Colonel FERINGA. Yes, sir. As we show in our notes, dam B is a portion of the Neches and Angelina system. The whole system consists of four dams, two large dams and two smaller dams. Dam B is one of the smaller dams. We believe now from our studies that the Rockland Dam will probably never be constructed. However, the McGee Bend Dam, which is upstream from dam B, should be the next one to be constructed on the system. Dam B, however, stands on its own feet as economically justified. Dam A probably also will not be built. Mr. MAHON. Your Buford Dam will be a bigger project than this? Colonel FERINGA. Yes, sir. Mr. MAHON. How much are you requesting for that? Colonel FERINGA. For Buford Dam we are requesting money only for planning; no construction. Mr. MAHON. You are not ready to begin construction there? General WHEELER. Dam B is known locally as Town Bluff Dam. Mr. ENGEL. General Wheeler, my notes show on item 28, last year, that the Neches and Angelina River system, Texas, according to my estimate, was $94,263,000. Colonel FERINGA. That is correct. We took dam B as a unit of the system as shown in our justification sheet before you. That is only dam B for which we are asking funds now. Mr. MAHON. If you did not construct dam A and did not construct the so-called Rockland Dam, which may be the same, as far as I know, your cost would not be $95,000,000, would it? Colonel FERINGA. No, sir. Dam B is going to cost $6,431,000, of which local interests pay $2,000,000. That is all there will be to dam B. It does not mean something else must be done. Mr. MAHON. What does McGee Bend Dam cost? Colonel FERINGA. McGee Bend Dam is estimated at $43,906,500. Mr. MAHON. Did I understand you to say the present outlook is that probably that would complete the system? Colonel FERINGA. Yes, sir; that would complete the systetem. Mr. ENGEL. The justification in 1948 shows it was a four-dam plan. Colonel FERINGA. Yes, sir. I explained the McGee Bend Dam is necessary; the Rockland Dam, according to our present figures, is not economically justified, so that we cannot ask the committee for it. Dam A would not be necessary unless we built the Rockland Dam. So the system, the way it looks now, would be composed of the McGee Bend Dam and dam B. Mr. ENGEL. And the McGee Bend Dam is $43,000,000? Colonel FERINGA. The McGee Bend Dam, at the present up-todate cost, would cost $43,906,500. MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN THE OHIO AND MISSOURI RIVERS Mr. ENGEL. Item 29 is the Mississippi River between the Ohio and Missouri Rivers, for Chain of Rocks and regulating works. The total estimated cost is $91,935,000; allotments to date, $48,031,500; tentative allocation, 1949, $10,000,000; additional required to complete after 1949, $33,903,500. Authorization.-1927 and 1945 River and Harbor Acts. Location and description.-Improvement of the 195-mile middle section of the Mississippi River to provide a minimum depth of 9 feet and width of 300 feet, including improvement of the Chain of Rocks section of the river. Operations, fiscal year 1948.-Channel regulating works and continuation of work at Chain of Rocks. Proposed operations, fiscal year 1949.-Estimate for 1949 includes $9,100,000 for improvement of Chain of Rocks section as follows: Continue under continuing contract construction of lock, relocation of utilities under continuing contract, commence construction of canal and levees and land acquisition. For regulating works $900,000. Justification.-Improvement of the critical Chain of Rocks section of the Mississippi River, authorized in 1945 and inauguarated with funds provided in the 1947 appropriation will, due to its location, benefit commerce to and from points on the upper Mississippi and Illinois waterway, and the Missouri River Valley. The construction of dikes and revetment work at critical sections of the middle Mississippi River will benefit a large volume of existing commerce and provide a stable 9-foot navigation channel with a reduction in annual dredging costs. Commerce during 1946 amounted to 4,190,000 tons. Mr. ENGEL. Now, Chain of Rocks is where? Mr. ENGEL. That is those locks in there? Mr. ENGEL. That is $37,088,000? Colonel FERINGA. That is correct. Mr. ENGEL. You have had $7,642,300, allotments to date; the tertative allocation in 1949 is $9,100,000; and required to complete after 1949 is $20,345,700. Colonel FERINGA. Yes, sir. Mr. ENGEL. For the regulating works, the total estimated cost is $54,847,000; allotments to date, $40,389,200; there is a tentative allocation for 1949 of $900,000; and additional