American economy, and build an income for the American people and their Government. The Commonwealth of Kentucky, through its legislature, has recently provided State support for industrial expansion, thus creating additional potential demands on the water system and supply of the Ohio River and its tributaries. The Army Corps of Engineers has, in past years, recommended to the Congress, a well-planned course of action to meet the rising demand for additional water supply and protection in the Ohio River Valley. This course of action must not be allowed to falter; rather, it should be speeded and strengthened. Therefore, today we ask this Congress to appropriate the necessary funds for all projects recommended in the President's 1960 budget, and, in addition, to provide a total of $600,000 for the advance planning of the Cannelton, Ky. and Ind., Oppossum Creek, W. Va. and Ohio, Racine, W. Va. and Ohio, and Uniontown, Ky. and Ind. locks and dams, and to increase the recommended appropriation on the Belleville, W. Va. and Ohio, lock and dam to $750,000. It would be highly advantageous if engineering could be expedited on the Cannelton project (now authorized) to finish planning studies and make a nominal construction start in fiscal 1961. Again, let me urge that the program of development and control of the Ohio River Valley be considered an economic necessity. Mr. MITCHELL. I represent 3,500 members of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. That particular group of men are businessmen who are very much interested in development such as has been engaged in by this Congress in developing the Ohio River and its tributaries for an adequate supply of water suitable and available and absolutely necessary to produce, transport, and to provide the fuel, food, and fiber for our people. Not only do they do that in the flood control program, we feel as though a tremendous job has been done and is being done. We thank very heartily this Congress for what it has done in the past, and we earnestly suggest that those things that can be done in the future be accelerated in order that we can take care of our increasing population, which is increasing so very rapidly that we shall be short of time and opportunity to provide adequate measures for their support. The various programs we do earnestly ask you to consider are planning money for Cannelton in the Kentucky-Indiana area and Uniontown in the Kentucky-Indiana area and the Belleview, W. Va., lock and dam. Those are the projects we think are important so far as the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is concerned. Thank you very much, sir. Mr. CANNON. Thank you, Mr. Mitchell. Mr. Hull? Mr. HULL. The next witness is Mr. James T. Wakley, representing the Greater Parkersburg Chamber of Commerce, Parkersburg, W. Va. Mr. CANNON. Mr. Wakley. STATEMENT OF MR. JAMES T. WAKLEY Mr. WAKLEY. Mr. Chairman, I have filed a statement for the record from the Parkersburg Chamber of Commerce and from Governor Underwood of West Virginia. Mr. CANNON. Your statement will be made a part of the record. (The statement follows:) THE GREATER PARKERSBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HOUSE PUBLIC WORKS APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, GENTLEMEN: As chairman of the water transportation committee of the Greater Parkersburg Chamber of Commerce, I respectfully urge your favorable consideration of the amounts recommended by the Ohio Valley Improvement Association for navigation and flood control projects on the Ohio River and its tributaries. The Congress has in the past provided for an orderly development of this important waterways system and the economic benefits to our area and the Nation as a whole are generally recognized. In this period of rising costs it is extremely important that we exploit our natural resources to their utmost to achieve maximum efficiency in transportation. The preservation of our water supply and the reduction of disastrous flood losses are among the most important responsibilities of our Government. We are particularly interested in the Belleville locks and dam. This project of proven value should be accelerated to early completion because of the deteriorated condition of the locks and dams in this area. Serious delays have occurred yearly and this stretch of river could be closed completely by a failure of one of these dams. Thank you for the opportunity of presenting our views to you. Very truly yours, JAMES T. WAKLEY, Chairman, Water Transportation Committee. Mr. WAKLEY. We are particularly interested in the Belleville, W. Va., project and we are anxious to see this started because the dams in our area are in need of great repair. It has been considerable delay at these docks. We would like to see this accelerated so that there will not be a tieup in this area in the center of aluminum industry. Thank you, sir. Mr. CANNON. Thank you, Mr. Wakley. Mr. Hull? Mr. HULL. The next witness is Mr. Daniel M. Heekin, chairman of the Ohio River committee of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce. STATEMENT OF MR. DAN M. HEEKIN Mr. HEEKIN. Mr. Chairman, I also have a statement to be left after I have a few words. Mr. CANNON. It may be included in the record. (The statement follows:) STATEMENT OF DAN M. HEEKIN, CHAIRMAN, OHIO RIVER COMMITTEE, CINCINNATI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, my name is Dan M. Heekin, 2376 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio. I appear as the chairman of the Ohio River committee of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, which maintains offices at 1718 Union Central Building, Cincinnati, Ohio. This voluntary association is composed of 2,350 commercial, industrial, financial, and professional people in our community whose objective is to foster the public interests of Cincinnati, to promote commerce and industry. The Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce has had a historic and continuing interest in the Ohio River, based on (a) A source of water supply for the 1,100,000 residents and the 1,800 industrial establishments of the Cincinnati Metropolitan area. (b) A transportation artery for an ever-growing volume of traffic. (c) A recreation facility, increasingly used by a rapid growing population. At the present time our interest is focused on two major projects: (1) Markland