excessive rains. Taking into consideration the fact that West Flint rises in southeast Lawrence County and Scrougabout and No Business Creeks, branches of Flint Creek, it is conservatively estimated that between 40,000 and 50,000 acres of the most highly developed lands of Morgan and Lawrence Counties are damaged by these overflows. It is estimated that the damage done yearly is $1,000,000. Years ago Flint Creek was navigable for about 20 miles up from the Tennessee River and was used extensively for the transportation of cotton to many points. The War Department has reported favorably on the bill as follows: WAR DEPARTMENT, February 29, 1932. Respectfully returned to the chairman, Committee on Flood Control, House of Representatives. This department is not aware of any objection to the passage of House bill No. 9452, to provide a preliminary examination of Flint Creek and its branches in Morgan County, Ala., with a view to the control of its floods. 72D CONGRESS 1st Session } SENATE REPORT No. 435 FLOOD CONTROL OF FLINT RIVER, ALA. AND TENN. MARCH 14 (calendar day, March 17), 1932.-Ordered to be printed Mr. JOHNSON, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 4052] The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 4052) to provide a preliminary examination of Flint River, Ala. and Tenn., with a view to the control of its floods, having considered the same, report favorably thereon and recommend that the bill do pass without amendment. The bill has the approval of the Department of War, as will appear by the annexed House of Representatives Report No. 751, which is made a part of this report. [House Report No. 751, Seventy-second Congress, first session] The Committee on Flood Control, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 9451) to authorize and direct a preliminary examination of the Flint River, Ala. and Tenn., for purposes of flood control, having considered the same, report it to the House with the recommendation that it do pass. Under section 3 of the flood control act of March 1, 1917, no survey and estimate, with a view to the control of floods of any stream, can be made until a preliminary examination has first been ordered and the report thereon submitted to Congress. The purpose of a preliminary examination is to ascertain what a detailed survey of the project will cost; what Federal interest, if any, is involved, and what share of the expense, if any, should be borne by the United States. Although these preliminary examinations cost little, it has been the uniform policy of the Committee on Flood Control to consider each project carefully before favorably reporting it. A hearing was held on the project involved in this bill. The Flint River rises in Tennessee about 8 miles from the State of Alabama. The length of the stream in Alabama is 58.5 miles, or a total length of 66.5 miles. It flows through the entire length of Madison County, Ala., into the Tennessee River on the south. This river drains an area of 481 square miles in Alabama and 50 square miles in Tennessee. The areas so drained are the richest agricultural lands in that section. It overflows 10 or 12 times a year. Any rain of 24 hours' duration will cause this river to overflow its banks. In the past five years three crops were completely destroyed; the area flooded being approximately 95 square miles. Such a constant overflowing is a disturbing menace and loss to the large number of farmers and other interests affected by it. To estimate the amount of damage done in former years by the overflow of this river would be difficult, but it would run well into a million dollars each year. Flint River flows near the city of Huntsville, which has a population of 20,000. In case of high water the city is often seriously affected since it cuts off all transportation. Two trunk-line railroads cross this river as well as one major Federalaid highway. The flood conditions from the Flint River, especially when the Tennessee River is high, are very bad. When waters from Flint River can not empty into the Tennessee on account of the flooded conditions of that river it causes the waters of Flint River to back up and do very great damage, with serious results north of Tennessee River. The War Department has reported favorably on this bill as follows: WAR DEPARTMENT, February 27, 1932. Respectfully returned to the chairman, Committee on Flood Control, House of Representatives. This department is not aware of any objection to the enactment of House bill No. 9451, "To provide a preliminary examination of the Flint River, Ala. and Tenn., with a view to the control of its floods." O PATRICK J. HURLEY, SENATE 72D CONGRESS 1st Session } { REPORT No. 436 MARKER FOR GRAVES OF CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS AT LA FAYETTE, GA. MARCH 14 (calendar day, MARCH 18), 1932.-Ordered to be printed Mr. REED, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 132] The Committee on Military Affairs, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 132) to authorize the Secretary of War to erect one marker for the graves of 15 Confederate soldiers killed in action and buried in the La Fayette Cemetery at La Fayette, Ga., in lieu of separate markers now authorized by law, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with the recommendation that it do pass. The House report on the bill, explaining its purpose, is made a a part of this report and reads as follows: The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 132) to authorize the Secretary of War to erect one marker for the graves of 15 Confederate soldiers killed in action and buried in the La Fayette Cemetery at La Fayette, Ga., in lieu of separate markers as now authorized by law, having considered the same, report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass. There are 15 unknown Confederate soldiers who were killed in action, buried in one plat in the La Fayette Cemetery, at La Fayette, Ga. Under legislation recently enacted by Congress a separate marker costing under present contracts for the furnishing of markers in that locality, made by the Quartermaster General, approximately $6, may be procured for each grave. The bill simply proposes the erection of one marker for all 15 graves at a cost not exceeding fifteen times the cost of an individual marker, or approximately $90. It, therefore, involves no additional expense to the Government, and being requested by the La Fayette Chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy, no reason occurs to the committee why it should not be passed. It overflows 10 or 12 times a year. Any rain of 24 hours' duration will cause this river to overflow its banks. In the past five years three crops were com pletely destroyed; the area flooded being approximately 95 square miles. Such a constant overflowing is a disturbing menace and loss to the large number of farmers and other interests affected by it. To estimate the amount of damage done in former years by the overflow of this river would be difficult, but it would run well into a million dollars each year. Flint River flows near the city of Huntsville, which has a population of 20,000. In case of high water the city is often seriously affected since it cuts off all transportation. Two trunk-line railroads cross this river as well as one major Federalaid highway. The flood conditions from the Flint River, especially when the Tennessee River is high, are very bad. When waters from Flint River can not empty into the Tennessee on account of the flooded conditions of that river it causes the waters of Flint River to back up and do very great damage, with serious results north of Tennessee River. The War Department has reported favorably on this bill as follows: WAR DEPARTMENT, February 27, 1932. Respectfully returned to the chairman, Committee on Flood Control, House of Representatives. This department is not aware of any objection to the enactment of House bill No. 9451, "To provide a preliminary examination of the Flint River, Ala. and Tenn., with a view to the control of its floods." O PATRICK J. HURLEY, Secretary of War. |