Hoover Report

To the President at Ouster Park last week came Herbert C. Hoover, reported on conditions in the flood area. His report centred upon the following points: The Federal Government normally appropriates some $16,000,000 yearly for control and navigation of the Mississippi River. This sum should be increased by from $15,000,000 to $20,000,000 annually, and the increase should tinue for ten years, making a total extra expenditure of from $150,000,000 to $200,000,000. Flood prevention plans should include the building of higher, wider levees; the construction of a spillway* in Louisiana (probably using the Atchafalaya River which is almost a natural spillway and can readily be adapted to the purpose); and the possible construction of an additional spillway north from the Atchafalaya to the Arkansas River. "There is no question," said Mr. Hoover, "that the Mississippi River can be controlled if a bold and proper engineering plan is developed." Concerning present conditions in the flood area, Mr. Hoover said that of 700,000 persons flooded, all but 20,000 had returned to their homes, although 150,000 still were being fed by the Red Cross. He said that there were 2,000,000 acres in which lost crops had been replanted and that "we hope the majority of this acreage was planted early enough to secure a full crop." But he also said that 1,500,000 acres have been under water so long that there can be no crop and "recovery will be delayed for another year."

* A spillway is a ditch dug alongside and parallel to a river so that when the river overflows the excess water will be taken off by the spillway. The Mississippi and would become a natural spillway to the Atchafalaya Rivers run roughly parallel through Louisiana, so that by establishing a channel between them the Atchafalaya Mississippi.