(The letter referred to is as follows:) STATEMENT OF WILLIAM E. HESS, M. C., SECOND DISTRICT OF OHIO, RECANALIZATION OF BIG SANDY RIVER AND ITS TUG AND LEVISA FORKS CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C., May 6, 1946. To the Committee on Rivers and Harbors, House of Representatives: The Chief of Engineers, War Department, has recommended canalization of the Big Sandy River and a substantial portion of its Tug and Levisa Forks at an estimated cost of $82,300,000, exclusive of interest during construction, and annual carrying charge of $4,190,000. I am informed that the estimates of the Army engineers for the construction costs of this canal are in the main based upon 1940 prices. It is a well-known fact that construction costs have risen greatly over 1940 prices; thus it is obvious that if the canal were constructed today or at any time when present-day prices prevail, its cost would be greatly in excess of $100,000,000. The people of my district are vitally interested in any project that involves so large an expenditure of public funds. I understand that the territory directly involved is already adequately served by two railroads, the Norfolk & Western and the Chesapeake & Ohio, which have established over a period of many years a high standard of transportation service. The proposed waterway will only be an unneeded and duplicating transportation facility. Considering the fact that we now have a surplus of many means of transportation, especially with regard to railroads, due to vast expansion to meet war needs, I do not believe this is the time to spend large sums of taxpayers' money which will further complicate that problem. Finally, many of my constituents are railroad employees. If this canal transports the large tonnage which would be required to make it a financial success, such traffic will necessarily be diverted from the railroads. That will mean fewer trains and fewer employees. Thus there is a real prospect that a substantial number of my constituents will be faced with loss of their railroad jobs if the canal is constructed. I respectfully ask, therefore, that your committee disapprove of this project. WILLIAM E. HESS, M. C., Second District of Ohio. Mr. LAWSON. I should like also at this time to insert in the record a letter from the Honorable William M. Tuck, Governor of Virginia, a letter being in opposition and dated April 19, 1946. Mr. PETERSON of Georgia. Without objection, the letter will be inIcluded in the record. (The letter referred to is as follows:) CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, Washington, D. C. RICHMOND, VA., April 19, 1946. DEAR SIR: Replying to your invitation of January 16 for comments and recommendations from Virginia on the proposed canalization of the Big Sandy River and Tug and Levisa Forks, it appears the benefits so far as Virginia is concerned would not justify the cost involved. I, therefore, recommend against the project. Some of the reasons for my recommendation against this project are: (1) The territory involved now has adequate transportation facilities for handling the expectable future traffic. If the existing freight rates should be modified, it appears there should be facilities and means of bringing this about rather than through the huge expenditure involved in establishing competitive and cheaper means of transportation. (2) The benefits which might result in savings to the consumer through such reduction in rates would not likely reach the public in general. (3) Should the project be constructed it would result in diverting some tonnage from the railroads now paying taxes on these revenues to the State of Virginia. Such loss of business would mean loss of State revenue from this source. (4) It does not appear that Virginia would benefit appreciably through industrial development claimed by proponents of this project through returned cargoes of grain, iron, ore, etc. Very truly yours, Wм. M. TUCK, Governor of Virginia. Mr. LAWSON. I should also like to insert in the record a letter from Senator Harry Byrd to the Board of Army Engineers, dated November 9, 1945, where he, at that time, opposed the canal project. Mr. PETERSON of Georgia. Without objection, the letter will be included in the record. (The letter referred to is as follows:) UNITED STATES SENATE, THE UNITED STATES BOARD OF ENGINEERS Washington, D. C. DEAR SIRS: I wish to join with others in expressing my opposition to the proposed canalization of the Big Sandy River and the Tug and Levisa Forks. From information which has come to me, I can see no justification for such a project. I am informed that the railroads are rendering adequate service in this locality in the movement of coal, and that the proposed canalization would result in a great loss in revenue to the railroads and a dismissal of many employees of the railroads. I certainly hope that a review of this project will justify your disapproval. Cordially yours, HARRY BYRD. Mr. LAWSON. Mr. Bland, from the First Congressional District of Virginia, although he did not personally appear before the Board of Engineers, he did give a written communication wherein he did express opposition to the canal. At this time, I should like to file with the committee, a booklet containing pictures of the Tug Fork to Big Sandy, and particularly along the portion of the river where this canal is to be constructed. I should also like to file and pass to the committee a group of pictures taken