Bluff, Mo., an important rail center, and the agricultural lands in the valley below the dam. An area of about 21,100 acres between the dam and Poplar Bluff will receive greatest benefits from the operation. Benefits also accrue to about 274,500 acres along the Black River between Poplar Bluff and Newport. Benefits will also accrue to the White River Valley below Newport. The estimated average annual benefits are $647,000. NORFORK RESERVOIR, ARK. AND MO. Mr. ENGEL. The next item is Norfork Reservoir, Ark. and Mo. The total estimated Federal cost is $28,658,700; allotments to date, $26,538,100; tentative allocation, fiscal year 1949, $1,100,000; and additional required to complete after 1949, $1,020,600. (The justification is as follows:) Item No. 45. Norfolk Reservoir, Ark. and Mo.: Allotments to date.... Tentative allocation, fiscal year 1949. Additional to complete after fiscal year 1949. Authorization.-Flood Control Act approved June 28, 1938. Location and description.—A concrete, gravity-type dam and powerhouse located on the North Fork River about 4.8 miles above its confluence with the White River, near Norfork, Baxter County, Ark. Operations, fiscal year 1948.-Construction of the dam is complete, except for installation of tainter gates and minor work in the control tower. The exterior of the powerhouse and the installation of one power-generating unit and appurtenant works are complete, and the unit is now in operation. The turbine, generator and other equipment for the second unit and completion of the powerhouse are under contract. Installation of tainter gates will be initiated by continuing contract during fiscal year 1948, as well as the procurement of appurtenant equipment for the second power unit, the construction of miscellaneous appurtenant works and facilities for public health and safety. The project will be 92 percent complete by June 30, 1948. Proposed operations, fiscal year 1949.-Funds are needed in the fiscal year 1949 for continuation of construction of the project. The allocation of $1,100,000 for the fiscal year 1949 will be applied as follows: $250,000 for continuation of construction of the powerhouse; $250,000 to the installation of tainter gates; $500,000 to procurement of equipment for the second power unit; and $100,000 for facilities for public health and safety, and miscellaneous appurtenant works. With the expenditure of the funds allocated for the fiscal year 1949 the project will be carried from 92 percent completion to about 96 percent completion by the end of fiscal year 1949. Justification. The project is an important unit in the proposed comprehensive flood-control reservoir system in the White River Basin for benefits to the lower White and Mississippi River Basins. The reservoir controls practically the entire drainage area of the North Fork River. The reservoir offers 380 miles of shore line in a rugged wooded area, with good fishing, good boating, camping, and other outdoor recreation opportunities. Annual attendance is estimated at approximately 40,000 people. In addition, since March 6, 1945, when the power plant was first put into commercial operation, substantial benefits have been derived from the sale of hydroelectric power. The average annual benefits are estimated at $1,664,000. Colonel FERINGA. No money appropriated for it last year. Work is being carried forward with funds from the year before. BULL SHOALS RESERVOIR, ARK. AND MO. Mr. ENGEL. For the Bull Shoals Reservoir, Ark. and Mo., the total estimated Federal cost is $69,400,000; allotments to date, $15,200,000; tentative allocation, fiscal year 1949, $17,000,000; and additional required to complete after 1949, $37,200,000. (The justification is as follows:) Item No. 46. Bull Shoals Reservoir, Ark. and Mo.: Total estimated Federal cost.- Allotments to date.. Tentative allocation fiscal year 1949.. Additional to complete after fiscal year 1949. Includes 1948 appropriation of $6,700,000. Authorization.-Flood Control Act approved August 18, 1941. Location and description.-A concrete, gravity-type dam and powerhouse located on the White River, in Arkansas, 418.6 miles upstream from its confluence with the Mississippi River, and about 10 miles west of Mountain Home, Ark. Operations, fiscal year 1948.