Mr. KERR. Mr. Chairman, let me make one observation. I have been very much struck with the fine appearance of these fine gentlemen from California. They always make a good appearance when they come before our committee. But I want to tell you if things do not suit you in the State of California, move down in North Carolina, the next best State in the Union. (The letters and resolution referred to are as follows:) Mr. ARTHUR DUDLEY, AUBURN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Secretary-Manager, Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento, Calif. DEAR MR. DUDLEY: We understand that you and other representatives from the Sacramento region are going to Washington to appear before congressional committees to request the initial funds to start construction of the SacramentoYolo ship-channel project. As it will not be possible for us to send a representative from Auburn to appear at these hearings, we are urging that you speak for the Auburn Chamber of Commerce in requesting that funds be granted to start work on this project immediately. As you know, Placer County ranks among the highest in the United States in the production of deciduous fruits. The continued shortage of refrigerator cars and the recent sharp increases in freight rates have worked a serious hardship on this industry which would be greatly relieved by the Sacramento-Yolo ship channel. In addition, this is the hub of a large lumber-producing area; and the completion of the channel will mean the opening of new markets with better and less costly distribution of lumber and lumber byproducts. It is the feeling of the directors of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce that this entire section of California will benefit by the completion of this project and we will appreciate anything that you can do to start the ball rolling. Yours very truly, G. E. KREATZ, President, Auburn Chamber of Commerce. ARTHUR S. DUDLEY, CHICO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Manager, Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento, Clif. DEAR MR. DUDLEY: At a board of directors meeting held January 14, 1948, our board went on record in favor of and endorsing the Sacramento-Yolo ship channel project. This deep-water channel in Sacramento will open a new mode of freight transportation for the agriculturally rich Sacramento Valley and northern California, and will be of a definite advantage to the city of Chico. Our board of directors urged the necessary congressional actions to complete this vital project. Our merchants and trade people will welcome the lower freight rates and the many advantages gained through deep-water shipping. Our transportation committee is most interested in this project and if we can be of any further service to you, please feel free to call upon us. DEAR MR. DUDLEY: At a meeting of our board of directors the latter part of last week, called for the purpose of selecting a secretary-manager to fill the position vacted by Eugene B. McCoy, one of the several matters discussed was the proposed Sacramento-Yolo ship channel project. It was the unanimous opinion of the board that this project is of utmost importance to this area, in that it would make possible lower freight rates to manufacturers and other business concerns and at the same time provide better access to world markets for the great Sacramento Valley of which Colano County is part. We trust you will use every influence in prevailing on the Congress to appropriate necessary funds to get this all-important project under way at the earliest possible moment. GENTLEMEN: It is of great interest to this community to have the SacramentoYolo ship channel become a reality. Due to the high freight rates we now enjoy it will be a godsend to our local merchants to have deep-water shipping so near, thereby giving our community the lower resulting freight rates. We therefore urge Congress to follow through with the President's recommendation for the construction of said project. Yours very truly, FOLSOM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, By C. D. HIGGINS, President, WILMA HOXIE, Secretary. UNITED STATES CONGRESSMEN, Washington, D. C. GALT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HONORABLE SIRS: On behalf of the people of this area we would like to urge favorable congressional action in line with the President's program and recommendation for the construction of the Sacramento-Yolo ship channel project. This project has long been awaited in this area. Our merchants, our manufacturers, and our people will benefit materially from this work. The merchants and manufacturers from lower freight rates and our workers will undoubtedly benefit as new industries will open to them a much-needed new field in which employment may be found. Our people, greatly increased in number during the past few years, must find new sources of employment. We, therefore, urge you, our Congressmen, to do your utmost in helping this worthy project toward completion. Respectfully yours, BENJAMIN GAUB, Secretary. GRASS VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INC., Grass Valley, Calif, January 15, 1948. Sacramento, Calif. SACRAMENTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, GENTLEMEN: May we urge your immediate action on the Sacramento-Yolo ship channel project. We have no railroad transportation into Grass Valley or Nevada City. This project is the "shot in the arm" we need. It means that we are only 50 miles from the coast line. Your prompt action on this vital project is most important to us. Yours very truly, GRASS VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INC., By LOUIS HARTMAN, President. GRIDLEY DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Mr. A. S. DUDLEY, Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento, Calif. DEAR MR. DUDLEY: The Gridley District Chamber of Commerce again wishes to emphasize its endorsement of the proposed Sacramento-Yolo ship channel project. The completion of this project will bring shipping facilities many miles closer to our northern Sacramento Valley production areas. The resulting lower shipping rates will mean much to present manufacturers and especially to the processors and producers of agricultural products in this richly productive area. Further, it will encourage new expansion in the northern part of the State, and will greatly aid in the matter of distributing our products (mostly food) to the thickly populated cosmopolitan areas of not only California but the rest of the country and the world as well. Truly yours, TULLIE MOORE, President. NORTH SACRAMENTO DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Mr. ARTHUR DUDLEY, Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento, Calif. MY DEAR MR. DUDLEY: Since the November 4, 1947, election when the port bonds were voted by better than a 6-to-1 majority, this office has been the recipient of many inquiries from firms desiring to locate in this area and we believe that these have been prompted by the assurance that the Sacramento-Yolo ship channel project is rapidly becoming a reality. The North Sacramento District Chamber of Commerce has actively supported the Sacramento-Yolo deep-water channel project and has constantly been aware of the value of the project to this entire area and to northern California in general. We, therefore, urge that your chamber and representatives, in view of the President's announced program and recommendation for the construction of this project, do everything in your power to