Senator OVERTON. That is not only true of this valley but through every valley where there has been any river improvement, I think.

Mr. ODOм. There is a considerable justification that could be worked up on this project from a military standpoint that we haven't taken up. The fact that we have all this military activity in this area isduring wartime you are very much interested in saving steel. You can increase your carrying capacity of the waterways much more economically in steel than you can on any other type.

Senator ROBERTSON. I understand from the hearings on the bill we passed in 1944, or January 1945, that it showed an actual decrease in the amount of freight carried on the waterways entirely because it was so slow as compared to the speed with which the railroads carried it and the speed with which the Army and Navy required it.

Senator OVERTON. Do you mean all freight?
Senator ROBERTSON. On the waterways.

Senator OVERTON. Here is a graph and here are your figures. Here is 1944. It runs way up there to the peak. Here it starts in 1932. It went up in 1933, down a little in 1934, and from then on it runs up almost perpendicularly. In 1944 in ton-miles 31,000,000,000 in round figures; in 1943, 26,000,000,000; 1941, 26,000,000,000; 1940, 22,000,000,000; 1939, 19,000,000,000; 1938, 1,000,000,000; 1937, 16,000,000,000; 1936, 15,000,000,000; 1935, 13,000,000,000; 1934, 9,000,000,000; 1933, 10,000,000,000; 1932, 7,000,000,000; 1931, 7,000,000,000; 1930, 9,000,000,000; 1929, 8,000,000,000; 1928, 9,000,000,000; 1927, 8,000,000,000.

So you see from 1927 to 1944 it has about quadrupled.

Senator CORDON. That graph actually does show, however, a reduction in the war years.

Senator OVERTON. Yes.

Colonel FERINGA. I can explain that, Senator Cordon.

Senator OVERTON. You mean in 1941 it doesn't show any increase? Colonel FERINGA. May I explain what happened there? At this point water transport was engaged to the maximum of its capabilities. There was some shuffling around in order to put the barges and the towboats in the best location. No matter what we did we couldn't get any steel to build more barges and towboats. It was not until some construction had been resumed through the ODT, I think, that we could again put them on the waterways.

I think the statement that Senator Robertson referred to was made by the railroads, that waterway transportation had been reduced. I was here at the time, and the statement was that waterway transportation carried by common carriers had been reduced. Actually, as you know, we are required by law, the Corps of Engineers, to maintain a record of all the commerce carried by water, and the shippers must by law give us the figures. Therefore these figures are definite, and they are bound to be accurate.

Senator ROBERTSON. They are private carriers as well as common carriers?

Colonel FERINGA. Yes, sir; all waterway traffic, private and common carriers.

Senator CORDON. Colonel, I note from the graph there that while there was a reduction from 1941 through 1942, and 1943, no doubt due to your reshuffling at the beginning, 1943, when presumably you had reoriented your traffic, there was a sharp increase for 1945 which is also a war year.

Colonel FERINGA. That is right. That is when we got that extra transport on the water.

Senator OVERTON. I think maybe some of us will recall we had hearings before, when the East wanted oil so bad and what to do. So we called upon those connected with water-borne transportation to see what could be done. My recollection is that they said they were perfectly willing to go ahead or go further if they had more towboats and more barges. Then there was quite a discussion as to what kind of barges could be constructed; concrete barges, wooden barges, whether wooden barges were safe to transport oil in, and so forth. Finally they did get to work and did get additional towboats and barges, and it went on up.

Very well. Thank you, Mr. Odom.

(The witness withdrew from the committee table).

Colonel FERINGA. Mr. Chairman, may I correct a statement I made?

You asked me if there was any opposition to the waterway. I said none except the railroads. The Department of the Interior submitted a more or less noncommittal letter which was presented before the Rivers and Harbors Committee of the House. They presented it at the last of the hearings. The statement was made therein, as I recall, that the Fish and Wildlife Service had not had an opportunity to complete its study of the effect on the fish of the Red River and indicated it might be severe. That is in the House report.

Of course, when our report is published that letter will be included. Senator OVERTON. I asked if there was any further opposition from the Department of the Interior.

Colonel FERINGA. The gentleman from the Interior Department invited my attention to that.

Senator OVERTON. Is he here?

Mr. POWER. Yes, sir.

