Speaker Rayburn and Mr. McKinney already have discussed the need for the $150,000 for the pollution study on the Red River. Louisiana is even more anxious because we get all of the polluted water, and we are working with the States of Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma in trying to arrive at a compact, and this information is almost essential for a proper compact to be arrived at.

Mr. CANNON. We have with us this morning the whip of the House, Mr. Albert, the gentleman from Oklahoma. Mr. Albert, do you wish to be heard at this time?

STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE CARL ALBERT, OKLAHOMA

Mr. ALEERT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My colleague, Mr. Harris, and I are here with constituents from our districts who are interested in these two projects, Millwood and Broken Bow Reservoirs, one project of which is in Mr. Harris' district and the other in mine. We are also interested in two budgeted projects for planning for Pine Creek and Gillham Reservoirs.

I have five constituents here who are here with detailed justifications of these projects. They are needed. The planning has been done on Millwood and Broken Bow. The engineers say they have a capability of using $500,000 on each of these projects. Any consideration you can give to our constituents we shall certainly appreciate. Mr. CANNON. Thank you, Mr. Albert.

We have with us this morning the chairman of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Mr. Harris, of Arkansas. Mr. Harris, we will be glad to hear you at this time.

STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE OREN HARRIS, ARKANSAS

Mr. HARRIS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. I appreciate again this opportunity of appearing before this distinguished committee with my colleague, Mr. Albert, and our mutual friends and constituents, who are here in behalf of the continuing work of these projects.

I observed the program which has been presented to you by Mr. Matthias covering the entire Red River and its tributaries.

I want to join in the request that has been made and submitted by Mr. Matthias. I support the entire program.

I want to emphasize, as did my colleague and our distinguished Whip of the House, the request for a half million dollars each be provided this year for initiating construction of Millwood Dam in Arkansas, which is in my district and which project will provide, as I understand it, 75 percent of the total flood control facilities for the entire Little River Basin and Broken Bow, which is in Mr. Albert's district.

Each of these projects were initiated together for planning and they have moved along together. I want to join Mr. Albert in asking this committee's consideration for these two projects. They are badly needed in this area. We have been working for them now for more than 15 years and we certainly would appreciate this committee's consideration.

PINE CREEK AND GILLHAM RESERVOIRS

Likewise there are planning funds in the budget for two projects, Pine Creek Reservoir in Mr. Albert's district, and Gillham Reservoir in my district. For Gillham Reservoir the request is $100,000 and for Pine Creek $150,000 to complete the planning for those two projects.

That is part of the budget submitted to you by Mr. Matthias an friends who will follow.

Now, Mr. Chairman, I want to take this opportunity for jus moment further to say this:

We have a general understanding in working out these prob the program for the entire valley submitted some 4 years ago, effort to get the program and the projects modified, approved authorized. We have generally agreed throughout the area, there should be construction of a project in Oklahoma the same as the construction of a project in Arkansas. We adhered to cooperation with reference to Millwood in Arkansas and Broken in Oklahoma. Now planning funds for Gillham in Arkansa Pine Creek in Oklahoma were appropriated last year and inc in budget for this year.

Last year the Senate included $49,000 for planning for Lukf Oklahoma.

DE QUEEN RESERVOIR PROJECT

In order to comply with this agreement or understanding a behalf of the people of De Queen, Ark. and the entire area in we Arkansas, which is not in the budget, I want to ask that $40,0 included to initiate the planning of De Queen Reservoir project I hope you will make a note of this and keep it in mind.

De Queen project, in western Arkansas, then would be in line the other project in Oklahoma as we move along with these pro together.

In this request I would like to file with the committee a state from the Corps of Engineers in which it states that should the m be made available it could use $40,000 for this purpose.

Also I would like to include in the record a statement from mayor of the city of De Queen, Irvin F. Stiers, emphasizing to committee and the Congress the importance of this project to entire area and urging the appropriation of this amount.

I also have a statement from Mr. Ray Kimball, the editor publisher of the two papers in the community and chairman o water resources committee of that city in behalf of this project.

I also have a statement of the Honorable Elbert Cook, a promi attorney who has been active in civic affairs and interested in the munity and welfare of the community for a long time.

I would like these statements to be included in the record.
They also speak for the people of the entire area.
(The statements referred to follow :)

U.S. ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT,
CORPS OF ENGINEERS,

Tulsa, O

Mr. RAY KIMBALL,
De Queen Bee Co.,

De Queen, Ark.

DEAR MR. KIMBALL: Colonel Penney is absent from the office so I am t the liberty of answering the specific question contained in your letter of M 14, 1960, concerning the amount of funds we could use during fiscal year on the De Queen Reservoir project.

