Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-21
! HOOVER OPTIMISTIC
ON RIVER CONTROL
Holds Early Session of Con-
greSS to Plan Flood Pro-
gram Unnecessary.

By STAFF Correspondent OF The Star.
STATE GAME LODGE. BLACK
HILLS. S Oak. July 21.-Secretary
of Commerce Hoover is satisfied that
the Mississippi River and tributaries
can be controlled and the vast valley
safeguarded from a repetition of the
disasterouS flood of this year. if Il
broad and proper engineering plan is
developed
He brought to this temporary seat
of Government d personal report of
the result of his three months work
in the food area. which included a
summary of what he thinks should be
the course for the Federal Government
to follow, both in the matter Of relief
and in affording greater protection in
the future
The substance of this report and its
recommendations was given to news
paper correspondents during an inter
view late yesterday afternoon.
Opposes Early Session.
Most important of all, Mr.. Hoover
is satisfied that the Mississippi River
and its tributaries can be controlled
If a broad and proper engineering plan
is developed. Also, he made it very
plain that he does not think it is
necessary to call Congress to meet in
advance Of the regular meeting date
for the purpose of enacting flood legiS-
lation.
I'VE can handle the situation per.
fectly until Congress meets in it's
regular session." he said. by that
time we will have practically COM
pleted the relief work. Looking ahead,
/ will say that on the first of Novem
Der there will be 100000 or more
of the $17,00O,0O0 Red Cross funds
still available for relief work. which
amount should carry us a month
longer.
Mr.. Hoover Indignantly denied i'm
putations that Congress might not
respond TO the requirements of the
Mississippi relief and flood control.
Hopes for Early Action.
"There has never been time in
our history when Congress. in the
face of an emergency of national inn
portance, has not lived up to the best
expectations of the American people
] hope that this coming Congress will
be in the humor to act promptly upon
the reports made by its own commit
tees which have been studying the
flood problems"
There are some phases Of the sit
uation," he continued, lin which Con-
gress must give assistance of a relief
nature. 1t is imperative that some
of the levees be closed up without de-
lay. and the work of reconstruction
got under way / have recommended
to the President that the Federal Gov
eminent take over and repair all of
the levee breaks whether they are
Government owned or not"
1t was explained by Mr.. Hoover
that congressional relief would have to
be afforded in paying of interest and
amortization charges on some $45. 000.-
600 worth of these outstanding levee
bonds, and then he said that there
were no other relief items that require
congressional consideration.
Levees Must Be Strengthened
Satisfied in his own mind that the
relief work is being taken care of, it
was upon the subject of future flood
control that Mr.. Hoover waxed elo-
quent, and spoke with great emphasis
The entire leyee system must be
raised, made wider and
given better support" he said. DE-
spite all that has been said against it,
we must have spillway in the lower
mississippi to divert waters in. the
lower BASIN"
In answer to questions as to the
probable cost Of insuring the future
against any recurrence of what hap
pened last Spring. Mr.. Hoover stated:
Il am willing to make a guess, but
1t must not be considered as an engi.
neer's estimate. I should say that
from $150,000,000 to $500, 900 900,
spread over a period of 10 years, will
be sufficient to meet the situation of
81
ment is now spending from SIG 900 900
to s17,00O,000 annually on the Missis-
sippi and it's immediate tributaries,
therefore an additional annual expen-
diture of from 100000 to $40, 0OO,.
900 is needed for the next decade"
Will Aid Transportation.
Mr.. Hoover added, by way of ex-
PLANTATION, that not only will this out
lay take care of flood control. but it
will give the central portion of the
country the transportation relief in
navigation that it has been calling for.
He explained that the navigation plan
for the Mississippi River has already
been authorized by Congress.
In his summary of the relief work,
Mr.. Hoover said the rescue organiza-
ton in the flood district has been de-
modified; that several hundred thou
sand were brought out of the water
and since President Coolidge directed
consolidation of all efforts there has
been a known loss of only three lives.
He reported that of a total of 700 900
people flooded, COS 900 were dependent
upon public relief for food and shelter,
and other assistance for from six to
eight weeks. He said also that all but
10000 of the people in the camps have
now returned to their homes, although
100000 are still being fed in their
homes.
Progress Being Made.
'The reconstruction committees"
Mr.. Hoover continued, "are making
substantial progress with rehabilita-
ton. In 101 counties, considera bly,
flooded, 100000 areas of crops that
were lost have been replanted with
staple crops mostly from seed fur
nished by the relief. We hope the
majority of this acreage was planted
early enough to secure a full crop.
This area should, with the help being
given, recover to self support by the
Fall"
Secretary of Commerce Hoover, who
knows considerable about fish not
only from an expert anglers view
point, but as head of the department
operating the United States Bureau
of Fisheries, has reason to respect
President Coolidge'S knowledge about
fish - especially trout: President
SPECIAL. NOTICE.