locks and dam (2) Capt. Anthony Meldahl locks and dam THE MARKLAND PROJECT The Markland locks and dam project, 61 miles downstream from Cincinnati, is the structure which will control the Cincinnati pool. We are deeply concerned that funds for continuing construction on this project are not recommended by the Budget Bureau in an amount sufficient to utilize fully the construction capabilities on this job. Underappropriation of relatively small sums could delay completion of this project by a full year or more. Your committee has heard expert testimony on this subject. We hope you will give full consideration to the facts which have been presented to you, and authorize construction funds for fiscal 1961 to advance the Markland project in the most expeditious and efficient way. THE CAPTAIN ANTHONY MELDAHL PROJECT This project, upstream to the east of Cincinnati, is the key installation between Markland and the Greenup (Ky.), locks and dam project. Greenup has been recommended for money to complete construction in fiscal 1961. Rapid progress on Meldahl will make Markland and Greenup of greater value since it is the last new project in the entire central reach of the Ohio River between the mouth of the Great Kanawha and the Falls of the Ohio at Louisville. OTHER MATTERS With New Cumberland and Greenup scheduled for completion in fiscal 1961, and with maximum construction effort at Markland, Meldahl, Louisville, and Pike Island, it is apparent that the program for the redevelopment of the Ohio River is making progress. To continue this progress in orderly fashion, provision for advance planning of other projects should be made. We should like to see the Newburg (Ind.), locks and dam project, particularly, added to the schedule of appropriations for advance planning. Mr. HEEKIN. Cincinnati is between the Markland Dam and the New Richmond Dam. Those two are under construction now. When they are completed, we will have 200 miles of improved river in our territory, not that it will help us particularly, but because it will then finish practically 20 percent of the Ohio River, which is 800 miles long. I would like to add, too, that the Ohio Valley Improvement Association was started in Cincinnati in 1895. My father was one of the original members. I have been ever since I took his place in that part of the job. We have seen what happened to the Ohio River in that time. I think it is important to the Nation, it certainly is important for industry, to continue this development of the Ohio River to make it a stream that it is possible to make use of. Thank you, sir. Mr. CANNON. Thank you, sir. Mr. Hull? Mr. HULL. The next witness is Mr. Marvin J. Evans, assistant to the president, of Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Co., Evansville, Ind. STATEMENT OF MR. MARVIN J. EVANS Mr. EVANS. Chairman Cannon and gentlemen, I have also a statement prepared for the record, but I need to say that I represent the Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Co., with about a hundred thousand customers on the north bank of the Ohio River and southwest portion of Indiana. Our customers, of course, consist of industrial as well as residential customers, and the reason I am here is because each additional acre-foot of cooling water means additional potential for this basic industry and the customers that we serve. We think this area, both in Kentucky and Indiana, has rich coal deposits, which makes it particularly a likely place for location of steam generating plants. Therefore, the recommendations of the Ohio Valley Improvement Association for the restoration of funds in our particular area at Uniontown and Cannelton, we believe, are urgently required. We think the whole project of deepening the channel of the Ohio is basic to the furthering of the economy and the national defense of our country as a whole. We ask your particular support of the recommendations of the Ohio Valley Improvement Association. We thank you for the privilege of appearing before you. Mr. CANNON. Thank you, Mr. Evans. Your prepared statement will be made a part of the record. (The statement follows:) STATEMENT OF MARVIN J. EVANS, ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT, SOUTHERN INDIANA GAS & ELECTRIC CO., EVANSVILLE, IND. Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, my name is Marvin J. Evans, assistant to the president of Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Co. Our corporation is engaged in the generation and distribution of electric energy and in the distribution of natural gas. The headquarters of the corporation is in Evansville, Ind. It has approximately 100,000 customers located in about 2,500 square miles in the southwest portion of Indiana along the Ohio River. I have been employed by the Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Co. for more than 26 years. The tremendous nonsumptive use of water required for cooling purposes by steam generating plants is a matter of grave concern for electric utilities everywhere. Our principal generating station located on the north bank of the Ohio River in Evansville, Ind., has a capacity of 121,500 kilowatts, and on a peak day will use approximately 155 million gallons of water. Another generating station about 15 miles to the east of Evansville, also on the north bank of the Ohio River, will use about 60 million gallons of water as a maximum. In this same area, the Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Co. operates a generating station for the Alcoa Generating Co. This plant, with a capacity of 125,000 kilowatts, will use about 360 million gallons of water on a peak day. We are also a member of the Ohio Valley Electric Corp. which has generating plants at Madison, Ind., and Kyger Creek. The Madison plant, one of the largest of its kind, uses almost five times as much water as our system. While these uses are nonconsumptive, yet the requirements are definite and of the utmost urgency in support of this Ruhr Valley of America. The great natural coal deposits in this valley, both in Indiana and in Kentacky, together with the proximity to the Ohio River, makes the territory a natural selection for steam generating plants. It can be expected that other plants for the generation of electric energy will be located in the area. Recalling the tremendous quantities of water required for the operation of steam