Senator OVERTON. If you are opposing it in any way, I would like to hear from you, and I would also like to know what fish there are in the Red River.

Mr. POWER. A representative from the Wildlife Bureau will be here tomorrow and explain that to you.

Senator OVERTON. I wish he could be here this afternoon because we are going to take up other projects tomorrow.

Mr. POWER. In response to your request this morning I went back and contacted a man with respect to Yaquina Bay. While the report is not ready, it having gone out of our office last Thursday, I was told I might tell you we agree with Senator Cordon there is no conceivable reason why we should object to Yaquina Bay. They will have a report ready to that effect.

Senator ÖVERTON. Someone wants to come here and testify about this Red River project tomorrow?

Mr. POWER. Yes.

Senator OVERTON. We are going to be on other projects.

Mr. POWER. Well, at your convenience, then.

Senator OVERTON. Why wasn't he here?

Mr. POWER. Well, as you know the officials of the Fish and Wildlife are in Chicago. I am not so sure they would oppose it.

Senator OVERTON. There was notice published of it 2 weeks ago in the Congressional Record and notice given to the press. I gave it as wide publicity as I could. Certainly the Department of the

Interior as an agency of the Government ought to keep up with these hearings. I don't think I addressed a letter direct to the Department of the Interior.

Mr. POWER. I am sure you did not, but they should have been here. Senator OVERTON. I did not address a letter to the engineers, either, but I see they are here. I didn't address it to the railroads particularly, but they are here. I am keen, though, to hear him because I was born and reared on the banks of the Red River, and if there is any fish in the Red River I would like to discover that fact. It is such a silt-bearing stream there is no fish in it, as far as I know. Mr. POWER. That I don't know.

Senator OVERTON. There are some alligators there, I think that is all. Alligators are fish, aren't they?

Mr. POWER. They are reptiles, I believe.

Senator OVERTON. You are not connected-you are not acquainted with the fish and wildlife down there?

Mr. POWER. Unfortunately not.

Senator OVERTON. We may have some testimony about wildlife on the Red River.

Mr. POWER. The chairman would be more familiar with that than I would. I have never been on the Red River.

Mr. ODOм. Mr. Chairman, I would like to file one of these briefs. Senator OVERTON. Is it in the record of the House?

Mr. ODOм. It is.

Senator OVERTON. Then there is no use to reproduce it here.

Mr. POWER. Mr. Chairman, suppose we have the Fish and Wildlife file its statement.

Senator OVERTON. I would like to examine them. I want to find out about those fish. Is he here in Washington?

Mr. POWERS. I think so.

Senator OVERTON. Can't you phone him?

Mr. POWER. Yes.

Senator OVERTON. Ask him to come around right away, please. Mr. Matthias.

STATEMENT OF ROY MATTHIAS, REPRESENTING RED RIVER
VALLEY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, SHREVEPORT, LA.

Senator OVERTON. Will you give your name to the reporter.
Mr. MATTHIAS. Roy Matthias.

Senator OVERTON. Whom do you represent?

Mr. MATTHIAS. Secretary for the Red River Valley Improvement Association.

Senator OVERTON. Aren't you connected with some chamber of commerce?

Mr. MATTHIAS. No, sir; I am not.

My full time is spent for the association in flood-control work and other water matters throughout the whole Red River Valley. Our association is composed of members throughout the four States that are interested in improving the valley with respect to navigation, flood control, and various drainage and reclamation projects.

Senator OVERTON. The membership is composed of representatives from the Red River Valley throughout the four States of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana?

Mr. MATTHIAS. Yes.

Senator OVERTON. Is there any opposition to this project on the part of any members of your association?

Mr. MATTHIAS. No.

Senator OVERTON. You are unanimously in favor of it?

Mr. MATTHIAS. Yes.

Senator OVERTON. Is there any opposition that you know of on the part of local interests in the State of Louisiana, or individuals? Mr. MATTHIAS. None that I know of, sir.

Senator OVERTON. Is there any so far as you know in any of the other three States?

Mr. MATTHIAS. On the contrary, Mr. Chairman, those folks are very anxious to see us open this because they feel once one part of it is built, you may say the first step, they will be fortunate enough to secure an extension of it up as far as the Denison Dam.

Senator OVERTON. Now, will you proceed and make what statement you desire?

