditches that in turn empty into an outlet that is completely obsolete under present-day conditions. For a great many years the outlet of the floodways has been unable to accommodate the increasingly rapid runoff. Even in years past when normal rainfall prevailed, the shortcomings of our drainage system have been evidenced by backwater, overflow, and crop damages. Unusually heavy rainfall during the 1957 crop season resulted in backwater, overflow, and crop disaster throughat the length and breadth of the system. It is conservatively estimated that even in years of normal rainfall crop losses in the area resulting from inadequate drainage average around $5 million; in other years losses run much higher; and in 1957 crop losses were officially estimated at $46 million. In spite of the faster runoff resulting from land developments which have pi over 90 percent of the entire area into agricultural production, the outlet f surface water from the Missouri Delta remains essentially the same as orig nally constructed. A new study of the overall drainage situation was made in the early forti by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and as a result enabling legislation for an in proved outlet for Missouri Delta surface waters was included in House Docu ment No. 132, 81st Congress, 1st session, adopted May 17, 1950. It is distressin to note, however, that regardless of the fact that the great need for an improve outlet has been officially recognized for some 20 years, and that even thong legislative authority has been in existence for 10 years, not enough has bee; accomplished toward providing the necessary outlet; and unless direct and vigorous action is taken, the obvious conclusion is that it will be many, many years more before protection from overflow and backwater will become a reality. Practically all of the surface water of the Missouri Delta eventually moves through the Little River Drainage District system which empties into Big Lake Ark. This fact means that almost all of the circuit court and county cour drainage districts must of necessity depend upon the Little River Drainage Dis trict for an outlet. Due to the faster runoff of surface water from all over the Missouri Delta and consequent heavier demands on the outlet into and throug) Big Lake, the Little River Drainage District no longer allows additional drain age districts to tap its system, and has been forced to forbid districts already connected to enlarge their ditches. The inability of the smaller districts to ob tain an outlet and the restrictions against enlargement of ditches in districts already emptying into the Little River Drainage District system seriously hamper the development of individual farm drainage systems because there is no place to run the water. Regardless of this unhappy situation, however. farmers continue to dig ditches and level land with the result that the overall situation becomes more acute with each passing year. The economy of the Missouri Delta is built almost entirely upon agricultural production, but agricultural authorities agree that it will be impossible to fully develop the natural advantages of the area; the fertile soil, the mild climate. abundant water for irrigation, good transportation facilities, and proximity to large markets; until protection is provided against the ever-present possibility of overflow and backwater which cannot be eliminated until an adequate outlet for surface water is provided. The people of the Missouri Delta have both a mercenary and a patriotic interest in a sound and constructive drainage program. We are convinced that funds expended for an adequate outlet would not only benefit our area, but would be reflected in economic gains for our State and the entire Nation. If we realize the potentials promised by our natural resources, returns in increased crops and farming profits would quickly liquidate the amount of the investment through increased State and Federal tax revenue. The unpleasant alternative is for our area to yield to progress achieved by other more progressive and aggressive areas, and suffer the consequent loss to all concerned. We respectfully urge the Congress to appropriate the funds ($4,600,000) requested in the budget for the St. Francis Basin, and further that additional consideration be given to a central ditch through Big Lake which would be in addition to the current recommendations of the corps calling for construction of two more ditches, one following the east side levee and one following the west side levee. We are encouraged to note that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approves and that the corps does not object to the construction of the proposed central ditch, but the corps has questioned the benefit-to-cost ratio involved. There is reason to believe that the benefit-to-cost appraisal should be broadened to include a larger land area with due consideration being given to increased land values, because benefits from an improved outlet would accrue to the entire area served by the Little River Drainage District system including all of the area serviced by connecting circuit court and county court drainage districts. We trust that the corps will be encouraged to take a new look at the benefit-to-cost appraisal on the proposed central ditch, and that a revised appraisal denoting benefits to the entire area to be served be included in the current review report. It is our considered opinion, based on appraisals by recognized drainage and engineering authorities, that the two outside ditches proposed by the corps while being potentially helpful would be incapable of providing the necessary outlet for Missouri Delta surface water without the aid of the suggested central ditch through Big Lake because 80 percent of the area served by the Little River Drainage District would still be forced to drain into and through Big Lake This fact makes the suggested central ditch absolutely essential to the sucess of the overall drainage project. Te do not propose to argue the contention that drainage must of necessity peed from downstream, but in view of the critical need for relief from the er-present dangerous possibility of backwater and overflow throughout the Missouri Delta, we urge that projects in the Big Lake and Little River area be developed and contracted concurrently with those in Arkansas. We believe that work could and should be done simultaneously in Missouri through utilization of plugs to prevent worsening of conditions on the downstream end. We respectfully urge the committee to require that a target date be set for concurrent completion of the various projects, and to continue its policy of encouraging the proper authorities to schedule projects for completion