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. 4050] The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 4050) to provide a preliminary examination of Cataco Creek and its branches in Morgan County, Ala., 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 Numbered 753, which is made a part of this report. [House Report No. 753, Seventy-second Congress, first session] The Committee on Flood Control, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 9453) to provide for a preliminary examination of Cataco Creek and its branches in Morgan County, Ala., with a view to the prevention and control of floods, 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 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. Cataco Creek rises at the southern end of Morgan County and crosses the entire county, a distance of approximately 40 miles. It floods at least once a year and sometimes three or four times during one year. The width of the creek at its source during times of overflow is about one-eighth of a mile. It is between 2 and 3 miles wide during overflow periods at the place where it flows into the Tennessee River. Any unusual amount of rainfall causes serious floods, resulting in disastrous losses to farmers in that area, destroying their crops and rendering the land unfit for cultivation. The War Department has reported favorably on the 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. 9453, "To provide a preliminary examination of Cataco Creek and its branches in Morgan County, Ala., with a view to the control of its floods." PATRICK J. HURLEY, Secretary of War. O SENATE 72D CONGRESS 1st Session } { REPORT No. 434 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF FLINT CREEK AND BRANCHES, MORGAN COUNTY, ALA. MARCH 14 (calendar day, March 17), 1932.—Order to be printed Mr. JOHNSON, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 4051] The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 4051), to provide a preliminary examination of Flint Creek and its branches in Morgan County, Ala., 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. 752, which is made a part of this report. [House Report No. 752, Seventy-second Congress, first session] The Committee on Flood Control, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 9452) to provide for a preliminary examination of Flint Creek and its branches in Morgan County, Ala., with a view to the prevention and control of floods, 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. Flint Creek has two forks known as East Flint and West Flint. East Flint rises in southeast Morgan and Cullman Counties. It flows through a mountainous section with very little overflowed lands. However, from Lacon, Ala., in south Morgan County, where it reaches flat lands, to the Tennessee River, is a distance, following the course of the creek, of about 30 to 35 miles. This creek has become so clogged with logs and drifts that it overflows during most any 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. |