on the Levisa Fork on the Big Sandy River. I should like to call upon Mr. Richard C. Davis, at this time, executive secretary to the Honorable James A. Rhodes, mayor of Columbus, Ohio, who will file a resolution in opposition. STATEMENT OF RICHARD C. DAVIS, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY TO JAMES A. RHODES, MAYOR OF COLUMBUS, OHIO Mr. DAVIS. I would like to present this resolution passed by the Council of the City of Columbus, Ohio. Mr. PETERSON of Georgia. Without objection, the resolution will be included in the record. (The resolution referred to is as follows:) Whereas the United States district and division engineers have recommended to the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors the canalization of the Big Sandy River, including its Tug and Levisa Forks, at an initial estimated cost of $68,000,000 and an annual maintenance cost in excess of $600,000 (both of which would be paid by levying of taxes) as a free waterway to provide at public expense competition with the Norfolk & Western and Chesapeake & Ohio Railways, which are now adequately serving the tributary area and capable of handling all traffic that may be offered; and 87050-46- -15 Whereas advocates of the canal claim that there will be moved over it annually 15,000,000 tons of coal (9,000,000 from the Levisa Forks, paralleled by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway and 6,000,000 from the Tug Fork, paralleled by the Norfolk & Western Railway), and if this claim is correct it is anticipated that these amounts of coal will be diverted from the railroads and moved by water instead of by rail-involving an estimated cutting off of 1,875 loaded freight trains of 8,000 tons each, 750 on the Norfolk & Western and 1125 on the Chesapeake & Ohio; and Whereas in the year 1944 the Norfolk & Western delivered to the other railroads in Columbus for transportation to joints beyond its lines 475,000 cars of coal and it is estimated that upon the basis of 1944 figures the diversion from it of 6,000,000 tons of coal will mean a decrease of 83,000 cars delivered by it to connecting roads in the city, and will further mean that about 300 railroad employees (of the Norfolk & Western and its connecting lines) residing in Columbus will lose their jobs and that the city of Columbus and the merchants residing therein will lose the benefit of their wages, estimated at $750,000 annually; and Whereas said diversion of business from the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway and its connections will also result in a further material reduction in railroad employment in the city of Columbus; and Whereas the railroads serving the city of Columbus and their employees, aggregating several thousand persons, are an important factor in the prosperity and growth of the city, where said railroads have important shops and yards, and the diversion of business from them will adversely affect the city from the standpoint of both decrease in railroad employment and in taxes paid by the railroads for the support of government; and Whereas the Federal Government now has an enormous public debt and the expenditure of the large sums of money that will be required to provide unnecessary duplication of transportation facilities is wholly unjustified; Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Council of the City of Columbus, That it is opposed to: (a) The canalization of the Big Sandy River and the Tug and Levisa Forks thereof, as uneconomical and as contrary to the interests of both the city and the State of Ohio; (b) The use of public funds to construct and maintain transportation facilities in direct competition with adequate existing transportation agencies; and (c) An unwarranted increase in the national debt by providing, at the taxpayers' expense, a duplication in said expenses; be it further Resolved, That the opposition of this council be made known to the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, and that our Representatives in the Congress of the United States be requested to oppose the construction of this canal. Adopted November 5, 1945. Approved November 5, 1945. JOSEPH R. JONES, JAMES A. RHODES, Mayor. AGNES BROWN CAIN, City Clerk. OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK, I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of a resolution adopted by the council of the city of Columbus, Ohio, November 5, 1945, as shown by the records now on file in this office. [SEAL] AGNES BROWN CAIN, City Clerk. Mr. LAWSON. I will now present Mr. Ralph M. Mittindorf, city manager of the city of Ironton, Ohio, who will present a resolution in opposition. STATEMENT OF RALPH M. MITTINDORF, CITY MANAGER, Mr. MITTINDORF. I wish to present a resolution of the council of the city of Ironton, which was passed with a unanimous vote. Mr. PETERSON of Georgia. Without objection, the resolution will be included in the record. (The resolution referred to is as follows:) RESOLUTION No. 3724-OBJECTING TO THE CANALIZATION OF BIG SANDY RIVER AND ITS TUG AND LEVISA FORKS Whereas the United States district and division engineers have recommended to the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors that the Big Sandy River and the Tug and Levisa Forks thereof be canalized at an initial cost in excess of $68,000,000 and an annual maintenance cost of more than $600,000, both of which would be paid by levying taxes upon the people; and Whereas the Big Sandy Valley is now served