-The construction of the access road, access railroad, and office service buildings are complete. Construction of the main dam, and purchase of cement, aggregate, penstock gates, and main turbines are under way under continuing contracts. Continuing contracts for purchase of powerhouse equipment will be initiated during the fiscal year 1948, as well as relocations and land acquisition. The project will be about 22 percent complete by June 30, 1948. Proposed operations, fiscal year 1949.-Funds are needed in fiscal year 1949 for the continuation of construction of the project. The allocation of $17,000,000 for the fiscal year 1949 will be applied as follows: $10,000,000 to the continuing contract for the main dam; and $5,200,000 to the continuing contracts for cement and aggregate; $1,000,000 to continuing contracts for powerhouse equipment and penstock gates; and $800,000 for land acquisition. With the expenditure of the funds allocated for the fiscal year 1949, the project will be carried from 22 percent completion to about 46 percent completion at the end of the fiscal year. Justification.-Bull Shoals Reservoir will be operated as one unit in the comprehensive plan for flood control in the lower White and Mississippi Rivers. total of 1,046,300 acres of land will be benefited by the project, 75,800 of which are in the Upper White River Valley and the remainder along the lower reaches of the stream. Substantial benefits will also accrue to the Lower Mississippi River Valley. In addition, benefits will be provided by the generation of hydroelectric power, low-water regulation, and water conservation. The average annual benefits are estimated at $4,829,000. A Mr. ENGEL. How much was that project upped last year? Colonel FERINGA. Last year's estimate was $58,100,000. It has gone up 19.5 percent. That is a concrete dam now under construction. Mr. ENGEL. Why did it go up; was it due to increased costs, increased plans, or what? Colonel FERINGA. Increased costs. This is a concrete dam. The average increase in construction price index is 16 percent, as I recall, and this is a concrete dam, and every concrete dam will go over the average, and earth-fill dams will go below the average. Mr. ENGEL. Sixteen percent over what? Colonel FERINGA. The index has increased 16 percent from September 1946 to September 1947. Mr. ENGEL. What was last year's appropriation? Colonel FERINGA. Last year's appropriation was $6,700,000. Mr. NORRELL. Just to keep the record straight, I would like to ask General Wheeler the amount you requested of the Bureau of the Budget for this project? General WHEELER. We requested $17,000,000 which is the amount in the budget before you. The Bureau of the Budget made no change in this item. Mr. NORRELL. $17,000,000 is the amount that you requested and the amount you are asking here? General WHEELER. Yes, sir. Mr. NORRELL. I had heard that you were making a request for a larger amount, and I want to have the record straight. You are requesting $17,000,000? General WHEELER. Yes, sir. Mr. NORRELL. I think you can do a lot of work with that amount of money there. CRAWFORD COUNTY LEVEE DISTRICT Mr. ENGEL. Item No. 47, Crawford County Levee District, Arkansas: Total estimated cost, $1,963,200; allotments to date, $851,700; tentative allocations, 1949, $600,000; additional to complete, after 1949, $511,500. Colonel FERINGA. $400,000 appropriated last year. Item No. 47. Crawford County Levee District, Arkansas: Allotments to date... Tentative allocation fiscal year 1949. Additional to complete after fiscal year 1949 1 Includes 1948 appropriation of $400,000. Authorization.-1941 and 1944 Flood Control Acts. $1,963, 200 1 851, 700 Location and description.-Approximately 20.2 miles of compacted new and enlarged levee with necessary drainage structures located along the left bank of the Arkansas River from the city limits of Van Buren, Ark., to Frog Bayou. The project will bear about 67 percent of the cost of raising the Missouri Pacific Railroad bridge at Fort Smith and about 99 percent of the cost of raising the United States Highway No. 64 bridge at Van Buren, Ark. Operations, fiscal year 1948.-Construction of the upper 3 miles of the project levee is completed. The raising of United States Highway No. 64 bridge and construction of approximately 6 miles of compacted earth-fill levee and appurtenant drainage structures is underway. The project as a whole will be approximately 43 percent complete by June 30, 1948. Proposed operations, fiscal year 1949.