expedite the start of this channel. Yours very truly, FRED A. BOOTHMAN, Secretary-Manager. A. S. DUDLEY, OROVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Secretary-Manager, Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento, Calif. DEAR MR. DUDLEY: Enclosed you will find a resolution that we have sent to Congressman Clarence F. Lea and Senators William F. Knowland and Sheridan Downey. This project is of great importance to the people of northern California, and we are all hoping that your organization will continue to carry the responsibility of securing its early completion. I am sure your organization will do this and probably have already planned to appear before current congressional committees. However, we are anxious that our representatives understand our position. Please feel free to use the enclosed resolution in your case for immediate construction of the Sacramento-Yolo ship channel project. With our increased industrial and agricultural growth, the resulting lower freight rates are of utmost importance to the Oroville area. Cooperatively yours, WARREN T. FOWLER, Secretary. RESOLUTION Whereas the Congress of the United States has authorized the construction of the Sacramento-Yolo ship channel project; and Whereas the President of the United States' program and recommendation is for the construction of this project with an initial Federal investment of $2,500,000; and Whereas the Oroville area is developing rapidly both industrially and agriculturally, and present indications are that this development will continue during the coming years; and Whereas the construction of this channel will materially decrease transportation rates to and from Oroville, which is an important item to our industrialists and agriculturists, most particularly the lumber industry, the growers of rice, grain, and fruit; and Whereas the need for this project exists now and will become increasingly more important during the coming years: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Oroville Chamber of Commerce in open session on this 20th day of January 1948, That the Congress of the United States be petitioned to appropriate a sum of at least $2,500,000 in the current budget for the purpose of commencing the Sacramento-Yolo ship channel project. Mr. A. S. DUDLEY, GORDON HILL, President, RED BLUFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Red Bluff, Tehama County, Calif., January 17, 1948. Secretary-Manager, Sacramento Chamber of Commerce. Mr. DUDLEY: It has come to the attention of the directors of the Red Bluff Chamber of Commerce that representatives from Sacramento are soon to appear before a congressional committee to request funds for the Sacramento-Yolo ship canal project. It is the opinion of the directors that this project is a desirable one and its completion would greatly benefit this area as well as other communities in the Sacramento valley. One of these benefits would be reduced freight rates. We hope that delegates to the congressional hearing will include Red Bluff and Tehama County in the list of communities which are enthusiastic for this project. BOARD OF DIRECTOR, A. L. CLARK, Secretary-Manager. REDDING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Redding, Shasta County, Calif., January 21, 1948. Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento, Calif. DEAR SIRS: The Redding Chamber of Commerce heartily endorses the proposed Sacramento-Yolo ship channel. The completion of this project will be a major step in the development of the Sacramento Valley. We recommend to the Congress of the United States that they support this project in line with the President's announced program and recommendation for the construction of the project with an initial investment of $2,500,000. Sincerely yours, REDDING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. ROSEVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Roseville, Placer County, Calif., January 16, 1948. Mr. A. S. DUDLEY, DEAR MR. DUDLEY: In order that the Roseville Chamber of Commerce may successfully, bring to the attention of congressional committees in Washington the benefits which Roseville would derive from the Sacramento-Yolo ship channel project and the Folsom Dam, it is requested that you place the following infor This mation in the proper hands that consideration may be given to our needs. action has been approved by the board of directors at its regular meeting of January 16, 1948. The Sacramento-Yolo ship channel project will mean that our manufacturers, merchants, and farmers will be able to take advantage of deep water transportation and enjoy the additional advantages of the resulting lower freight rates. Deep water shipping available at Sacramento will open vast new markets in the Pacific area to the same manufacturers, merchants, and farmers. With the ever-increasing shift of population and industry westward, the need of additional port facilities should be apparent. With the large centers of population, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, approaching a point of saturation for absorbing new industries, the additional industrial sites made available in this area should be of considerable economic value. The Folsom Dam will make available water for irrigation, domestic, and industrial purposes. It is estimated that about 200,000 acres of land in western Placer County can be put under irrigation by surface waters. In addition to this land development, the present tight conditions of the domestic water supply in Roseville and adjacent areas would be relieved. The need for additional power in central and northern California, is apparent. It has been necessary during the past year to curtail the manufacture of certain commodities requiring large amounts of electrical energy, because of a shortage of that commodity. With the power generated at Folsom Dam these industries and additional industries adapted to our conditions could be adequately served with electric energy. The Roseville Chamber of Commerce wholeheartedly supports the immediate construction of Folsom Dam and the Sacramento-Yolo ship channel project as recommended by the President in his budget message to Congress. Sincerely, ROSEVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, EUGENE E. WATSON, Secretary-Manager. SUSANVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Mr. A. S. DUDLEY, Secretary-Manager, Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento, Calif. DEAR MR. DUDLEY: The Susanville Chamber of Commerce is very much interested in the proposed Sacramento-Yolo ship channel project. We feel our merchants and manufacturers will be benefited by the lower freight rates which would result from the use of this project when completed. We trust that our representatives in Washington will see fit to approve the initial Federal investment of $2,500,000 to start this necessary project on its way. DEAR MR. DUDLEY: It is with the keenest interest that the businessmen of this area are anticipating the early construction of the Sacramento-Yolo ship channel project. This project should mean much to all in central California. Deep water shipping coming 100 miles inland into California should result in much lower freight rates to all and our board of directors have gone on record as urging that every effort be made to start the construction of this project at an early date. If we can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to call upon us. Very truly yours, TRUCKEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, |