HEARINGS

ON THE SUBJECT

OF THE

IMPROVEMENT OF ALTAMAHA, OCONEE, AND
OCMULGEE RIVERS, GA.

ALTAMAHA, OCONEE, AND OCMULGEE RIVERS, GA.

COMMITTEE ON RIVERS AND HARBORS,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Washington, D. C., January 23, 1914—10.30 a. m. The committee this day met, Mr. Sparkman (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. Judge Bartlett, this meeting was called partly for for the purpose of hearing yourself and others, including Mr. Hughes and Mr. Walker, who are also interested in portions of the Altamaha system, but as you requested the hearing I will ask you to take charge of the matter.

Mr. BARTLETT. If it is agreeable to Mr. Walker and Mr. Hughes, I will be pleased to do so.

Mr. WALKER. It is very agreeable to me, Judge Bartlett.
Mr. HUGHES. And to me, too.

STATEMENT OF HON. C. L. BARTLETT, M. C., OF GEORGIA.

Mr. BARTLETT. Mr. Chairman, and gentlemen, it is not necessary or important that I should be heard at length upon this matter at this time. I have been heard often by the old members of this committee, who have been on this committee for years, and I think also by some of the younger members of the committee.

It is important, however, that the interest manifested in this matter in the appropriation of money for the Ocmulgee, Oconee, and Altamaha Rivers, especially the great Ocmulgee River, forming the largest river in Georgia, the Altamaha, should be thoroughly understood by the members of this committee, and that these gentlemen are not interested personally, but are only interested as public-spirited citizens and in the interests of the public that they should be heard. Therefore, without calling the attention of the committee to the history of this project, all of which is in documents before the committee, I will present the gentlemen who have come here from Macon and elsewhere to endeavor to show you, as members of this committee, why we are entitled to more money than it is suggested be appropriated by the report of the Chief of Engineers, Col. Kingman, and that we are entitled somewhat to the carrying out of the projects contained in document 443, which was approved and submitted to the department by the present Chief of Engineers, Col. Kingman, who for years resided in that community and is familiar with every foot of that ground, and who has been over its surveys three times, and who, in Document 443 of the Sixty-second Congress, made an elaborate report, which was not concurred in by the Board of Engineers.

However, I will not detain the committee upon my part, but will present the gentlemen who are here for the purpose of being heard. The CHAIRMAN. It might be advisable to have a part of the last report on the project read. I would suggest that you read the recom

mendation of the Chief Engineer, so that members of the committee
who were not here at the last meeting may have it in mind while the
I have reference to the last paragraph of the
hearing is going on.
Chief Engineer's report, appearing on page 2 of that document.
Mr. BARTLETT. Would you mind reading it, Mr. Chairman?
The CHAIRMAN (reading):

After due consideration of all the data available, I report that the maintenance and further gradual improvement of the Oconee, Ocmulgee, and the Altamaha Rivers by the United States is deemed advisable, following in general the methods which have been carried on under the existing project. and that the appropriations should be at the rate of $40,000 per year, the funds to be applied to the maintenance of three feet depth during ordinary summer low water up to Milledgeville and Macon, and to the gradual increase of channel depth so far as practicable without sacrificing the maintenance work. With the plant now on hand and under construction, and with appropriations at the rate recommended, a considerable amount of permanent work of improvement can be accomplished in addition to the maintenance of that already secured, and the practicability of securing and maintaining a somewhat greater depth than the present project provides for can be definitely determined.

This report was adopted in the bill of 1912.

Mr. BARTLETT. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. We made an appropriation of $40,000.

Mr. BARTLETT. For the three rivers.

The CHAIRMAN. And in the last bill we made a like appropriation of $40,000?

Mr. BARTLETT. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Following the recommendation of that report
Mr. BARTLETT. But not of the survey.

The CHAIRMAN. It having recommended $40,000 for this year. As I have As I understand, you think the project should have more? Mr. BARTLETT. We think we are entitled to more. stated, the present Chief of Engineers makes report upon this project, which I hold in my hand. He is familiar with the whole situation, having made at least two surveys of it, and the Chief of Engineers, Col. Bixby, followed the recommendation of the Board of Engineers and not of Col. Kingman, who made the report for more money.

The CHAIRMAN. We understand the situation and we will be very glad to hear from you or any of the other gentlemen.

Mr. BARTLETT. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I have pleasure in introducing at this time Mr. W. A. Dunwody, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of the city of Macon, the city at the head of navigation.

STATEMENT OF MR. W. A. DUNWODY, OF MACON, GA.

Mr. DUNWODY. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, this committee now before you represents the city of Macon, and the cities of Hawkinsville, Lumber City, Dublin, Milledgeville and Brunswick, Macon being the head of navigation, Brunswick at the terminal on the east.

None of us are lawyers or public speakers. We are simple, commonplace, ordinary business men interested in everything that affects the people of our section, and we have, after considerable thought, come to the conclusion that we have been sleeping over our rights and have not realized the splendid and magnificent and munificent gift of Almighty God in giving us these navigable streams.