It is also my understanding that when H. R. 6419, known as the omnibus flood-control bill reaches this committee, consideration will be given to inserting the Middle Rio Grande project in the bill and incorporate it in the bill, the language set forth as representing the agreement among the States, and also the language contained in S. 2571 as amended.

If so, this will carry out my understanding of the agreement between the States and will result in the authorization of the project that is for the great benefit not only of the Middle Rio Grande Valley, but for the entire river basin.

I believe that is all I care to say.

Senator CHAVEZ. Senator Hatch, do you care to ask Mr. Wilson any questions?

Senator HATCH. I think not.

Senator CHAVEZ. Congressman Fernandez?
Representative FERNANDEZ. No questions.
Senator CHAVEZ. Representative Lusk?
Representative LUSK. I think not.

Senator CHAVEZ. Thank you, sir.

Well, that concludes the list of witnesses that we were to hear, with the exception of anything that Congressman Fernandez and Congresswoman Lusk might have to make.

STATEMENT OF HON. ANTONIO M. FERNANDEZ, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

Representative FERNANDEZ. Mr. Chairman, in the last few days progress which cannot be measured in dollars has been made in the matter of the Rio Grande flood-control problem in New Mexico.

The officials and representatives from New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas, concerned with this matter, and the Corps of Engineers as well as the Bureau of Reclamation, are entitled to commendation not only from my State, the principal beneficiary, but from the Congress itself. Their effective labors will tremendously assist the Congress in the consideration of the problem.

The citizens of New Mexico and the men they sent here on this matter are to be highly commended for their forbearance in the face of a critical situation which progressively is getting worse; and we are all pleased at the understanding attitude and spirit of helpfulness on the part of our neighbors to the south and to the north.

We are confident that this progress will be carried forward to full fruition by this Congress before it adjourns, so that the work of these men will not have been in vain.

It is plain to all that the harnessing of the Rio Grande in New Mexico eventually will have to be done, but every year of delay makes the task more costly and infinitely more difficult, and leaves the citizens and farmers, as has been pointed out here, meanwhile at the mercy of the silt-laden floods that may recur at any time.

Funds for the work will be immediately sought when this portion of the project is authorized, and I sincerely hope it may be made aavilable before the final adjournment of this Congress.

On behalf of New Mexico, may we assure our neighbors to the south and to the north that in the further consideration of the com78432-48- 22

prehensive plan when it comes up for consideration, they will have the same cooperative spirit of give and take so necessary to compose our differences.

The experience gained from the work so far accomplished and from its development in the field will make that task easier. On them and their engineers as well as on our own we shall depend for a continued study and consideration of that part of the comprehensive plan, so that we may ultimately come to the same friendly agreement respecting the size, character, location, and scope of the additional dam or dams required in the uper reaches of the Rio Grande in that part of the comprehensive plan which for the moment has been bypassed by mutal agreement.

All concerned have the advantage now of the complete engineers' reports from the States and the Government which are available to us all, and the task for the future should be much simpler and more free from apprehensive fears and suspicions which were engendered when these problems were discussed heretofore without benefit of such written reports.

Senator CHAVEZ. Thank you, Congressman.

Mrs. Lusk?

Representative LUSK. Senator, I do not have any statement prepared at this time, but I would like to submit a statement later, if I

may.

Senator CHAVEZ. You will be permitted to do that.

(The statement referred to is as follows:)

STATEMENT OF GEORGIA L. LUSK, REPRESENTATIVE AT LARGE, STATE OF NEW MEXICO

Chairman, Senate Public Works Subcommittee on Flood Control, at this time I wish to express my appreciation for the great effort and the fine work that has been accomplished by the conferees during the past week. These men who have representated the various interests concerned in the entire Rio Grande area, have done a splendid job in compromising their opinions regarding the proposed flood control project for the Middle Rio Grande.

All of us recognize the emergency existing as far as flood control is concerned. Flood control is a must project in the United States, and particularly is it important to the people in the area of Albuquerque, N. Mex., whose lives and property are constantly in danger from flash floods and the regular floods of the spring

season.

It has been my thought that such a compromise should be effected; that undoubtedly concessions could be made by both sides so that all peoples in the State would realize that they were being helped rather than being hindered or endangered by the plan.

