Evening star., 1936-10-24
HAZY FLOOD DATA
HIT BY ENGINEERS
Hancock Mayor Promises to
Compile Accurate Figures
for Pr0bers.
LESTER N. INSKEEP,
Stan Currespondent OF yhe Star.

HANCOCK, Md, october 24.-Ofi-
cials of Hancock were severely criti-
cized during the sixth of the series OF
flood control hearings being conducted
by Lieut. w. j. Matteson, acting dis
trict engineer for the Washington
area, and his aides, under an act
of Congress providing for a prelimi-
nary survey looking to the harnessing
of the Potomac River and its trib-
utaries.
Addressing Mayor R. D. Hess, E.
A. Schmitt. senior engineer OF the
United States Engineer Office, and
one of those associated with Lieut..
Matteson in the hearing, said it is
apparent that the information fur
nished here today is incomplete and
inaccurate.
"You are not doing us favor
by coming to this meeting. On the
contrary, we. acting under the
authority of the law. are attempting
to find some way to alleviate the
damage and suffering caused your
town and others in the Potomac River
Basin from food. Without full and
complete information, we will be un-
able in making our report to the
chief of Army engineers to do you
full justice, unless We are furnished
definite and accurate information re-
garding damages suffered in past
foods
Damage Test Low.
The only list Of damages furnished
was gathered by E. r. Gunnells,
within the last few days.
This list as submitted shows total
damages of $49,950.
1t became apparent that the list
was incomplete when the total climbed
to S81 .45O as individual losers not
appearing on the list submitted their
own figures.
This is the first time United States
officials have deemed it necessary to
blame local authorities for failure to
cooperate. The mayor promised to
obtain information at once.
The plan presents a serious problem
to Federal officials because when the
water was high enough to damage
homes, business houses and Western
Maryland railroad tracks, it also COW
cred the National Highway, thereby
cutting off all traffic to or from the
West over this heavily Travelled road.
Two Flood Factors Cited.
It was held probable the road will
have to be relocated on higher ground.
During this years flood the water
was over the road at one point here
to a depth Of Is or 80 feet. Hancock
was cut of in all directions. Most
of the blame for flood here was at
tributed to by residents to two things:
Inability Of the culvert under the
highway. railroad and canal, to carry
off flood waters from Tonoloway
Greek, thereby causing it to back up
over the town. and an island which
backs up the waters of the Potomac
River.
DR.. Herbert r. Tobias declared the
latest flood to have been nearly 10
feet higher than the Johnstown flood.
Both he and s. Rinehart Cohill,
whose home was inundated for the
first time, blamed the culverts for
most OF their troubles.
Soil conservation as advocated by
o. s. Bruce of the United States
Soil Conservation Service was de-
clared by the food control officials
to be Of little benefit to the present
survey, since 1t will be 10 or IL years
before an erosion control program could
become effected to the extent of aid
ing In holding back the water. There
are 100 homes on record here which
were damaged by the last food. The
population OF the town Ia only 1000.
hence o larger proportion had to be
cared for by the Red Cross and other
residents.