The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-10-07
Pigeon Hole Action to Bring
Attack From Indiana
CongreSSWOman.
TWO RIVERS INCLUDED
b. S. Engineers Break on
Plan to Halt States
Heavy Losses.
BY WALKER STONE
Times Special Writer

penditure of $18,000,000 to
curb the semi-annual floods of
the Wabash and White rivers
rests uncertainty in a pigeon
hole in the offices of the fed
eral emergency administra-
ton Of public works.
But it is not likely that spider
will weave a cobWeb over that
pigeon-ho for Mrs. Virginia E
Jenckes. Democratic congresSWoman
from the Sixth Indiana district, Is
not allowing the public works adj
ministration to forget for minute
that the s18,OO0,O00 application is
on file.
At times the PWA experts have
acted as though they would like tc
forget the Wabash-White flood con-
troll project, and give all their at
tention to other applications for
funds-proiects of a type that are
prima facie within the province OF
the federal government.
Engineers Are Divided
There is no dispute as to the eco
nomic soundness of spending $l0,-
100000 to control the flood waters
of the two Indiana streams. The
point at isue is, Who shall pay the
hill?" 1t is a question of policy
The p. w. A. engineers are divided
On group takes the position that,
since the territory to be benefited
lies wholly within Indiana and a
section Of southeastern Illinois, the
cost should be assessed against the
residents of the Wabash and White
basins. Another group, won over
bv the insiStence of RMS. Jenckes
that the residents of the flood
stricken area are too poor to pay
the bill, contend thai the federal
government must step in and save
the lives and property of the peo-
pie who live along the two rivers.
Until that question of policy is
determined there can be no de-
cision on the application. If the
S18.OOO,000 allotment is made, the
2. w. A. officials realize that imme-
diately thereafter they will receive
scores of demands for similar flood
control ALLEGATIONS, coming from al
sections of the country.
Fight for Project
To try to force a showdown or
the project, Mrs. JenckeS, who has
been making speeches for severa
days in Indiana, will return tt
Washington next week to confer
with Interior Secretary Harold L
Ickes and Colonel H. NJ. Waite. adj
ministrator and deputy administra-
tor of public works.
Since early in July, Mrs. Jenckes
has been ShOwering the P. w. A
with letters and briefs on the neces-
Sity of the federal government UNI
dertaking the flood control i'm
provementS. She engineered a hear
ing Sept. 8 before a P. w. A. sub
committee, where she marShaled tC
the support of the project other
members of the Indiana delegation
and representatives of practically
all of the influential groups in In
diana.
The only dissenting voice at this
hearing was that of General Lytle
Brown, chief of army engineers, who
said. among other things, that S18,-
000A 0 worth of levee construction
would leave many unprotected gaps
along the banks of the two streams
Cooperation Lacking, Claim
Another objection of Genera
Browns was that farmers anC
others who own property adjacen
10 the rivers could not bs depended
upon to cooperate with the gov
eminent. Mrs. JenckeS met thi
objection by asking for and receiv.
ing hundreds of kilograms from
property owners and local leve'
boards promising to donate to TIT
government land for the levee right.
of-way and borrow pits to suppl.
earth for the embellishments.
From Mrs. JenckeS office toda!
the following statement was made:
I am sure that the advisory
board of the federal emergency ad-
ministration Of public works vii
act favorably upon the petition OF
the people living in the $4,000 square
miles which comprise the drainage
area Of the Wabash and White riv-
erS.
Congress intended for the people
to have protection against the dev-
astating annual and semi-annual
floods which have destroyed a mini
mum of 100000 worth of prop
erty year for many years. and in
addition have taken a toll OF life
The citizens of this great and i'm
portant area of our nation have Of
1ered to give the government, free
of charge. rights of way and Dor
row pit materials and TO cooper
ate in every possible manner.
L have advised President Roose-
welt and Secretary IckeS that The
federal government can make TX
greater contribution toward indus.
trial recovery of the $4,000 square
miles located in one of the mos
important parts Of the United
States, than to authorize immedl-
ately an adequate and comprehen-
sive Wabash and White rivers fiooc
control. We are entitled to it. We
have submitted all of the necessary
evidence to show the necessity and
requirement. We have proved that
1t is an emergency measure. having
a direct influence on the industrial
recovery Of the states of Indiana
Illinois and Ohio. We patiently are
awaiting action from the public
FeFks administration"