ARTICLE WRITTEN BY NORMAN A. CHRISMAN, PIKEVILLE, KY., FOR KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWS Approximately one-eighth of Kentucky's citizens live in the Big Sandy Valley in eastern Kentucky. They are deeply interested in the canalization of the Big Sandy River, feeling that it would be of industrial advantage, not only to Kentucky, but a great section of our country. The trend for the past few years has been the decentralization of large industrial plants, bringing them closer to the source of supply of raw material. The Big Sandy Valley has the largest and best supply of metallurgical (byproduct) coal in the world. It also has an abundant supply of natural gas, petroleum, ores, salt brine, and other essential raw materials from which needed finished products are manufactured, To induce industrial plants to our State it is necessary to have low-cost water transportation and dependable industrial water supply. With the development of the Big Sandy River, the raw materials and low-cost water transportation, as well as dependable industrial water supply, would be made available to our Nation in the case of another world conflict. In 1947 the Kanawha Valley project in West Virginia was finished, creating a favorable transportation situation to the extent that millions of dollars have been invested by private enterprise, building large plants along its banks in the vicinity of Charleston, W. Va. Our citizens are firmly convinced that if the Big Sandy River were canalized the same situation would exist in an adjacent territory in Kentucky within a period of 10 or 15 years, because it would give the Big Sandy Valley the same advantages of low-cost water transportation, as well as combination low-cost water and rail transportation, as now exists in the Kanawha Valley of West Virginia and other improved rivers throughout many of our neighboring States. Wherever you find rivers improved, you find this same situation exists. I am firmly convinced that the board of directors of our State chamber, in endorsing the Big Sandy project at its meeting on June 29 at Kentucky Dam State Park, was thinking of the future of Kentucky, endeavoring to develop the industrial possibilities of our State to the advantage of all of our people. Statistics reveal that river transportation does not curtail the business of other transportation systems. On the contrary, increased industrial development along the improved rivers materially increases their business. Personally, I am opposed to excessive expenditures of money by our county. State, and National Governments, and feel that their budgets should be so arranged as to live within their income; but, when I know that a certain amount of money is always included in a bill by Congress at most every session for the improvement of rivers and harbors, then I feel that Kentucky should get its share and that the Big Sandy project should be approved and developed. The Government has already expended some $400,000 in the necessary surveys by the Army engineers and Rivers and Harbors Congress. The Big Sandy project has been approved by them and its development recommended to Congress. The economic ratio is $1.81 to $1 cost. In 1946 there were 54 projects included in the bill in Congress. Big Sandy was the third in economic value and the fifth in size, yet Big Sandy was the only one eliminated from the bill. There is before Congress at almost every session a large number of river and harbor projects. The same holds true in the present Congress. Why not include the Big Sandy project in this year's river and harbor bill? BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL, Ashland, Ky., March 10, 1949. Hon. VIRGIL CHAPMAN, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: I am writing you in regard to the canalizing of the Big Sandy River. We of the Ashland Building & Construction Trades Council have voted 100 per cent in favor of the project. We are asking for your support in this matter. We will appreciate everything you can say or do to help pass the bill. We feel that this is the best thing that could be done to help the Big Sandy area. Trusting on your support, I remain, Sincerely yours, F. R. SHEPHERD, MOUNT ZION CHAPEL, Justell, Ky., February 21, 1949. Hon. VIRGIL CHAPMAN, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We would apperciate you using your influence in supporting the canalization project for the Big Sandy River, and we feel that this will prove a great help to the people of our Big Sandy Valley and those who live in the foothills of the Cumberlands. The prosperity and business of our people is mainly dependant upon our ability to mine and market our coal deposits. Very truly yours, CLYDE LAYNE, Pastor. PIKEVILLE, KY., February 24, 1949. Hon. VIRGIL CHAPMAN, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. SENATOR: At a recent meeting of the Pikeville College Training School P. T. A., the members (enrollment 230) voted unanimously as being in favor of the construction of locks and dams is the Big Sandy River. It is our desire to convey this expression to you, and we trust that you will find it expedient to use your every resource for its passage in Congress. Very truly yours, PIKEVILLE COLLEGE TRAINING SCHOOL P. T. A., Mrs. M. D. PICHLERINE, Secretary. Hon. VIRGIL CHAPMAN, MADISONVILLE, KY., July 12, 1949. Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C.: We earnestly request you oppose Big Sandy canalization project on grounds of no necessity for increased coal production or unnecessary expenditure of public funds during the period our Government is and should be attempting to economize. This organization represents 32 companies with approximately 15,000,000 tons coal production per year who are equipped to double such production if demands required such. Hon. VIRGIL CHAPMAN, Senate Office Building: KENTUCKY COAL AGENCY, INC., MADISONVILLE, KY., July 14, 1949. We respectfully urge you oppose Big Sandy canalization project as coal mines now working part time in this area and miners earnings will be reduced if additional coal properties are brought into production. We represent approximately 72 percent of the coal produced in western Kentucky and thousands of miners and their families will be affected. We oppose the use of public funds for this proposed project. Hon. VIRGIL CHAPMAN, KENTUCKY COAL AGENCY, INC., Chairman, Board of Directors. MADISONVILLE, KY., July 12, 1949. Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C.: We believe the canalization of Big Sandy is unnecessary since there is at present an overproduction of coal and furthermore it appears the economy plans of our Government should be carried out, therefore we earnestly request you oppose the unnecessary Big Sandy project. WESTERN KENTUCKY COAL PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION, Senator VIRGIL CHAPMAN, HAZARD, KY., July 11, 1949. United States Senate Building, Washington, D. C.: We are advised Public Works Committee of the Senate set July 15 for hearing on canalization of Big Sandy. This was turned down by House. We think this project is a waste of the taxpayers' money. Also an unwarranted expenditure by the Government. Hon. VIRGIL CHAPMAN, HAZARD COAL OPERATORS ASSOCIATION, CENTRAL CITY, KY., July 13, 1949. The United States Senate, Washington, D. C.: This organization, composed of 47 Central City businessmen, has gone on record this date as opposing the canalization of the Big Sandy River and earnestly solicit your vote against this project. We feel this would be a waste of fundas there is no shortage of coal and no need for more transportation to market We feel this would be class legislation favoring a small group while injuring the State as a whole. A. P. HARDING, Secretary, CENTRAL CITY, KY., July 13, 1949. Senator VIRGIL CHAPMAN, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C.: Green River Valley Mining Institute voted unanimously in opposition to canalization of the Big Sandy River. Seek your support. L. S. LOVING, Secretary. WEST KENTUCKY COAL CO., INC., Hon. VIRGIL CHAPMAN, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR CHAPMAN: Monday, April 4, I was in Pittsburgh, Pa., and understood consideration was being given to including the Big Sandy improvement project in omnibus rivers and harbors now in process of formation by the Congress As you know, this proposal has been coming up periodically for the past 20 years and the entire group of coal operators in the West Kentucky coal field have opposed this canalization. At this time I am a member of the board of directors of the Kentucky Coa! Agency, Madisonville, Ky., which is a voluntary nonprofit corporation to protect the interest of its members who are all active in the production of coal in western Kentucky, and comprise an output of approximately 80 percent of all the coal shipped from this district. Also, I am chairman of the traffic committee for the Kentucky Coal Agency, and in behalf of these organizations I urgently request that the Big Sandy project be omitted from the omnibus rivers and harbors bill. We contend that this Big Sandy improvement would cost the taxpayers a tre mendous sum of money entirely out of proportion to any benefits that might be obtained and which would be entirely local and would open up additional coa acreage which would interfere with the markets of the present coal operators causing reduced running time in this coal field and loss of employment to a great number of men employed in the industry, which we consider to be about 8.000 at this time. Very respectfully, T. J. HOFFMAN, Vice President Senator DOWNEY. The committee will now recess, subject to the call of the chair, which will, I assume, be when the bill comes over from the House of Representatives. (Whereupon, at 12 noon, the hearing was adjourned, to reconvene at the call of the chair.) SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS EIGHTY-FIRST CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON H. R. 5472 A BILL AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR, NAVIGATION, FLOOD CONTROL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 94522 PART 2 AUGUST 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, AND 31, 1949 Printed for the use of the Committee on Public Works UNITED STATES WASHINGTON: 1949 |