Evening star., 1928-05-15
PRESIDENT SIGNS
FLOOD MEASURE
Bill Calling for Federal Assump.
ton of Cost Will Require
$325, 900, 900.


President Coolidge today signed The
Mississippi River food control bill.
The new food control law was framed
Jointly b. Senator Jones. chairman OF
the Senate commerce committee, and
Chairman Reid Of the House nood con-
trol committee and calls for the ex-
penditures by the Federal Treasury OF
s3as 600. 900. The engineering plan for
the work proposes the strengthening Of
the leyees along the Mississippi River
and the building Of three foodways and
A spiiIway as outlets TO carry OF from
the main stream the excess nood waters
into the Gull of Mexico.
Upon the Federal Government Is
placed the entire expense Of the flood
control work with the exception OF the
furnishing OF the Ievee foundations on
the main river 70 be borne by the
mississippi valley States. But this cost
10 the States Is estimated only at about
$500. COS
Tne new law represents over six
months OF labor By Congress. For four
months Senate and House committees
conducted exhaustive hearings on the
problem, questioning three cabinet
members and q host Of Army Engineers,
members OF Congress and State goyer-
rorx and officials
Mr.. Coolidge expects to Immediately
I'LL the board provided i'm the measure
for the purpose Of reconci1ing food con-
tFol plans drawn up by the Army en-
gincers and the Mississippi River Com
mission.
II is Mr. coolidge's intention to ap-
rpotrt TO the board ag one Of its three
, members q civil engineer entirely dis
connected. both as 10 residence and
business connections. with the area In
VOWED SO that he shall have the utmost
freedom 10 reach whatever decisions he
may consider best without being enclim~
iseged by local connections.
The President has been advised by
Maj. Gen. Edgar Jadwfn, chief Of Engi-
xeerg. that the flood measure, as 1t now
stands. would call for an initial appro-
Ertation Of about SIS 900 900. Mr.
Coolidge feels. however, that the exact
amount depends materially upon the
plans the food board decide upon,
BY aflxing his signature 10 the meas
ure. Mr. Coolidge placed upon the stat
Ute books an act which efnbarks tlae
Federal Government upon the tren1en'
6oig task OF curling the food waters
of the Mississippi probably one Of the
greatest engineering undertakings eyel
attempted in history.
THE Eanae stroke Of the pFeSidfnt's
pen also completed the first of whai
are regarded as the three major prob.
ierag pit 10 TO the present Congress
,The other two. farm relief and tax re-
ductlon, gtili afe pending IN iegtsiatiys
form At the Capitol.
states 10 Assume Damages.
oue Of Mr.. Coolidges ehlef objection
eessfeYed on the proportion Of the cos
x,f the c0niFo; work to be assumed by tis
states ard another hinged on whether
the states Or Federal Government Wotiis
shoulder the cost NJ damages sustained
bg owners Of the land in tho prolDoset
Goodways.
On the FIRST point the new Law re
aulFeS States 70 provide the rights q
way on the main stream, and on tn
second point the Federal Government /
obligated 10 obtain nOwage easements
or. an other words, 10 pay damages Ofi,
when lands not previously subjected u
4sood menace are flooded aa q result q
flae noodways aiac epilIwags having b<;I
constructed
the Federal Government, fufthet
would not be responsible for damage
sustained In natural fi0odwaya. sllch u
Ewau1p lands and marshes.
The n0od~c0ntf0l project authorizes
by the new Isw covers the lower Mis-
slaslDpi Valley from Cape oIardeau
Nc, 70 the Gut Of Mexico.