Senator HOLLAND. Are there any further questions? Senator HOLLAND. Who is the next witness? STATEMENT OF W. E. REED, HUNTINGTON, W. VA. Mr. REED. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, my name is W. E. Reed and I am a representative of the building and construction trades council in Huntington, W. Va. I am also a delegate from the central labor union of that city. I might say that we are not members of the Big Sandy canalization committee, or anything of that kind. We are simply interested in jobs for our people. After our committees investigated the various statements made by the United States Engineers and various other people, who we consider to be authoritative, we are of the opinion that if and when the Big Sandy is canalized, it will not only bring prosperity to a number of people in that particular locality, but it will be far reaching, not just for the coal that is brought out of the Big Sandy Valley, but the results of taking raw materials and shipping to other parts of the country will have a tendency to create jobs for people in that particular neck of the woods, which we are interested in. We also think it is a shame to let natural resources lie dormant when a country of this kind is so badly in need of them, which gentlemen who know what they are talking about say we need and can be developed. I have great respect for their ability in matters of this nature. If that thing is opened up, it will not only furnish the labor for just the building of those locks and dams and pumping stations, which everybody seems to be so worried about and which, in my opinion, is one of the smaller items to be taken into consideration; after seeing one work on the flood wall at the city of Huntington, I have no fear but what the pumping situation could be taken care of very economi cally. Frankly, a lot of us people in the city of Huntington were skeptical of the pump. We figured the United States Engineers were fencing us in with a wall and would drown us all the first time we got a flash flood. But, naturally, after observing the operation of that pump, about 15 minutes after it started to work it was dry as the Kansas dust bowl, and I would not doubt the Engineers' word when they tell me they can pump that water up this canal without hurting anybody or without too much cost. It will also attract industry to that valley, and there are a number of sites where, if there was transportation available, there is process. water, which, as you all know, now is vital and, of course, just because a plant uses water out of that river for cooling or processing purposes is no reason to say that the water is lost, because they dump it back. The percentage of loss, I imagine, is very small. You gentlemen know. To show you that the industries are moving into cheap transportation, I refer you to the plant, for instance, that the American Gas & Electric is building a very large powerhouse, one of the largest powerhouses in the United States and probably some other countries, there in West Virginia. Today they have a coal mine adjacent to the plant, but it has just begun to produce coal, I believe. I am not too sure about that. They are opening up their mine. It is in my district. But I know they have loading docks and are now stock piling coal from the river in that plant. That evidence is enough for me to know that if you lived in that territory you could see how industry flocks to cheap transportation along the waterways. So for that reason the building and construction trades council is considering job opportunities over a period of years, not just taking into consideration only the building of the dam. This is something which after it is built will afford a great number of jobs for a great number of people over a great number of years, and we think it is very essential. I have one statement from the building and construction trades council and one from the Huntington Central Labor Union which I would like to submit for the record. Senator HOLLAND. Are they both by yourself? Mr. REED. No, sir; one from the building and construction trades council by myself and the other is from the secretary of the Huntington Central Labor Union. I am a delegate and was asked to present this. Senator HOLLAND. What is the name? Mr. REED. Mrs. Agnes Evans, secretary, duly elected by the body, with an affiliated membership of over 60 labor unions. That is A. F. of L. We know nothing about coal mining. Senator HOLLAND. You are speaking for the A. F. of L. central labor union group of that organization in Huntington? Mr. REED. That is right. Senator HOLLAND. The statements will be admitted. (The statements above referred to are as follows:) PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE, Senate of the United States, HUNTINGTON CENTRAL LABOR UNION, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: The membership of the seventy local unions affiliated