adequately by the Chesapeake & Ohio and the Norfolk & Western Railways; and Whereas the canal would be uneconomical and unnecessary; and Whereas the Federal Government now has an enormous public debt, the expenditure of the large sums of money required to provide this unnecessary duplication of transportation facilities is wholly unjustified; and Whereas there are many employees of Chesapeake & Ohio and Norfolk & Western Railways who live in Ironton, and diversion of business from them will cause reduction in railway employment in Ironton, thereby producing unemployment and reducing purchasing power: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Council of the City of Ironton, State of Ohio: SECTION 1. That the Council of the City of Ironton, Ohio, is opposed to the canalization of the Big Sandy River and its Tug and Levisa Forks, as uneconomical and adverse to the interests of the citizens of Ironton, and that this opposition be made known to the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors and to our representatives in the Congress of the United States. SEC. 2. This resolution shall take effect and be in force, from and after the earliest period allowed by law. Adopted September 20, 1945. Attest: [SEAL] CHESTER A. CLINE, Chairman, City Council. DON HOPKINS, Clerk of Council. I certify that resolution No. 3724 was published in the Ironton Tribune September 22, 1945, and in the Ironton News September 22, 1945. DON HOPKINS, Clerk of City Council, Ironton, Ohio. CERTIFICATE I, Don Hopkins, clerk of the Council of the City of Ironton, Ohio, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and exact copy of original resolution No. 3724 passed by the Council of the City of Ironton, Ohio, on September 20, 1945. DON HOPKINS, Clerk of City Council. Mr. LAWSON. I would like to present Mr. John M. Salladay, former mayor of Portsmouth, and now a member of the City Council, who will file a resolution of opposition. STATEMENT OF JOHN M. SALLADAY, COUNCILMAN FOR THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, OHIO Mr. SALLADAY. We wish to present this resolution in opposition to the canalization of the Big Sandy River and Levisa and Tug Forks. Mr. PETERSON of Georgia. Without objection, the resolution will be included in the record. (The resolution referred to is as follows:) RESOLUTION No. 27-OPPOSING THE CANALIZATION OF THE BIG SANDY RIVER AND ITS TUG AND LEVISA FORKS AS UNECONOMICAL AND ADVERSE TO THE INTERESTS OF THE CITIZENS OF PORTSMOUTH, OHIO Whereas the United States district and division engineers have recommended to the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors that the Big Sandy River and the Tug and Levisa Forks thereof be canalized at an initial cost in excess of $68,000,000 and an annual maintenance cost of more than $600,000, both of which would be paid by levying taxes upon the people; and Whereas the Big Sandy Valley is now served adequately by the Chesapeake & Ohio and the Norfolk & Western Railways; and Whereas the canal would be uneconomical and unnecessary; and Whereas the Federal Government now has an enormous public debt, the expediture of the large sums of money required to provide this unnecessary duplication of transportation facilities is wholly unjustified; and Whereas the Norfolk & Western Railway Co. and Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co. have many thousands of employees in the State of Ohio, and the diversion of business from them will be reflected in reduction in their employment in that area, particularly in the city of Portsmouth where the Norfolk & Western Railway Co. maintains large shops and yards, and in substantial diminution in the taxes paid by them to the support of the Government: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Ohio as follows: SECTION I. That the Council for the City of Portsmouth, Ohio is opposed to the canalization of the Big Sandy River and its Tug and Levisa Forks as uneconomical and adverse to the interests of the citizens of Portsmouth, Ohio. SEC. II. That the clerk of this council be and she hereby is authorized and directed to certify a copy of this resolution to the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, to the Representatives of this State in the Congress of the United States and to the Norfolk & Western and Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Cos. SEC. III. This resolution, directing administrative action and relating to a proposed public improvement, as provided for in section 12 of the charter of the city of Portsmouth, Ohio, shall be in force and effect from and after its adoption. I, the undersigned, city clerk of the city of Portsmouth, Ohio, in whose custody the records of the city of Portsmouth, Ohio are kept, as provided by law, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of resolution No. 27, adopted on the third day of October 1945, in regular session, by unanimous vote, all of the six members being present as appears upon the records of the city of Portsmouth, Ohio, as of the date of October 3, 1945. In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name officially and affixed the seal of city clerk of the city of Portsmouth, Ohio, this 13th day of October A. D. 1945. [SEAL] EVANGELINE JUSTICE, City Clerk of the City of Portsmouth, Ohio. Mr. LAWSON. I would like to present to the committee, Mr. W. D. Johnson, vice president and national legislative representative, Order of Railway Conductors of America. |