responsible recommendations to the Congress, I submit my prepared tatement for the record. Mr. CANNON. It will be included in the record at this point, and you may comment on it. The statement follows:) STATEMENT OF HON. JOSEPH E. KARTHI, MEMBER OF CONGRESS, FOURTH DISTRICT, MINNESOTA Mr. Chairman, I greatly appreciate this opportunity to testify in support of $500,000 appropriation which would permit work to begin on the construction a floodwall along the west bank of the Mississippi River at St. Paul and South St. Paul. Following extensive flood damage in the springs of 1951 and 1952, the St. Paul Council requested that the Minnesota delegation investigate recent floods Minnesota to determine whether such floods could be prevented. At that time also requested a survey for flood control at and in the vicinity of St. Paul South St. Paul, Minn., be undertaken by the Department of the Army, Corps Engineers, at the earliest practicable date. On September 18, 1944, the Committee on Flood Control, House of Representaes, adopted a resolution requesting the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Arbors to report on the Mississippi River between Coon Rapids Dam and the South of the Ohio River, with a view to determining the advisability of proing additional flood protection along the Mississippi River above the mouth the Missouri River. The final report submitted at this time by the Board ommended construction of an extensive earth levee, a concrete floodwall, trengthening and extending the existing levee at South St. Paul, as well as the Bessary closure structures, interior drainage facilities, and pumping stations hare all in accordance with the plan of the district engineer. The estimated cost of this project to the U.S. Federal Government, based on construction costs, was $3,137,800 for St. Paul and $2,567,700 at South St. In addition to the assurance that the two communities would provide ments, rights-of-way, hold the Federal Government free from damages, and intain and operate all the works after completion, the cash or equivalent struction work contribution was set at 14.3 percent of the gross Federal first for improvements at St. Paul and 1.89 percent of the gross Federal first costs South St. Paul. I am informed by the representatives of both St. Paul and St. Paul that the two communities are at present prepared to meet their ations as established by the Federal Government. Before proceeding further in my testimony, I would like to briefly mention history of floods in and around the St. Paul-South St. Paul area. In gen foods in the Mississippi River have occurred in the spring as a result of melt. A study of the flood frequency of occurrence by the St. Paul Port thority, an agency of the city of St. Paul, indicates that land erosion in rural as due to suburban development will prompt an increase in the number as as the runoff volume of floods. The three floods of the 1950's, for example, pletely inundated homes and manufacturing and utilities plants in St. Paul well as the large meatpacking plants in South St. Paul. Total damages in the between 1951 and 1957 are greater in dollars and cents than the total cost Federal Government. It is very important to note that damages in the food would have far exceeded the $4.5 millions mark had not local interests uth St. Paul established protective works of their own to serve the highly erable meatpacking plants from the rampaging floods. This venture alone the packing companies about $1 million. would like to mention that the St. Paul Port Authority, under the direction yle Kinvig, its general manager, has made an exhaustive study of the probas it relates to the St. Paul area. Mayor Dillon who is testifying here today elected case histories of damages to firms as well as the effect upon many rtunate people. The pictures and charts which are to be presented tell a of inhumane human suffering in this area as a result of several devastatfloods. s you will recall, this project was authorized in 1958 and this distinguished mittee appropriated $159,000 to be used for planning in the appropriation bill fiscal year 1960. I urge strongly that my colleagues from the House of presentatives do decide to continue the support of this necessary project ch, by reason of its authorization alone, has attained the significant stature a vitally important Federal civil works project. In summary, I would like to say that appropriating the $500,000 for the tinuance of the project will serve two purposes. The Corps of Engineers at uted average annual benefits of $43,300 to land enhancement of 96 acres of which would gain high industrial importance upon construction of a flood While I, in no way, wish to disagree with the method used by the Corp Engineers in determining benefit-cost ratios, I would, however, like to poin that it is extremely difficult to relegate the value of economic expansion strict dollar and cents value at this time. The statements by the Metropo Planning Commission and the St. Paul Planning Board relating to future uses as well as the statement by the St. Paul Housing Authority regardin development potential, which are to follow, will, I am confident, serve as for thought for the members of the committee as to the real potential econ value of the land which now lies vacant and undeveloped due to its susceptil to flood. In a greater sense, however, we should hold foremost in our minds, the h and general welfare of the nearly 6,000 residents of the St. Paul flooded It brings vividly to my mind how on three occasions it was necessary to re these people from their homes largely by boats. Much of their personal pro was lost or destroyed. The temporary housing and feeding of these peopl at least a month during the period of flood was a drain on the economy o community. In conclusion I would like to say that the St. Paul-South St. Paul flood co project is most urgently needed for