Mr. MATTHIAS. I have no statement because of the fact that all of our members of the association were here in January and also before the House hearings, the House committee hearings, but I have several short factual statements that I would like to put into the record.

Senator OVERTON. Before you do that, were you present at the hearings before the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors? Mr. MATTHIAS. In January?

Senator OVERTON. Yes.

Mr. MATTHIAS. No, sir; I was not. My president, Mr. Dixon, was there with many others. I attended the hearings before the Rivers and Harbors Committee of the House.

Senator OVERTON. You made a statement then?

Mr. MATTHIAS. Yes.

Senator OVERTON. It is printed and we have access to it?

Mr. MATTHIAS. Yes.

Senator OVERTON. Is there anyone else here from Shreveport make a statement?

Mr. MATTHIAS. Mr. Bryant from Shreveport and Mr. Homer Harris from Alexandria.

Senator OVERTON. I mean before the House committee-besides yourself-from Shreveport?

Mr. MATTHIAS. Oh, yes; Mr. Webb, Fred Webb, who is president of the Caddo police jury; Edgar Fullilove, commissioner of the Bossier levee district, and V. V. Whittington, who is president of two local banks in that area.

Senator OVERTON. Very well.

Mr. MATTHIAS. I have a statement from the J. B. Beaird Co. who are fabricators, machinists, and founders in the city of Shreveport. They are a large organization and they have expressed their views as to this project in a statement, which I would like to offer for the record.

Senator OVERTON. It may appear in the record.

STATEMENT OF PAT BEAIRD, PRESIDENT OF THE J. B. BEAIRD CO., INC., SHREVEPORT, LA.

The

Mr. BEAIRD. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. J. B. Beaird Co. is a manufacturing enterprise founded 29 years ago. Fabricated-steel and cast-steel products are produced and sold under the Beaird name and trade-mark. Principal products consist of oil and gas-field castings, railroad, and miscellaneous industrial castings, cast steel flanged and screwed fittings and specialties, drilling and production derricks and accessories, oil and gas separators, oil-field heaters and treaters, filling-station and oil-field storage tanks, skid-mounted air and gas compressors, butane and propane gas systems, farm-product dehydrators, and potato planters.

The J. B. Beaird Co.'s plant No. 1 covers almost entirely 9 acres, except for trainways, roadways, and so forth. Plant No. 2 is situated on an 81⁄2-acre tract, about one-third of which is under roof. Early in 1944 the company acquired about 90 acres of adjacent industrial property. Present plans call for retaining 20 acres for proposed expansion.

The company has quite recently negotiated a $1,000,000 loan with the RFC for financing expansion and the development of additional products, particularly in the farm-machinery field. Under active consideration at the present time are such items as rice driers and steel storage bins, potato-digging machinery, hay choppers, meal mills, and flame cultivators. The company envisions a tremendous growth of business in this direction. At the present time, about one-third of available facilities is devoted to farm products. The expansion program will be almost entirely devoted to farm-machinery items.

At the present time the J. B. Beaird Co. is employing approximately 550 workers. By the end of 1946 it should reach 750 to 800. It is felt that within 2 years, its employees will reach or exceed the wartime peak of 1,500.

The tonnage of products forecast for 1945 amounted to 35,000 tons. All of this tonnage must be shipped into Shreveport by rail. Approximately 75 percent of this tonnage will leave our plant by rail. In-bound only-in addition to this product tonnage is operating supplies, such as foundry sand, electrodes, sand ingredients, refractory materials for furnaces, new equipment and facilities, and building materials. It is estimated that these items will total three to four cars weekly. The expansion program now under way will have the effect of greatly increasing this freight tonnage. Our forecast has been somewhat lowered because of the steel, coal, and rail strikes.

The Shreveport area is well situated for rapid industrial growth, having available low-cost fuel and other fine industrial requisites. Labor is attracted to this section because of pleasant living conditions and good climate. Water transportation into the Shreveport area will eliminate the chief trade restriction and disadvantage. Our principal raw materials consist of steel, sheets, plates, and structural shapes. The waterway will enable us to lay this material in our plant at considerably lower cost than at present. We will be able to compete on a more even basis with the Gulf coast cities. Our expansion will, therefore, be realized at a much faster rate and established on a sound economic basis.

As a citizen and manufacturer, I am most strongly urging the approval of the Red River lateral canal. Other manufacturers in