Mr. BARNES. That is correct, but to utilize efficiently the forces we have now, I think we would like to make use of the Forest Service. Senator OVERTON. Senator Clark, let me ask you: You give authority in this bill for the acquisition and condemnation of lands for a number of purposes, prevention or reduction of flood and sedimentation, the protection and improvement of vegetation, water-flow retardation, soil-erosion prevention and control-it is a rather sweeping authority to vest in any department of the Government. Except as a war emergency, to go ahead and condemn lands without any further authorization from Congress, just gives them blanket authority to acquire and condemn lands in different States of the Union— it seems to me that is rather a broad authority. Senator CLARK of Missouri. Of course, you control that on the Appropriations Committee. Senator OVERTON. Well, after you have given them the authority, you know how it is. This is off the record. (There was discussion off the record.) Senator OVERTON. Well, I think we had better recess now. We have finished with everyone except Mr. Wilkes. We will put him on tomorrow. We have the Missouri River on again tomorrow. Mr. BARNES. I would like to file with the committee this statement of authorization to the United States Department of Agriculture under the flood-control act. Senator OVERTON. Thank you; we will insert this in the record. It is a statement prepared by the Department of Agriculture giving authorization to that Department under the flood-control acts, totaling the sums authorized and for what purposes and also a statement of the appropriations and expenditures of the United States Department of Agriculture under the flood-control acts of Congress. This will be inserted in the record. (The statement is as follows:) 1. AUTHORIZATIONS TO U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE UNDER THE FLOOD CONTROL ACTS A. FOR PRELIMINARY. EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS Act of June 22, 1936 (Public, 738, 74th Cong.) Act of June 28, 1939 (Public, 761, 75th Cong.), 3d sess.) Total authorization for preliminary examinations and surveys.. B. FOR WORKS OF IMPROVEMENT $5, 000, 000 5, 000, 000 5, 000, 000 15, 000, 000 Act of June 28, 1938 (Public, 761, 75th Cong., 3d sess.). Total authorization for works of improvement__ 1 Limited to works of improvement which the Department is not otherwise authorized to undertake. II. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURES UNDER THE FLOOD CONTROL ACTS Appropriated by: A. FOR PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS Act of July 19, 1937 (Public, 208, 75th Cong., 1st sess.). Total appropriations for preliminary examinations and Total expenditures to Mar. 1, 1944 Balance $500,000 3, 000, 000 3, 000, 000 2, 000, 000 998, 342 9, 498, 342 8, 383, 877 1, 114, 465 B. FOR WORKS OF IMPROVEMENT Appropriated by Act of June 11, 1938 (Public, 591, 75th Cong., 3d sess.) Total expenditures for works of improvement..... Balance__ 4, 000, 000 816, 797 3, 183, 203 All expenditures for works of improvement have been made on the Los Angeles River watershed except about $130,000 which was spent for emergency measures following burns on the Santa Ana River watershed. No expenditures for the purchase of land have been made under the floodcontrol acts Senator OVERTON. We will adjourn now until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. (Whereupon, at 1: 10 p. m. an adjournment was taken until tomorrow, Wednesday, June 7, 1944, at 10 a. m.) FLOOD CONTROL WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1944 UNITED STATES SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment on Tuesday, June 6, 1944, in the Capitol, Senator John H. Overton (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Senators Overton (chairman of the subcommittee), Clark of Missouri, and Burton. Present also: Senators Gurney, Butler, Millikin, and Robertson. The chairman presents various letters and telegrams and communications for insertion in the record. (The letters and telegrams are as follows:) Hon. JOHN OVERTON, Chairman Senate Commerce Committee, KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 8, 1944. Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C.: Would appreciate your favorable action on Pick River control bill same is vitally needed for our area protection. Hon. JOHN H. OVERTON, Chairman, Senate Commerce Commission, EMPIRE STORAGE & ICE CO., Washington, D. C.: We strongly urge your favorable consideration Pick River control bill. THE SALINA TERMINAL ELEVATOR CO. KERMAN, CALIF., June 6, 1944. Senator JOHN OVERTON, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C.: The Granges of the valley are depending on you to use your influence to have Pine Flat Dam constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation 95 percent of our membership of 2,000 families request. Senator JOHN OVERTON, Subcommittee on Flood Control, O. M. DAVIS, Master of Fresno County. REDDING, CALIF., June 6, 1944. Senate office Building, Washington, D. C.: I am a Redding businessman; I also own a small ranch south of Redding; I think that I can honestly say that everyone in Shasta County feel that H. R. bill No. 4485 providing for a dam at Table Mountain is being rushed through without proper consideration. ROBERT E. GOODLOE. Senator JOHN OVERTON, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C.: REDDING, CALIF., June 5, 1944. I have been in Redding, Shasta County, Calif., for the past 18 years. During this period my observations have made me a strong advocate of flood control in this area. H. R. 4485, providing for a dam at Table Mountain, will destroy acre upon acre of tillable and orchard lands in Shasta County. I feel that passage of this bill should be deferred until it has been definitely proven that construction of Table Mountain Dam is absolutely necessary. THEODORE MCDONALD. STANDARD ASBESTOS MANUFACTURING & INSULATING CO., Hon. JOHN OVERTON, Chairman of Senate Commerce Committee, United States Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. HONORABLE SIR: Reference Senate Flood Control Committee hearing May 11 or 12 on the "Pick" River control bill: We operate a manufacturing plant in the northeast industrial district of Kansas City, Mo., and will appreciate your asking favorable consideration for this measure which will give this section of the country very necessary relief from the flood hazard. Yours truly, STANDARD ASBESTOS MANUFACTURING & INSULATING CO., BARADA & PAGE, INC., Kansas City, Mo., May 6, 1944. Hon. JOHN OVERTON, Chairman, Senate Commerce Committee, United States Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. OVERTON: It is our information that the Flood Control Committee will have a hearing on the "Pick" River control bill on May 11 or 12 in Washington, and we sincerely urge you to use your influence in seeing that a favorable report is made for the ultimate passage of this bill. Our own plant and facilities at Kansas City, Mo., have been flooded twice within the past year, with a considerable loss of property as well as interruption of business, and in these days of modern engineering and facilities, we believe definite steps should be taken to prevent any recurrence of such disastrous floods as we have had in this region. We feel confident that you will lend your support to a plan for flood and river control that is vitally and sorely needed in this section and area. Sincerely, W. M. BETTS, President. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., May 16, 1944. Senator JOHN H. OVERTON, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SENATOR: Enclosed find statement by Floyd Montclair representing the Fort Berthold Americans, Inc., of Elbowoods, N. Dak., which he would like to have inserted in the hearings on the flood control bill when it comes up before your subcommittee. Thanking you for your kind cooperation, I am, Very truly yours, STATEMENT OF FLOYD MONTCLAIR, MAY 1944 WM. LEMKE. Representing and speaking for the membership of Fort Berthold Americans, Inc., of Elbowoods, N. Dak., I, a humble citizen of North Dakota and the United States, have some constitutional rights which I will assert without any fear in behalf of the above organization. Relevant to large landholdings of Fort Berthold Indians and their coal land and timber land extending 46 miles on each side of the Missouri River in the |