with the Huntington Central Labor Union of the A. F. of L. are very much interested in having your committee recommend necessary appropriations for the improvement of the Big Sandy River and its important tributaries. The Central Labor Union has unanimously endorsed the project as we are certain that it will be of permanent benefit to the area, not only for the great amount of employment it will create by making the improvement, but we feel that the area is properly located geographically to encourage private interests to take advantage of the improvement to the extent that it will create a new industrial center that will not only increase river shipping but also carloadings, contrary to claims made by some interests that oppose the improvement. This improvement would increase employment opportunity, increase purchasing power, and improve the general economic set-up for the area. Yours very truly, HUNTINGTON CENTRAL LABOR UNION, (Mrs.) AGNES EVANS, Secretary. JULY 11, 1949. TO THE PUBLIC WORKS COmmittee, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: The following statement is to provide your committee with the sentiment of the undersigned and associates on the merits of endorsing the Big Sandy River project. We feel that this improvement would be a permanent benefit to every man, woman and child within the area, directly or indirectly. The United States Corps of Engineers has recommended the canalization of the Big Sandy River and branches, and this recommendation is based on their investi gation from an honest, practical viewpoint, and selfish propaganda should not be considered as reliable against that kind of reasoning, even if there were no other than engineering endorsements of the project. A glance at the map shows what a wonderful center of distribution the Big Sandy is, and the economy of our Nation depends on employment, purchasing power, and distribution. The improvement will mean the opening of new fields of natural resources, create harbor and docking facilities that will attract industry that will not only provide job opportunities needed, but the industries will be the consumers of the resources that will be available and additional materials that would be brought in by water and rail. Twenty-five thousand man-work years will be made possible by the improvement proposed, not including construction and business that will be attracted and' encouraged to take advantage of the improvement. Statistics show that business of railroads has increased where improvements of this kind have been made and which disprove the fallacy of any contention to the contrary. The 19 organizations of the American Federation of Labor affiliated with the Huntington Building and Construction Trades Council have unanimously endorsed the Big Sandy improvement as practical and sound and necessary for the continued prosperity of those in the area. Anticipating your favorable action in this matter, we remain Yours sincerely and respectfully, HUNTINGTON BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL, Senator HOLLAND. Are there any questions? Senator WITHERS. All the rivers in that section have been locked and dammed except the Big Sandy; is that right? Mr. REED. So far as I know; yes, sir. Senator WITHERS. Through Kentucky and West Virginia and Pennsylvania. That is, the ones which enter the coal areas. Mr. REED. I am not too familiar with the canalization or locks and dams other than in the immediate vicinity of Huntington. I know the Ohio River is, and I naturally know the Kanawha is, because my territory extends to Mason County, above the mouth of the Kanawha River. Senator WITHERS. And also the Monongahela? Mr. REED. Yes. Senator WITHERS. The Ohio is locked and dammed all the way from Paducah? Mr. REED. That is my understanding; yes, sir. Senator WITHERS. On up to the navigable source? Mr. REED. That I can only quote from things that I have heard. I do not personally know. Senator WITHERS. You know it is locked and dammed from Louisville, do you not? Mr. REED. Yes, sir; I know it is. Senator WITHERS. You know it is from Louisville? Mr. REED. I certainly do, yes, sir. Senator WITHERS. That is all. Senator HOLLAND. Thank you very much. Mr. REED. Thank you, sir. Senator HOLLAND. Who is the next witness? Senator WITHERS. Captain Golden. STATEMENT OF PETER GOLDEN, HUNTINGTON, W. VA. Senator WITHERS. State your name, please. Mr. GOLDEN. I have a map here of Tug Fork and I have a statement here from Capt. Tom Vaughan. He is dead, and I want to OK his work. Senator HOLLAND. You say you are from Huntington? Senator WITHERS. West Virginia. Senator HOLLAND. What is your occupation? Mr. GOLDEN. I have been on the river. Senator HOLLAND. On the river? Mr. GOLDEN. On the river. I own a Diesel towboat. Mr. GOLDEN. Up until last year. I sold out and quit. Senator HOLLAND. For how many years? Mr. GOLDEN. From 1901. Senator HOLLAND. Have you prepared