required to complete after 1949 is $13,557,800. What are the regulating works? Colonel FERINGA. The regulating works are spur dikes and ́bank revetments for the whole part of the Mississippi River between the Ohio and Missouri. This year we have broken the project down between the two main features. Mr. ENGEL. In other words, this regulating work is river work from the Ohio to the Missouri on the Mississippi? Colonel FERINGA. Yes, sir. Mr. ENGEL. And Chain of Rocks on the Mississippi is this cut-off? Colonel FERINGA. Yes, sir. Do you want that explained? Mr. ENGEL. Yes. Colonel FERINGA. The Mississippi River normally flows along the channel I am pointing out. The Missouri River comes in above St. Louis, located right along here [indicating]. This so-called Chain of Rocks has always been extremely tortuous and hazardous. The traffic on the Mississippi River system has increased and is still increasing. They have a hard time to make this with a full tow, and occasionally have to make a double trip, which means they drop three or four barges, then come back and get them, and go up again. During the war, this reach was so hard to navigate that when they brought the large boats down from the Great Lakes, we had to discharge water upstream from Fort Peck in order that this part [indicating] could be navigated, and also from the upstream reservoir in Minnesota on the headqaters of the Mississippi. The Chain of Rocks project was authorized in the River and Harbor Act approved March 2, 1945, and consists of a new canal being dug through fastland, lowland, and a lock being constructed at this location [indicating]. This means there will be slack water navigation along this location on the river, and additional water will pass through the normal channel of the river. The work is now under construction. Mr. ENGEL. How long is that channel? Colonel FERINGA. About 10 miles, sir. Mr. TIBBOTT. What will be the depth of water in the channel? Colonel FERINGA. It will furnish a depth in the waterway at these locks of 12 feet. The depth at these rocks during low water is very shallow, and the rocks stand out. We have enough water when the river is high, but you can see the rocks standing out when the water is low. Mr. ENGEL. What is the appropriation in 1948? Colonel FERINGA. $4,500,000. Mr. KERR. How much is it contemplated it will cost to finish that canal? Colonel FERINGA. The Chain of Rocks project will cost $37,000,000 $7,000,000 has been allotted, and the request is $9,100,000 for this coming fiscal year. Mr. ENGEL. In 1946, 4,190,000 tons of freight went through. What is the tonnage through the Sault Ste. Marie? Colonel FERINGA. It is the largest in the United States. General WHEELER. This year it has jumped up to 110,000,000. That is in 1947. Colonel FERINGA. It is the biggest in the world. Mr. ENGEL. And here we have a commerce of 4,190,000 tons? General WHEELER. You were mentioning the locks of the St. Mary's General WHEELER. Yes, sir. Mr. CASE. This Chain of Rocks is just below the confluence of the two rivers, the Missouri and the Mississippi? Colonel FERINGA. Correct, sir. Mr. CASE. What do your staff tell you will be the effect of the scouring action of the river there when you have the cut-off canal? Colonel FERINGA. There will be a lock there, so there won't be any adverse effect one way or the other. I think the regimen of the river will not be affected one way or the other, because there will be a lock in there which will make slack water available for navigation. The excess water will still go along the normal channel. General WHEELER. There will be no current. Mr. CASE. Normally, what is the amount of sediment carried by the two streams? Do you get more sediment from the Mississippi or the Missouri? Colonel FERINGA. From the Missouri, sir. Mr. CASE. Relatively, how much more? Colonel FERINGA. I do not know the actual percentage, but it is tremendous. Mr. CASE. How much of that will be cut off when you get the chain of dams built? Colonel FERINGA. I would say the majority of it. Mr. CASE. Is there a good deal of delta work there where Chain of Rocks is now, or any deposition of sediment? Colonel FERINGA. Not at that location. As the name implies, it has a rocky bottom, and so much water comes through it that it takes it further downstream. Mr. CASE. I did not know whether you had a basin head to stop the flow of water. Colonel FERINGA. No, sir. You notice from the map that the Missouri River comes in just above that location, and then hits the rocky stretch of the river. Mr. CASE. There is an elbow there. Is