-Funds are needed in the fiscal year 1949 for continuation of construction of the project. The allocation of $600,000 for the fiscal year 1949 will be applied as follows: $250,000 to raising the Missouri Pacific Railroad bridge at Fort Smith, Ark.; and the balance of $350,000 to construction of earth-fill levee and drainage structures. With the expenditure of the funds allocated for the fiscal year 1949 the project will be carried from 43 percent completion to about 73 percent completion at the end of fiscal year 1949. Justification. The project is one of several local flood-protection projects authorized for the protection of people and property in the Arkansas River Valley. It will afford protection from floods of the Arkansas River for 15,060 acres of rich agricultural lands which suffered a loss estimated at $693,000 from the flood of 1943. The average annual benefits are estimated at $169,200. CARDEN'S BOTTOM DRAINAGE DISTRICT NO. 2 Mr. ENGEL. Carden's Bottom Drainage District No. 2, ArkansasItem No. 48: Total estimated Federal cost, $1,485,000; allotments to date, $300,000; testative allocation, $700,000. Colonel FERINGA. Last year's appropriation, $300,000. (The justification is as follows:) Item No. 48. Carden's Bottom Drainage District No. 2, Arkansas: Total estimated Federal cost__ Tentative allocation, fiscal year 1949. Allotments to date.___. Additional to complete after fiscal year 1949. Authorization.-1946 Flood Control Act. $1,485, 000 i 300, 000 700, 000 485, 000 1 1948 appropriation. Location and description.-Approximately 20.4 miles of compacted new and enlarged levee with necessary drainage structures located along the right bank of the Arkansas River from about river mile 245 to about river mile 237 and along the left bank of Petit Jean River from about mile 2 to mile 16. Operations, fiscal year 1948.-Construction of about 6 miles of levee is under way and will be completed during the fiscal year 1948. The project will be 20 percent complete by June 30, 1948. Proposed operations, fiscal year 1949.-Funds are needed in the fiscal year 1949 for continuation of construction of the project. The allocation of $700,000 for the fiscal year 1949 will be applied to continuation of construction of compacted levee and drainage structures. With the expenditure of the funds allocated for fiscal year 1949 the project will be carried to 67 percent completion at the end of fiscal year 1949. Justification. The project is one of several local flood-protection projects authorized for the protection of people and property in the Arkansas River Valley and is a companion project to the Near Dardanelle project now under construction. It will afford protection for 8,600 acres of rich agricultural lands in Carden's Bottom Drainage District No. 2 from floods of Arkansas and Petit Jean Rivers which suffered losses estimated at $203,000 from the 1943 flood. Completion of the Carden's Bottom project will also complete the protection of the Near Dardanelle project, immediately upstream. Construction of the connection between high ground at the river and high ground at the hill line for the Near Dardanelle project was omitted because completion of the Carden's Bottom project will make the connection unnecessary. The Near Dardanelle_project, for the protection of approximately 9,590 acres of land in the Dardanelle Drainage District from floods on the Arkansas River, will be completed in 1948 except for closure of the downstream end of the area which will be accomplished by the Carden's Bottom project. The average annual benefits are estimated at $98,400. WEST OF MORRILTON, ARK. Mr. ENGEL. Item No. 49, West of Morrilton, Ark.: Total estimated cost, $1,660,600; allotments to date, $28,800; tentative allocation, 1949, $985,000. (The justification is as follows:) Item No. 49. West of Morrilton, Ark.: Allotments to date... Tentative allocation, fiscal year 1949. Additional to complete after fiscal year 1949. Authorization.-1936 and 1944 Flood Control Acts. Location and description.--Approximately 21.7 miles of compacted new and enlarged levee with necessary drainage structures located along the left bank of the Arkansas River from about river mile 236.5 to about river mile 224.5 and along the right bank of Point Remove Creek from a point near the mouth to about 21.5, and a channel cut-off on Point Remove Creek. Operations, fiscal year 1948.