a written statement to be filed? Mr. GOLDEN. Yes, sir. Senator HOLLAND. You wish to file it in evidence in the case? Senator HOLLAND. You said something about a picture, I believe. What sort of picture is it? Mr. GOLDEN. It is a map of the Big Sandy River. Senator HOLLAND. Of course, we have numerous maps of the Big Sandy River. You have a large number of photographic pictures? Mr. GOLDEN. Yes, sir. Senator HOLLAND. For what purpose do you offer those? Senator HOLLAND. You mean you want to leave a copy with us? Senator HOLLAND. They will be received to be filed in connection with the hearings, but not to be printed in the record. (The pictures referred to above are to be found in the files of the committee.) Senator WITHERS. Captain, have you ever navigated the Big Sandy? Mr. GOLDEN. Yes. Senator WITHERS. How far up? Mr. GOLDEN. Never up beyond the Forks. I was up on two trips. Senator WITHERS. Have you ever been up the Tug? Mr. GOLDEN. Up the Tug one trip, 21 miles above the Forks. Senator WITHERS. Do you know anything about the Tug on up beyond where you went? Mr. GOLDEN. No. Senator WITHERS. Do you know whether that can be navigated if it is locked and dammed? Mr. GOLDEN. It can as far as I have been. Senator WITHERS. You have not been all the way up? Mr. GOLDEN. No. Senator WITHERS. How far up the Levisa Fork have you been? Mr. GOLDEN. I have been to Pikeville. Senator WITHERS. Can that be navigated if it is locked and dammed? Mr. GOLDEN. Yes. Senator WITHERS. How far is Pikeville from Huntington? Mr. GOLDEN. About 82 miles. Senator WITHERS. Catlettsburg, I will say. Mr. GOLDEN. Yes. I was up there on high water. Senator HOLLAND. Captain Golden, you spoke about having a state ment prepared by someone else? Mr. GOLDEN. Captain Vaughan. Senator HOLLAND. Was he also a tugboat operator? Mr. GOLDEN. Yes, sir. Senator HOLLAND. Do you wish to have that filed and received? Senator HOLLAND. Without objection, that will be received. Senator HOLLAND. You confirm it? Mr. GOLDEN. Yes, sir. Senator HOLLAND. All right, sir, it will be received. (The document above referred to is as follows:) WASHINGTON, D. C., July 15, 1949. Mr. CHAIRMAN: I am Peter Golden of Huntington, W. Va. I was master and pilot on the Big Sandy River for many years, from 1901 until after 1930. I gave up my river boat work last year. I was acquainted with Captain Thomas Vaughan at the time he was operating steamboats on the Big Sandy River and knew him very well personally and worked with him. I have gone over the statement made by Captain Vaughan before the Rivers and Harbors Committee of the Seventy-ninth Congress and concur fully with him in this statement. I am glad to file same as a joint statement of Captain Vaughan and myself. For the further information of the committee, I am attaching the resolutions of the Pilots Association of Point Pleasant, W. Va., and the Propeller Club of the United States, Port of Hungtington. These two organizations are representative of the river people of this locality. HUNTINGTON, W. Va. CAPT. PETER GOLDEN. [Statement of Capt. Thomas Vaughan appearing on page 98 of the printed hearing before the Rivers and Harbors Committee of the 79th Congress] TRANSCRIPT OF STATEMENT MADE BY CAPT. THOMAS VAUGHAN, CATLETTSBURG, KY,, IN SUPPOrt of Big SanDY RIVER CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT Members of the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, Corps of Engineers, a matter of introduction, my name is Thomas Vaughan; home Catlettsburg, Ky vocation, licensed captain and master pilot; license applicable upon the Tavigable portion of Big Sandy River and between Ashland, Ky., and Huntington, W Va., on the Ohio River. I have had charge of and handled boats within the river area upon which my papers permitted for 48 years. During the period of time, I was in charge of boat operation upon the Big Sandy River when, during high-water periods, the only time such boat movement was possible. The operation of boats in pool water and on the proposed improved channel would not present the same navigation hazards, and would not present the same current resistance that we had to contend with under open-river navigation during high-water periods. The creation of pool water and improved channel would make possible year-round continuous operation and dependable service. During the years 1897 to 1945 I was employed in various capacities upon boats Pat were in operation on Big Sandy River. The boats were as follows: The Organ, Andy Hatcher, Mary L. Hatcher, Thealka, Sip Bays, Sandy Valley, Virgie Ratliff, Fio Sandy, Maxie Yost, Fairplay, Alex Yost, B. F. Johnson, Buela Brown, John Hopkins, II. M. Stafford, Guyandotte, J. M. Grubbs, Crickett, Sea Lion, Lenaleota, Laynesville, Cando, and the Donca. These boats varied in size from 85 to 132 feet Veg, from 10 to 20 feet in width, and from 2 to 4 feet depth of hull. 01522-49-pt. 1- -16 |