with the urgency of the situation in mind. ST. FRANCIS BASIN STATEMENT OF BURRELL B. FAIR Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Burrell B. Fair and I am chief engineer of the St. Francis Levee District of Arkansas. I am here to represent the landowners and taxpayers of that district, which embraces 1600,000 acres in the part of the St. Francis Basin which lies in the State of Arkansas. The St. Francis Levee District is local sponsor of the work being done in the St. Francis Basin under House Document 132, 81st Congress, 1st session, and also has 158 miles of main line Mississippi River levee from the Arkansas-Missouri State line to the mouth of the St. Francis River above Helena, Ark. The district I represent is one of the many local levee and drainage districts which are members of the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association. We agree wholeheartedly with the appropriations program set out in the testimony of the members of this association here today, asking for a total appropriation for "Flood control, Mississippi River and tributaries" for fiscal year 1961 of $78,485,000. Each item referred to in the statements here is important to the entire lower Mississippi Valley. Our mainline levees are not complete and we have a fantastic capital investment in the farms, cities, industries, and other property behind these levees. Therefore, we should make all possible speed toward the completion of our levees in order to provide maximum security against flooding for the entire valley. The bank stabilization program, the various harbor programs and the tributary projects, all play a great part in the development of this great valley and the appropriation asked will return a dividend far greater than the amounts invested in them. Since I represent the district which includes the part of the St. Francis Basin which is in Arkansas, I wish to refer at some length to the work now underway there. Since 1953 a program of construction has been in progress under which the emphasis has been placed on the construction of the major drainage outlets included in this project, beginning at the lower end of the basin and proceeding upstream. We are proud of the work which has been one and, although we have not yet reached the point where we can feel the direct results of this work, we know that if appropriations continue to make possible the order of progress of this work we will soon begin to have some easure of security from the floods which we now fear. As I said, this work began at the lower end of the basin and has progressed upstream and now it has progressed far enough to make possible the construction of some of the elements of this project which are to be of direct benefit to the Missouri area of the St. Francis Basin. We are anxious to see all parts of the St. Francis Basin have safely from floods, and we urge that the greatest amount possible he appropriated in order that both the Missouri and Arkansas areas of the St. Francis Basin may begin to receive benefits of this work. We This year the budget includes $4,600,000 for the St. Francis Basin. feel that this amount is sufficient to allow orderly progress to be made on the St. Francis Basin during the coming fiscal year and we urge that this committee recommend the appropriation of that amount, along with other amounts set out here today, totaling $78,485,000 for the Mississippi River and tributari project. Respectfully submitted. VICKSBURG HARBOR STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF REQUEST FOR APPROPRIATION FOR THE VICKSBURG-YAZ PROJECT (AUTHORIZED BY 2D SESS., 83D CONG.) (Submitted by the Warren County Board of Supervisors, the Warren Coun Port Commission, the City of Vicksburg, and the Vicksburg Chamber Commerce) Construction of the Vicksburg-Yazoo project consisting of an industrial fill o approximately 245 acres with adequate auxiliary channel and approach is now approaching its final stage. If the present rate of progress can be maintained the work should be completed by early spring of calendar year 1961. Considerable progress has been made during the previous 12 months: th south retaining dike and the approach fill for rail and highway access have bee completed; the hydraulic fill is 80 percent complete; and dredging of the harbo channel is proceeding satisfactorily. The Congress has been requested to appropriate $1,370,000 for the project fo the fiscal year 1961. If these funds are made available, they should be sufficient t bring the project to completion on schedule. Local obligations are being undertaken as agreed. The Warren Count Board of Supervisors are in the process of advertising for bids for construction of overpass bridge connecting the project with U.S. Highway 61. These will b opened on April 7, 1960. Sverdrup & Parcel Engineering Co. of St. Louis was employed to make a preliminary survey on November 2, 1959. This study will include a suggested master plan for development of the project, including zoning, proposed location of public terminal and warehousing, utility rights-of-way, and cost estimates. A final draft of this report has been reviewed, and is now in the process of being printed. The county will be prepared to accept the project and proceed with its development upon its completion. Considerable interest continues to be manifested both by potential industrial users and all citizens in this trade territory. Legislation providing for heavier loading of trucks serving Mississippi River terminals in interstate traffic was prepared and initiated by Warren County senators and representatives and enacted into law in the current session of the Mississippi Legislature. This will give the Vicksburg Harbor an additional advantage in the transfer of various bulk commodities. If the requested funds are appropriated during the current session, this will probably be the last time that the undersigned agencies will appear before you for a request for funds for this project. We, therefore, take this opportunity of expressing our sincere appreciation to the Congress for their support of this project and to the U.S. Army Engineers for the assistance which they have given the local agencies from the very inception of the project. It is confidently believed that this project will aid in the growth and development of this territory consisting of at least 6,000 square miles, and that its benefits will greatly increase the use of the inland waterways system in this area. Respectfully submitted. WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, By ALBERT E. TUCKER, President. By W. E. HAINING, President. CITY OF VICKSBURG, By JOHN R. HOLLAND, President. VICKSBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, By JEREMY DARYMPLE, President. |