I would like to urge now that favorable consideration be given and immediate action taken in order that the work can be undertaken before further delay permits further damage.

Is that all for this afternoon?

Senator HATCH. I want to ask Colonel Gee a question from an engineering standpoint, but Colonel Gee himself does not necessarily have to answer it. Perhaps someone else can.

I have been thinking about the matter, and everyone agrees that this situation on the Rio Grande will grow progressively worse over the years unless some immediate action is taken.

With the passage of time, is it possible that the condition would get so bad that our obligations to Mexico to deliver water would be impaired under the treaty?

Mr. NELSON. I think the answer would be somewhat along those lines, Senator Hatch. The continued aggradation of the river with

all the droughts that are involved, the floods, the changing of the river channel, and the raising of the water table eventually would cause the particular area which is now being cultivated practically to go out of cultivation. There would be a terrific loss involved if the river were no longer controlled. It would mean a very serious loss of water flowing from New Mexico into Texas.

The amount, of course, is quite difficult to calculate, but we can visualize a condition whereby the major part of the water in the Rio Grande Valley which would be consumed by transpiration and evaporation in this winding stream and through the enormous growth of these water-loving plants.

It would mean in that case that you would abandon the area which is now cultivated and perhaps move back onto the side benches. Something would have to be done of a similar nature to that which is now proposed which perhaps would be even more costly.

Senator HATCH. But it would be fair to say that the United States does have an interest in this stream from the standpoint of its treaty obligations?

Mr. NELSON. Yes, sir.

Senator HATCH. Colonel Gee, do you agree with that?

Colonel GEE. Yes, sir. There is no way under the sun for us to withdraw now from the commitment made to Mexico in the existing treaty agreement. Certainly it seems that some steps should be taken to make it possible for all the States who are signatories to the Rio Grande compact to continue to live up to their agreements in that compact.

The present plan which is proposed is just such a step.

Senator CHAVEZ. Would not this be correct, also: Suppose there was a shortage of water, would not the national interest of keeping up a treaty obligation have a prior right, even to the use of water, over the local people?

Colonel GEE. I think so.

Senator CHAVEZ. As a matter of law?

Colonel GEE. I think that is clearly understood by the people who administer the Rio Grande compact.

Am I not correct in that, Judge?

Mr. STONE. That is correct.

Senator CHAVEZ. Is there anything further, Senator Hatch?
Senator HATCH. Nothing that I can think of.

Senator CHAVEZ. There being no further business, we will stand adjourned until the call of the Chair.

(Thereupon, at 3: 15 p. m., an adjournment was taken.)

RIVERS AND HARBORS-FLOOD CONTROL EMERGENCY ACT

FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1948

UNITED STATES SENATE,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON FLOOD CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT OF
RIVERS AND HARBORS OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS,
Washington, D. C.

BRADENS BEND, OKLA.-EMERGENCY BANK PROTECTION

The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10 a. m., in room 412, Senate Office Building, Senator George W. Malone (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.

Present: Senators Malone (chairman of the subcommittee) and Chavez.

Present also: Senator Thomas, Lt. Col. Herbert C. Gee, Deputy Chief, Civil Works for Flood Control, Office of Chief of Engineers, Department of the Army, Don McBride, executive secretary, National Reclamation Association, and R. T. DeVany, representing Senator Gurney.

Senator MALONE. The committee will be in order.

Let the record show that Senator Thomas of Oklahoma is here in the interest of the projects in his State, Bradens Bend, Okla., emergency bank protection, and Greenleaf Lake, Okla., dam reconstruction.

Senator, would you like to make a statement on these projects, or would you like to have the engineers here, whoever you choose, to make a statement?

STATEMENT OF HON. ELMER THOMAS, A UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA

Senator THOMAS. Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a very brief statement and then have the engineers make such statements as they think proper with respect to these two projects.

Senator MALONE. Thank you, Senator. We will be very pleased to have your statement for the record.

Senator THOMAS. On the first one, I would like to call the attention of the committee to the project at Bradens Bend on the Arkansas River, located in eastern Oklahoma.

I will ask permission to file for the record a statement prepared by the Arkansas Basin Development Association, sent to me by N. R. Graham who, I think, is president of that association.

The purpose of my filing this statement for the record is that it shows in detail just what is happening.

333