PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF SAN GABRIEL AND

LOS ANGELES RIVERS FOR FLOOD CONTROL

May 7, 1935.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of

the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. Wilson of Louisiana, from the Committee on Flood Control,

submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 7147)

The Committee on Flood Control, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 7147) authorizing, a preliminary examination of the San Gabriel and Los Angeles Rivers and their tributaries; to include both drainage basins and their outlets, in Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, Calif., with a view to the controlling of floods, having considered same, report it favorably to the House of Representatives with the recommendation that it do pass with the following amendment suggested by the War Department:

Strike out the words "and survey" in line 1 of the title.

The San Gabriel River rises in the San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles County, Calif., and flows in a southerly direction, emptying in to Alamitos Bay on the Los Angeles-Orange County_border. It has a drainage area of about 800 square miles. The Los Angeles River rises in the Santa Susana and Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles County and flows in a southerly direction, emptying into the Pacific Ocean within the city of Long Beach, Los Angeles County. It has a drainage area of about 900 square miles.

The heads of these rivers lie, to a considerable extent, within the national forests in Los Angeles County. The lower portions of this drainage area constitute a valuable agricultural section and a population center of 2,200,000.

The rainfall in the mountain area averages 23 inches per year, most of it occurring in the winter months.

The floods in this area are a constant threat to life and property. The flood of December 1933 caused about $3,500,000 damage and the loss of about 50 lives. The general flood of 1914 caused damage estimated at $10,000,000. Six major floods and many minor local

floods have occurred since the period of settlement. In addition to damage to land, there is great damage to harbors and shipping.

It is believed these floods warrant investigation with a view to determining flood-protective measures.

The bill has the approval of the War Department, with the sug. gested amendment given above, as evidenced by the following communication:

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington, D. C., May 3, 1935. Respectfully returned to the chairman of Committee on Flood Control, House of Representatives.

This Department is not aware of any objection to the enactment of House bill no. 7147, authorizing a preliminary examination and survey of the San Gabriel and Los Angeles Rivers and their tributaries; to include both drainage basins and their outlets, in Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, Calif., with a view to the controlling of floods. The bills should be amended, however, by striking out the words "and survey” in the first line.

Geo. H. DERN, Secretary of War.
O

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF GAFFORD CREEK,

ARK.

MAY 8, 1935.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of

the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. Wilson of Louisiana, from the Committee on Flood Control,

submitted the following

REPORT

(To accompany H. R. 7313]

The Committee on Flood Control, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 7313) authorizing a preliminary examination of Gafford Creek, Ark., with a view to controlling, floods, having considered same, report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass.

Gafford Creek is a tributary to Fourche La Fave River, and rises in the mountains in the southwest part of Yell County, south of Bluffton, Ark. These mountains rise to the height of 1,500 feet and are approximately 1,150 feet above the plains of level land around Bluffton.

The drainage area is approximately 50 square miles with a rainfall at times of 4 inches to 6 inches in 24 hours. The fast run-off causes a piling up of the waters in Gafford Creek between the foothills and its mouth at Fourche La Fave for a distance of 3miles, overflowing an area of 12 square miles. This flood of Gafford Creek is independent of the rise in Fourche La Fave River. The farm lands are frequently overflowed in this area during the growing season.

The following favorable report has been received from the War Department on bill H. R. 7313:

(First endorsement)

WAR DEPARTMENT, May 2, 1935. Respectfully returned to the Chairman of the Committee on Flood Control, House of Representatives.

This Department is not aware of any objection to the enactment of House Bill No. 7313, "Authorizing a preliminary examination of Gafford Creek, Arkansas."

GEORGE H. DERN, Secretary of War. O

74TH CONGRESS

1st Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

}

{

REPORT No. 842

ERECTION OF MEMORIAL TO SURVIVORS OF DIRIGIBLE

“SHENANDOAH”

MAY 8, 1935.—Committeed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state

of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. KELLER, from the Committee on the Library, submitted the

following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 6321]

The Committee on the Library, having had under consideration H. R. 6321, a bill authorizing the erection of a memorial to the survivors of the dirigible Shenandoah, do respectfully report the same with the recommendation that it do pass.