both economic and humanitarian rea Construction at St. Paul would require 2 years and at South St. Paul v require 1 year. It has been planned to complete the project simultaneo Any delay in making the appropriation could result in personal and ecor hardship on the citizens now living in the flood area as well as a decisio the part of the meatpacking companies to move elsewhere which would in serious hardship to the many thousand farmers in and around Minnesota now ship to South St. Paul. I sincerely hope, Mr. Chairman, that you and your colleagues on the cor tee will approve an appropriation of $500,000 for the St. Paul-South St. flood control project for fiscal year 1961. Mr. KARTH. I take this opportunity to thank you, Mr. Chair for providing us with this time. I am sure you recognize we w not have requested this time if it were not an eminently serious important matter. Suffice it to say that the St. Paul Port Authority, the chambe commerce, the organized labor movement, as well as all other res sible groups, highly recommend that this project be treated with utmost urgency. I should like to place in the record a telegram: ceived from the Governor of our State, who recommends that th treated with the utmost urgency. Mr. CANNON. It will be made part of the record. (The telegram follows:) Hon. JOSEPH E. KARTH, Minnesota Representative in Congress, ST. PAUL, MINN., April 1, 19 Please express to the House Subcommittee on Public Works of the Appró tions Committee my intense interest in the St. Paul-South St. Paul flood co project. This area has suffered three devastating floods in the past 9 years. State of Minnesota urgently requests that funds be made available to comm construction on this vitally needed project so that human suffering and m and economic loss can be alleviated. Sincerely, ORVILLE L. FREEMAN, Govern Mr. KARTH. Mr. Chairman, industrial survival, industry expans human lives, and the future well-being of two cities are all invol in this project. I now defer to the gentlemen from my district who have traveled far to be heard. Assisting Mayor Dillon of St. Paul will be the pr dent of the St. Paul Port Authority, Mr. Philip Fitzpatrick, and Mr. Lyle Kinvig, manager of the Port Authority of St. Paul. Í now introduce the mayor of St. Paul, Mayor Dillon. Mr. CANNON. Mayor Dillon, we are glad to have you with us. STATEMENT OF MAYOR JOSEPH E. DILLON, ST. PAUL Mayor DILLON. Thank you, Congressman Karth and Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. Immediately to my left is Mr. Fitzpatrick, chairman of the St. Paul Port Authority; and the gentleman holding the easel is Lyle Kinvig, general manager of St. Paul Port Authority. He has several charts he will show as I give my testimony. My name is Joseph E. Dillon. I am the mayor of the city of St. Paul, and appear before you today to speak on the St. Paul portion of this combined St. Paul-South St. Paul flood control project. I should like to give to you a summary of the testimony which has been given to you showing the flooding and damages in this area, and summary of the legislative and administrative history of this projext-not only what the city of St. Paul has done, but what other gencies of the government, local and national, have also done. I hope in this manner that I can present a graphic picture of the uman suffering and misery caused by the flood, and also the economic oss the city of St. Paul has suffered from the floods of the last 100 ears-but more particularly the last 10 years. Generally, the floods in St. Paul occur on the Mississippi River in he spring. They are caused primarily by the rapid melting of the nowfall, along with the rainfall that we normally have at the same ime in Minnesota every year. Flood records of river stages in St. Paul have been maintained nce 1867, and in these 93 years St. Paul has suffered 12 flood sasters when the waters reached a reading of 16 feet, or 2 feet above the flood stage. The flood frequency data developed by the Corps of Engineers dicates that the Mississippi River can be expected to reach or exceed lood stage at St. Paul on the average of once every 4 years. Although the same data indicates that another devastating flood may not occur for some time, the record shows that we have had three major floods in the past 9 years. I think here it is important to note that this decade is the first one the past three to have reasonably normal precipitation. We are particularly concerned for the future, and feel that the decrease in the watershed areas' availability for water storage has Contributed to the seriousness of this situation. This condition has been, and will continue to be, aggravated in the future because of the Continued deforestation, ditching, highway construction, and other struction in a natural drainage area. We further feel that having had three very bad floods in the past years, we could have, and may very well have, floods in the future more often than before and far more serious than before. In the 1950's the three floods that occurred caused direct damages of $12,800,000, based on 1959 price levels. The 1951 flood was 4 feet 912 inches over flood stage; the 1952 flood was 8 feet over flood stage, and the 1957 flood was 2 feet 1 inch over the 14-foot mark. It is a repetition of these three floods of the 1950 decade, as well as the project design flood, that will be guarded against by the construction of the floodwall and levee. There are no statistics that can prove when the design flood will occur or when it will not occur. The statistics only show it will come in some year, and that it will cause $2312 million worth of direct damages in that year. That is the damage that must be avoided, as well as the $1234 million of direct damages that occurred in the 1950 decade. The extent of damages is more than just an economic loss. It should and does include the health and welfare of the people who live