generating plants, and relating the water supply to the electric utility industry only, the new system of locks and dams providing longer and deeper ols of water for the entire Ohio River is obviously a matter of the greatest importance. We believe the congressional appropriations to finance advanced engineering design, initial construction, and continued construction of projects that will materialize a deeper channel for the entire Ohio River, is a fundamental spite of our concern in the necessity of continuing the project to completion, we believe that priority should be accorded the recommendations for advanced Planning funds for Uniontown, Ky., near lock 49, and Cannelton, Ind., near lock 5. These funds are not presently included in the President's budget recommendations. We urgently request that the recommendations of the Ohio Valley Improvement Association be followed, and that these funds be provided. The additional depth of the water in the proposed pools, and in particular between Uniontown, Ky., and Cannelton, Ind., is of vital consequence to our electric utility industry and the customers we serve. The added volume of water will provide additional cooling potential which will be required as the demand on our industry increases. Every additional acre foot of cooling water increases the Kilowatt potential of this area. For existing plants, the increased devation will mean less head. Depending on production methods, this affects the cost of electricity, with the consequent beneficial influence on bringing new industry of all kinds into this Ohio Valley. Economic feasibility studies regarding the use of the increased head for hydroelectric purposes are being made, although I do not believe this is a significant use of the project in this area. The relatively low head in this region appears to promise a marginal operation at best. As a person who has been interested in and observing the activities on the Ohio River all my life, it seems to me we are reaching the point where something must be done. The present system of locks and dams was built more than 30 years ago. It was entirely adequate in the days of our fathers. But, like the highway system our fathers used, today's demands exceed the capacity of our present river system. The tonnage of barge traffic on the Ohio River has increased more than three times since the present navigation system was completed. The lock bottlenecks between Uniontown and Louisville, Ky., are severe warning that this threat to our economic growth must be eliminated. With a firm belief in the soundness of the recommendations of the Ohio Valley Improvement Association, we urge that money be allowed as required for advanced planning, design, and engineering for the Uniontown, Ky., and Cannelton, Ind., portion of the project. We believe this to be a sound investment in the future of the Ohio Valley and in the best interest of national defense. I am grateful to you, Mr. Chairman, and your committee for the opportunity to make this statement supporting the program of the Ohio Valley Improvement Association. It is my sincere hope that you will look with favor on a program so important to us all. Mr. CANNON. Mr. Hull. Mr. HULL. The next witness is Mr. Ralph Stohl, representing Ormet Corp. and Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp. Mr. CANNON. Mr. Stohl. STATEMENT OF MR. RALPH STOHL Mr. STOHL. Mr. Chairman, I am delighted to be here. I represent Ormet Corp. and Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp. We have great interests on the Ohio River. I would merely like to subscribe 100 percent on behalf of these two companies to what the Ohio Valley Improvement Association is recommending. A statement has been filed for the record in the name of N. H. Collisson, vice president of Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp., and president of Ormet Corp. Mr. CANNON. The statement will be made a part of the record. Thank you, Mr. Stohl. (The statement follows:) STATEMENT OF N. H. COLLISSON, VICE PRESIDENT, OLIN MATHIESON CHEMICAL CORP. AND PRESIDENT, ORMET CORP. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my name is N. H. Collisson. I am vice President of Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp. and president of Ormet Corp. Olin Mathieson is a large diversified industrial corporation engaged in the chemicals, packaging, and metals businesses, among others. We have approximately 37,000 employees. Ormet Corp. is jointly owned by Olin Mathieson and Revere Copper & Brass, Inc. It was formed in 1956 to construct, own, and operate primary aluminumproduction facilities. Ormet's operations and a substantial segment of Olin Mathieson's activities are based upon the existence of efficient, low-cost water transportation. Indeed, Olin Mathieson and Ormet have 20 waterside facilities at 15 plant locations on the waterways of the United States. Four of these locations are on the Ohio River. Our plants on the Ohio River for the production of aluminum, chemicals, and packaging materials are heavily dependent on the river as a transportation medium. These plants are located at Hannibal and Cincinnati, Ohio, Doe Run, Ky., and New Kensington, Pa. They are all operating in highly competitive industries, and efficient low-cost transportation is essential to our competitive standing. This, in turn, is related directly to the employment and economic health of the newly developed areas surrounding the Ormet and Olin Mathieson facilities in the Ohio Valley. The transportation situation with respect to Ormet Corp. may be cited as an example. The Ormet aluminum complex, which is the Nation's fourth largest, represents an investment of more than $285 million. It includes an alumina plant at Burnside, La., on the Mississippi River; an aluminum reduction plant at Hannibal, Ohio, on the Ohio River; and three large bauxite ore ships. In addition to these investments, we have made long-term commitments to lease 36 barges and a 6,000-horsepower towboat. The 36 barges and the towboat were built to carry alumina up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers from Burnside to the reduction plant at Hannibal. Regular tows of alumina are made about 15 times a year. Each tow consists of 15 barges carrying a combined total of more than 23,000 tons of alumina. Various 'other bulk commodities are carried on the downstream voyage. |