From the strictly engineering standpoint, considering this project by itself out reference to our overall program, our overall capability, or fiscal consi tions, an amount of $40,000 could be utilized for this project in fiscal year As you may know, no funds for this project are included in the Presi

budget, so that no funds can be utilized for this project in view of overall budgetary considerations.

With reference to the other questions contained in your letter of March 14, 1960, concerning the Gillham and Dierks projects, please be advised that our reply to those questions will be by separate letters.

Sincerely yours,

THOMAS D. QUAID,

Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers,

PUBLIC WORKS APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE,

Acting District Engineer.

DE QUEEN, ARK., March 30, 1960.

U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: As mayor of the city of De Queen, Ark., I feel it my duty at this time to acquaint your committee with facts concerning our water situation as it is today.

De Queen, with an estimated population of 3,500, and near 500 more adjacent to the city limits, owns and operates its own water system. At this writing we are pumping water from seven different wells to meet our present need. One of the above-mentioned wells was drilled and equipped with pump this past year at a cost of near $21,000, which only produces about 200 gallons per minute. Water produced from wells by pumping in our area is from a formation which pumps a very fine silt. This silt is so fine it is impossible to screen out, and our water also has a mineral content that deteriorates pumps and pipe quite fast. Upkeep and repair caused by these two factors along with the original cost of making a well, adds to a very high cost of producing water. Demand for water in De Queen has doubled in the past 5 years, and we sincerely believe it will continue this pace because;

De Queen has just approved a $300,000 bond issue to improve and extend its sewer facilities, which will open several new areas for home and business construction.

De Queen is both fortunate and proud to have a large chicken processing plant, employing some 200 employees, however it has become necessary in the past for the city to shut the plant down a day or so at a time due to our situation. Further expansion of this plant cannot be expected until such time as we have a cheaper and more dependable supply.

De Queen's location in relation to thousands and thousands of acres of forests lead us to believe there would be large industrial developments in this area, if and when reservoir water becomes available.

Any and all consideration your committee can give to further expedite the De
Queen Reservoir projects will be greatly appreciated by our people.
If in any way I might be able to help, please advise.

Yours respectfully,

IRVIN L. STIERS, Mayor.

STATEMENT OF RAY KIMBALL

My name is Ray Kimball. I am publisher of the De Queen Bee and De Queen Daily Citizen, and chairman of the water resources committee of the De Queen Chamber of Comerce, De Queen, Ark.

Citizens in southwest Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma are vitally interested in the early completion of the six upstream reservoirs on the Little River and its tributaries that have been authorized by Congress.

The necessity for, and feasibility of, these upstream reservoirs has already been established by many previous appearances of myself and other interested citizens before the Board of Engineers and committees of Congress. It is my purpose today to point out the urgency of proceeding with the planning and construction of these impoundments immediately.

Mr. William P. Rock, executive secretary of the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission, in a letter dated March 3, 1960, addressed to the Corps of Engineers, Tulsa, Okla., office, pointed out the immediate need for an industrial water supply and stated that his agency at the present time "has a number of industries seeking such temperature and quality of water supply," as would be provided in the Arkansas projects.

The city of De Queen has doubled its usage of water in the past 5 years ar has been forced to shut down a large water-using poultry processing plant sever times because of inadequate water supply. Additional wells are very expenst and the water level has been dropping. De Queen will definitely need an ad tional supply of water that could be provided from the De Queen Reserv on Rolling Fork River before it can be completed if construction would start nc. The Corps of Engineers has indicated to me in letters dated March 18, 19 that they have the capability of using $40,000 planning funds for the De Que Reservoir and $40,000 planning funds for the Dierks Reservoir during the 19 fiscal year.

I respectfully urge the Congress to appropriate these planning funds need by the Engineers in addition to the $100,000 planning funds for the Gillha Reservoir.

STATEMENT OF ELBERT COOK

I am a citizen and resident of De Queen in Sevier County, Ark.

I and many other interested citizens in southeastern Oklahoma and sout western Arkansas have heretofore appeared before the Board of Engineers ar committees of Congress in behalf of six upstream dams in the Little Riv Valley in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Integrated river valley planning is logica practical, and, in the long run, more economical than haphazard, pieceme planning. In recognition of this fact the Army Engineers have recommende and Congress has now authorized the construction of six upstream dams in the Little River Valley in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Since the size of Millwoo Dam on Little River in Arkansas has now been reduced by 25 percent and tha flood control capacity transferred to and placed in these upstream dams, it i essential that the upstream dams be constructed simultaneously with Millwood if adequate flood control on Little River and on Red River, which is the primary object of this project, is to be accomplished.

I recognize, appreciate, and thank this committee for the understanding consideration it has accorded our views and requests in the past.