there any tendency for the deposition of silt at the elbow? Colonel FERINGA. I do not believe there is; so far as I know, I think it is too swift a current for there to be any deposition at that location. Mr. CASE. So whether or not you have silt there has no particular relationship to your problem of the locks? Colonel FERINGA. I think that is correct. Mr. CASE. That is all. MISSISSIPPI RIVER, BETWEEN THE MISSOURI RIVER AND MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. Mr. ENGEL. Item 30, Mississippi River between the Missouri River and Minneapolis, Minn.: Total estimated Federal cost, $173,111,000; allotments to date, $152,598,900; tentative allocation, fiscal year 1949, $2,000,000; additional to complete, $18,512,100. (The justification of estimates follows:) Item No. 30. Mississippi River between the Missouri River and Minneapolis, Minn. (St. Anthony Falls project shown under planning): Total estimated Federal cost Allotments to date___ Tentative allocation, fiscal year 1949. Additional to complete after fiscal year 1949. 1 Includes 1948 appropriation of $731,700. Authorization.-1930 and subsequent river and harbor acts. $173, 111, 000 1 152, 598, 900 2, 000, 000 18, 512, 100 Location and description.-Canalization of Mississippi River between Missouri River and Minneapolis, Minn., 662.6 miles, to provide 9-foot navigation, with various small boat harbors. Operations, fiscal year 1948.-Construction of four small boat harbors, completion lock 2 at Hastings, Minn., and guide and guard wall extensions. Proposed operations, fiscal year 1949.-The 1949 estimate provides for payment of seepage damages, rectification of damages to levee districts as determined, guide and guard wall extensions, and channel excavation and alignment. Justification.-Funds are needed for extension of guide and guard walls at locks 10, 16, and 21 to provide adequate facilities for the longer tows making use of the improvement. Funds should also be provided for payment of seepage damages. Payment authorized by River and Harbor Act approved July 24, 1946, after specific study was made of the damages. Commerce during 1946 amounted to 5,247,000 tons. Mr. ENGEL. Is this the St. Anthony Falls project? Colonel FERINGA. No, sir; this is the Mississippi River up to St. Anthony Falls. We are not asking for St. Anthony Falls at this time. For this item we had $731,700 last year. Mr. ENGEL. For 1948? Colonel FERINGA. Yes, sir. Mr. CASE. How far up the river would you be able to navigate when this work is completed? Colonel FERINGA. Through St. Paul to the municipal terminal in lower Minneapolis. Mr. ENGEL. Through St. Paul? Colonel FERINGA. Yes, sir; there is now quite a bit of navigation up there. Mr. CASE. How much has been spent on that St. Anthony Falls project? Colonel FERINGA. $412,100 has been allocated for planning. Mr. CASE. When that falls is taken care of, how far can you go? Colonel FERINGA. It brings navigation to the Soo Line Railroad bridge about half a mile from the north city limit of Minneapolis. Mr. CASE. Nothing above Minneapolis? Colonel FERINGA. No. That would be additional work to go above Minneapolis. The work at St. Anthony Falls is between the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and this will bring the channel right into the heart of the two cities. Right now they have to stop at St. Anthony Falls and when this is completed they will be able to bring traffic right into the heart of the two cities. Mr. CASE. Of course, they can load at the harbor at St. Paul. Colonel FERINGA. That is for shipping downstream, but they consider it a great advantage if they can go farther upstream. Mr. CASE. Is there any substantial river traffic up above Minneapolis now? Colonel FERINGA. No substantial traffic at this time, nor would there be until this improvement was made at St. Anthony Falls. Mr. ENGEL. How much money is there in planning? Colonel FERINGA. For St. Anthony Falls? Mr. ENGEL. Yes. General WHEELER. $176,000. Colonel FERINGA. Yes, that is shown on page 373. Mr. CASE. I would like to ask this question for the record: You mentioned $2,000,000 costs for that project. Would that take care of all the additional costs such as bridge relocation? Colonel FERINGA. No, sir. The city of Minneapolis and the city of St. Paul are paying for the relocations and alterations of highway bridges and utilities, which is estimated to cost several million dollars. In addition to that they are going to make a contribution in cash of $1,100,000. Mr. CASE. Do you have some planning funds-funds to work on this St. Anthony project? |