Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-24
BOARD PROPOSED
IN NEW FLOOD PLAN
Engineering Council Hits
JadWin Project in Plea
for Review.

Finding serious fault with plans for
Mississippi River flood control, as advo-
Gated by Mai. Gen. Edgar Jadwin, chief
OF Engineers, U. S. A., the administra-
tive board of the American Engineering
Council adopted resolution urging the
creation by the Federal Government of
"a board of review. composed Of non
partiSans and competent civilian en-
gineers with authority to develop the
best possible solution of the Mississippi
flood-control problem"
The resolution was adopted at a
meeting in the Hotel Mayfiower today
upon recommended ton Of the councils
committee on flood control, Gardner F.
Williams. Ann Arbor. Mich, chairman.
Referring to the report of the MisSis-
sippi flood-control commission submit
ted t. President Coolidge December last,
Mr. Williams characterized the report
as strictly Gen. Jadwin's plan. which he
emphasized as being unfeaSible.
NJ Williams declared the commits
sion had been appointed to adjust en-
ginc2ring differences between the Jad-
win md the Mississippi River Commits
sion'S plans. Continuing, Mr.. Williams
SAID he head of the Mississippi River
Cor7m sion was Brig. Gen. Charles L.
L 't.t /, VIII DSlls d DIlSdultt EtllCldl
ar Gen. JadWin's subordinate, favored
the Jadwin plan.
Then, Mr.. Williams charged that
Charles w. Sturdevant, the civilian
engineer appointed to the commission,
was a close personal friend of Gen.
Jadwin's and served in a regiment I'M
der him during the World War.
Methods Are Denounced.
1f ;,7;c
board of the council condemned the
way in which Army engineers have con-
trolled engineering projects in this
country. Gen Richard Marshall, man
ager of the associated general Con-
tractors Of America, after indicating
that steps should have been taken years
ago to give the Army engineers less au-
thority, said, Il don't believe in Civ
ing them any comfort William Nc
Clellan. member of the Muscle Shoals
Commission, appointed by President
Coolidge; Lawrence w. Wallace, eXecu-
tive secretary of the council; John
Lyle Harrington Of Kansas City. past
president of the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers, and other men,
berS OF the administrative board spoke
in general favor of the resolution
adopted by the board at today's meet
ing.
Ilc administrative went ltllO
executive session later in the morning,
when it was understood to have dis
cussed certain communications with
President Hoover regarding Mississippi
flood control conditions. A number of
the council members are known to APP
prove the recent action of Secretary of
War Good in refusing to permit the
letting of contracts for flood control
under the Jadwin plan at the present
time. 1t was charged that if contracts
were let under the JadWin plan
within six months it would cost great
deal of money to change those plans
and proceed with any other plans which
may be adopted.
The report of the American Engineer
ing Councils committee on flood con-
troll, officially adopted at the meeting,
reads as follows
Your committee appointed to con-
slider the problems arising from the
Mississippi River floods submitted re-
port under date of January 10. 1928,
which was transmitted to the committee
on flood control of the House of Repre-
sentatiyes under date of February z,
1928. A copy of that report is hereto
attached.
Study Held Insufficient.
"Your committee now reiterates that
sufficient study of the engineering and
economic phases of flood control on the
Mississippi River has not been made to
justify the Federal Government in
adopting any plan therefor. ConSe-
quently, it would be grave mistake
to permit letting of contracts for the !
construction of the Missouri fioodway
or any other controversial elements I'M |
til the engineering practicability and /
economical feasibility or adequacy are !
studied by non-partl5an and compe- !
tent board of engineers.
Your committee believes that the in !
tent of Congress in the best interest OF
the Nation was defeated by the con- !
Stitution and action of the board Gre !
ated to adjust the engineering differ |
ences of the Jadwin and Mississippi !
River Commission plan and also because
the board was restricted by the terms |
of the flood control act of May Is, 1928, /
from considering any other than the !
two plans submitted, both of which |
plans were hastily prepared and based |
upon inadequate data. AS consequence |
there is in the engineering profession |
a marked and general confidence in the !
plan adopted. Therefore your commit !
tee urgently recommends the creation !
by the Federal Government Of board !,
OF review composed of non-partiSanS |
and competent civilian engineers with |
authority to develop the best possible !
solution of the Mississippi flood con- !
troll problem.
And your committee further recon- |
mendS that the said board of review |
should as soon as possible designate !
those features OF construction which |
would be common to any acceptable |
plans, whereupon work should proceed |
upon them, and that pending such |
designation work should be restricted |
to the repair Strengthening and raising |
of existing structures and the con-