-Preparation of construction plans and specifications are under way and will be essentially complete by June 30, 1948. Proposed operations, fiscal year 1949.-Funds are needed in fiscal year 1949 to complete plans and specifications and initiate construction of the project. The allocation of $985,000 for the fiscal year 1949 will be applied to the construction of compacted earth-fill levee and drainage structures. With the expenditure of the funds allocated for the fiscal year 1949 the project will be carried to about 61 per cent completion at the end of fiscal year 1949. Justification. The project is one of several local flood-protection_projects for the protection of people and property in the Arkansas River Valley. It will afford protection from floods of the Arkansas River and of Point Remove Creek for 19,660 acres of rich agricultural land which suffered an estimated loss of $372,000 from the flood of 1943. Construction of the Near Dardanelle, the Carden's Bottom, and the Conway County Levee District No. 6 projects, on the opposite bank of the Arkansas River, will result in slightly greater flood heights in that reach and the need for initiation of construction of the West of Morrilton project is increased thereby. The average annual benefits are estimated at $231,900. Mr. ENGEL. Was there any appropriation for 1948? Colonel FERINGA. Nothing for construction. Mr. ENGEL. What is the urgency of this project? Colonel FERINGA. It is like other flood-control projects, for the protection of property and other benefits to that area. Mr. NORRELL. I would like to say for the record, Mr. Chairman, that while this area is not in my district, it is an area which was absolutely washed away by the flood on the river about 3 years; land and improvements were destroyed. CONWAY COUNTY LEVEE DISTRICT NO. 6 Mr. ENGEL. Item No. 50, Conway County Levee District No. 6, Arkansas: Total estimated cost, $404,000; allotments to date, $371,000, and the tentative allocation for 1949 to complete the project, of $33,000. (The justification is as follows:) Item No. 50. Conway County Levee District No. 6, Arkansas: Total estimated Federal cost.. Allotments to date.. Tentative allocation, fiscal year 1949. Additional to complete after fiscal year 1949. Authorization.-1944 Flood Control Act. $404, 000 371, 000 33,000 Location and description.-Approximately 4.4 miles of compacted new and enlarged levee with necessary drainage structures located along the right bank of Arkansas River opposite Morrilton, Ark., between miles 224.5 and 219.3. The project will bear about 10 percent of the cost of raising Arkansas State Highway No. 9 bridge near Morrilton, Ark. Operations, fiscal year 1948.-The construction of the levee is about 94 percent complete and raising State Highway No. 9 bridge is under construction. The project will be complete by June 30, 1948, with the exception of the closure of a small gap where the levee alinement crosses State Highway No. 9, pending the completion of the bridge raise. Proposed operations, fiscal year 1949.-Funds are needed in the fiscal year 1949 to complete the project. The allocation of $33,000 for fiscal year 1949 will be applied to completion of the project by closure of the gap at State Highway No. 9. With the expenditure of the funds allocated for fiscal year 1949 the project will be complete. Justification. The project is one of several local flood-protection projects authorized for protection of people and property in the Arkansas River Valley. It will provide protection for 1,840 acres of rich agricultural land which was subjected to a loss estimated at $130,000 from the 1943 flood. The estimated average annual benefits amount to $29,700. CONWAY COUNTY LEVEE DISTRICTS 1, 2, AND 8 Mr. ENGEL. Item No. 51, Conway County Levee Districts Nos. 1, 2, and 8, Ark: Total estimated cost, $1,205,000; allotments to date, $815,000, with $390,000 tentative allocation for 1949, to complete the project. (The justification is as follows:) Item No. 51. Conway County Levee Districts Nos. 1, 2, and 8, Ark: Authorization.-1936, 1941, and 1944 Flood Control Acts. Location and description. Approximately 13.5 miles of compacted new and enlarged levee with necessary drainage structures located on the left bank of Arkansas River from mile 221.0, near Morrilton, Ark., to Cadron Creek, mile |