I now appear before this committee to urgently request appropriations for construction funds for the Broken Bow Reservoir, planning funds for Pine Creek and Lukfata Reservoirs in Oklahoma, and planning funds for Gillham, De Queen, and Dierks Reservoirs in Arkansas.

The areas in Oklahoma and Arkansas to be served by these six upstream dams have in recent years suffered and are continuing to suffer an alarming decrease in population. The area has a per capita income far below either the national average or the average in the two States. All interested parties, both up and downstream, favor the construction of the upstream dams. We are in desperate need of adequate flood control and of improvement in our general economic conditions which the construction of these dams would provide. am advised by the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission that the need for the industrial water these reservoirs would provide is urgent, compelling and that time is an important element. We need the reservoirs and the benefits they would provide now.

I

With respect to those reservoirs for which planning funds have already been made available, reasonable assurances have been furnished the Corps of Engineers that responsible agencies will at the proper time contract for the water supply storage. The Arkansas Legislature in 1957 enacted the Regional Water Distribution Act (Sec. 21-1401 and following, Arkansas Statutes), which specifically provides for the formation of public, nonprofit regional water distribution districts for the specific purpose of acquiring water, water storage facilities and the storage of such water in reservoirs created by the construction of multipurpose dams by and under the direction and supervision of the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army (21-1403). The local interests are prepared to form such a water distribution district at the appropriate time.

The Army Engineers have indicated in writing that they now have the capability of economically using $40,000 in planning funds for the De Queen Reservoir and $40,000 in planning funds for the Dierks Reservoir.

I, as one of the spokesmen for and representative of the thousands of interested citizens in the area that would be served by these upstream reservoirs, respectfully urge the immediate appropritaion of (1) $40,000 in planning funds for the De Queen Reservoir and $40,000 in planning funds for the Dierks Reservoir, (2) $100,000 planning funds for the Gillham Reservoir, which sum is in the budget, and $150,000 planning funds for Pine Creek Reservoir, which is also in the

budget, (3) the maximum amount of money that the Corps of Engineers can now economically use for planning purposes on the Lukfata Reservoir, and (4) $500,000 for construction purposes on the Broken Bow Reservoir.

Mr. CANNON. Thank you, Chairman Harris.

I might say in this connection that the Corps of Engineers is continually giving to anybody who asks it, apparently, a statement to the effect that if they had more money they could use it.

Then they come in here and say they do not have time to do what we have appropriated money for. We have had that statement made before the committee within the last month.

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Matthias.

Mr. MATTHIAS. We would like to introduce our next witness, Mr. J. H. Williams, president, Cane River Levee Board, and the Louisiana Levee Board Association.

He has a short statement to file.

MILLWOOD AND BROKEN BOW RESERVOIRS

STATEMENT OF MR. J. H. WILLIAMS

Mr. WILLIAMS. I am J. H. Williams, president of the Cane River Levee Board and president of the Levee Board Association in Louisiana. I have been connected with the levee board and flood fighting since 1925. We have made a lot of progress, but we have a lot of progress yet to make.

We are particularly interested in this Millwood Reservoir inasmuch as it takes care of more than a third of our water in the reservoir planning.

We also are interested in the Broken Bow Reservoir.

I have a statement here which I would like to file in this regard. I also would like to touch for a moment on the bank stabilization program on Red River.

(The statement referred to follows:)

STATEMENT BY J. H. WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT, CANE RIVER LEVEE AND

DRAINAGE DISTRICT

I am J. H. Williams, president of the board of commissioners of the Cane River Levee and Drainage Board, domiciled at Natchitoches, La. I represent not only my levee district but all levee districts in the Red River Basin in Louisiana. In behalf of these levee boards and the people of Louisiana living within the Red River Basin, I wish to request, no, insist, that $500,000 appropriated for initiating construction on Millwood Reservoir and $500,000 appropriated for nitiating construction on the Broken Bow Reservoir, Arkansas and Oklahoma, during the coming year.

Although Arkansas and Oklahoma have a large interest in the construction of these two reservoirs, Louisiana's interest is much greater and important. The entire flood control plan for Red River is based primarily upon the construction of these reservoirs. Without them, our existing levees are inadequate to withstand a major flood on Red River. Although the 1945 flood caused enorTous damage in the Red River Basin, a reoccurrence without these reservoirs ir operation might well result in many times the flood loss due to the developDent of the area in the Red River Basin.

Major floods on Red River can be expected at any time as has been shown by the past history of Red River. Possibilities of floods greater than that of 14 are very real as each year new record floods occur somewhere in these United States. Since 1945, we have had four major floods on Red River; once in 1953 and in 1958, and twice in 1957. Although it was estimated by the U.S. Corps of Engineers that completed reservoirs and local protection works in the Red River Basin prevented about $8 million in flood damage during the 1957 flood, We in Louisiana, suffered $11 million from flood damage from these same high