in the flooded area. Although we know of no yardstick by which we can properly measure the grief and suffering of some 6,000 residents of the flooded area of St. Paul who were forced to move three times during the 1950's, we hope the photographs and articles we have on exhibit before you, and which were reported in our local newspapers, will reflect the human heartache connected with each of these floods. These people are not concerned with the 97-year average annual records. They are concerned with the waters that reach flood stage. At that time they have to be moved frequently in boats to temporary quarters. This has occurred three times in the 1950 decade. The need for conserving, protecting, and developing this area in the heart of St. Paul becomes very apparent when it is considered in the light of the economic and population growth we have experienced and which is forecast for this upper midwest industrial center. In our urban area, as in all other urban areas, it is essential that all property be developed to its highest and best use. The area in St. Paul that will be protected by the flood protection works will also be part of an industrial area and a port development center in the heart of the city of St. Paul. If you gentlemen approve this flood control project, you will be protecting against industrial, human, and economic losses. The proper development of the largest terminus on the upper Mississippi River requires the best development of these lowland areas. The city of St. Paul is important in the commercial and industrial activity on the upper Mississippi River. This is shown in the tonnage reports and statements of barge traffic recorded and published by the U.S. Army Engineers district in St. Paul. The reports show that approximately 50 percent of all tonnage in and out of the reach of this system is handled in the port of the city of St. Paul. The need for new land areas to serve warehouses and industries using the waterway system, as well as those who want to take advantage of the nine railroads serving this area, the interstate freeway, and an airport can be met with the proper development of public projects such as this flood control measure under consideration. The key to all of this the relief of the human suffering, the loss of jobs, the proper use of land-is the flood protection measure here before you today. Gentlemen, I plead with you for support this morning for the St. Paul-South St. Paul flood control project. I sincerely hope that you agree with us that this measure is a worthy one and a meritorious one, and that you can therefore include the necessary funds in your appropriations so that this project can be started in the coming fiscal year. The city of St. Paul is prepared to do its part in the development of this area. It is not shirking its local responsibility. Since 1957 the city of St. Paul has had legislative authorization for the issuance of bonds to cover the funds required as a part of our local participation. In additon to that, we are prepared in other ways with other financial means to improve this area if the flood control measure becomes a reality. If you can see fit to include this project in your appropriations bill, we would be on our way to alleviating the suffering and misery which our communities have suffered from these disastrous floods, and, in addition, you will give the city of St. Paul and the city of South St. Paul the opportunity to participate more fully in our developing and expanding economy in the upper Middle West. Mr. CANNON. We will include in the record at this time the document. It is very explicit, but we cannot include photographs. Otherwise it will be included. (The document referred to follows:) STATEMENT ON FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT, SAINT PAUL-SOUTH SAINT PAUL, MINN. Prepared and presented by City Council of Saint Paul, Minn., Port Authority of Saint Paul, City Council of South Saint Paul, Minn., Chamber of Commerce of South Saint Paul PORT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF SAINT PAUL, THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, Saint Paul, Minn., March 25, 1960. GENTLEMEN: The within information concerning the Saint Paul-South Saint Paul flood control project is respectfully submitted for your consideration. The early consummation of this proposed work is of the utmost importance to the communities involved, as well as to the very large area of the United States indirectly involved. After 30 years of relative drought, the three floods of the 1950 decade indicate the beginning of a wet cycle and the huge losses that will occur in continuing floods must be avoided. It is earnestly requested that the Congress include in their fiscal 1961 budget the requested $500,000 to initiate construction of this vital project. Respectfully yours, PHILIP W. FITZPATRICK, President. CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, STATE OF MINNESOTA, Saint Paul, March 24, 1960. GENTLEMEN: The State of Minnesota has a vital interest in the continued, orderly improvement of navigation on the Mississippi River and the protection of life and property subject to severe floods. The flood control project on the Mississippi River at St. Paul and South St. Paul outlined in House Document No. 223, 85th Congress, 1st session, is vital in attaining the above goals. The Governor of the State of Minnesota joins with others in urging the U.S. Congress to appropriate the funds necessary to begin construction of this vitally needed floodwall. Sincerely yours, The CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, ORVILLE L. FREEMAN, Governor. CITY OF ST. PAUL, GENTLEMEN: The city of St. Paul has given an unqualified endorsement of the St. Paul-South St. Paul flood control project, although the port authority of the city of St. Paul is the official agency responsible for our St. Paul Port. 54265- 60-pt. 4- -30 |