the extreme variations in level and flow above referred to. The industries there have already expanded far beyond the realized power output, and further development and expansion will be practically impossible unless these interests secure the proper cooperation in taking advantage of the excellent natural conditions which exist for rendering this power uniformly dependable through proper storage and regulation. This storage is economically attainable, and early action is recommended first, to secure the benefits as promptly as possible, and, second, to develop the storage reservoirs at a lower cost than will be possible if development be too long delayed.

AVAILABLE STORAGE CAPACITY AND ITS COST

RAINY LAKE

The volume of storage on Rainy Lake, between elevations 493.5 and 497.5, is 39,000,000,000 cubic feet. The amount of storage capacity added if the lake is raised to elevation 500 will be 24,000,000,000 cubic feet. The area overflowed between the old shore line and a new shore line at elevation 501 is estimated to be approximately 1,444 acres in Canada and 9,313 acres in the United States, largely swamp and low land of little value.

On September 29, 1922, Mr. A. F. Meyer, formerly one of the consulting engineers of your commission, prepared at the request of the Canadian engineers an estimate of the cost to compensate for the damage that would be caused by raising Rainy Lake from elevation 497 to 499.5, with additional flowage rights of 1% feet. His estimate amounted to $257,000. In it was included $78,000 for the protection and improvement of the Canadian National Railway, and the amount allowed by him for the cost of obtaining the flowage rights was extremely liberal. On the other hand, he included the sum of $20,000 to cover the cost of providing the necessary water-front protection at Fort Frances, which we estimate will cost $42,000.

NAMAKAN LAKE

Up to elevation 508.5 the Namakan chain of lakes has a storage capacity of 30,000,000,000 cubic feet. The areas of the additional flowage rights required to raise the level of this basin to 510 is estimated to be approximately 1,311 acres in Canada and 4,471 acres in the United States.

The International Joint Commission has recommended that this basin be raised to elevation 515, and to do this an additional expenditure, estimated to now exceed $150,000 to $200,000, will be required. A large part of this additional amount would be expended for the construction of dikes and other protective works. Flowage rights required are estimated to amount to approximately 2,000 acres on the Canadian side and 6,000 acres on the United States side.

Our recommendation, however, does not contemplate any substantial increase in level on the Namakan chain of lakes other than that which may be created by such slight rise in the ordinary high-water mark as might be made at nominal expense for charges to the present dam. Rather than seek any substantial increase in storage on this chain of lakes, we recommend a plan of providing the storage on the waters along the boundary above this chain of lakes. Moreover, the regulative storage thus provided would be susceptible of far more efficient and satisfactory regulation.

LAC L'CROIX

This lake raised to elevation 1,200 (sea-level datum) will have a storage capacity of 27,000,000,000 cubic feet. The area overflowed in Canada is estimated to be approximately 3,830 acres, and in the United States, 5,300 acres. The cost of this land should not exceed $35,000. The regulating works at the northern outlet and a crib dam at the western outlet are estimated to cost approximately $138,710 and $22,465, respectively, making the total cost of developing this reservoir approximately $196,175.

CROOKED LAKE

Raised to elevation 1,260 this lake will have a storage capacity of 7,400,000,000 cubic feet. The flowage area in Canada is estimated at 1,555 acres and in the United States, 1,585 acres. The cost of this land should not exceed $10,000. The cost of the regulating works at the outlet of the lake, chargeable to storage, is estimated to be approximately $79,750, or a total cost for storage on this lake of approximately $89,750.

BASSWOOD LAKE

At elevation 1,305 this lake will have a capacity of 6,400,000,000 cubic feet. No flowage rights will be required, as this lake will not be raised above its present high-water level. The cost of regulating works, consisting of two dams, is estimated to be $42,500.

SAGANAGA LAKE

At elevation 1,447 this lake will have a storage capacity of 20,400,000,000 cubic feet. The area to be overflowed is estimated to be 5,920 acres in Canada and 2,350 acres in the United States. The cost of the flowage rights should be less than $25,000. The estimated cost of the regulating works, consisting of two dams, is $72,700. The total cost of developing this storage basin will be approximately $97,700.

SUMMARY

The additional flowage rights on Rainy Lake to create the additional storage of 24,000,000,000 cubic feet are estimated to cost $279,000. No additional storage which will create an expenditure is herein recommended on Namakan Lake. The following is a summary of the storage capacities and estimated costs of constructing the storage dams and obtaining the flowage easements on the lakes along the boundary above the Namakan chain of lakes which have been described:

This storage of 61,200,000,000 cubic feet on the watershed above Namakan Lake is equivalent to a sustained flow of approximately 2,270 cubic feet per second for a full 310 days each year. The additional storage proposed for Rainy Lake of 24,000,000,000 cubic feet herein recommended is equivalent to a sustained flow on the same basis of 895 cubic feet per second, giving a total new storage recommended equivalent to 3,165 cubic feet per second.

The storage suggested on the lakes above Namakan chain of lakes, in conjunction with the existing storage, will provide a sustained regulated flow of 3,600 cubic feet per second at the outlet of Namakan Lake.

The present storage on Rainy Lake of 39,000,000,000 cubic feet and the additional 24,000,000,000 cubic feet herein suggested, are equivalent to approximately 2,350 cubic feet per second sustained flow additional, giving a total reservoir capacity along the boundary waters equivalent to 4,620 cubic feet per second, or over 50 per cent of the mean annual run-off from this basin. Further storage is practicable in this watershed on tributaries not along the boundary, which will unquestionably be developed in the future, and thus bring the run-off under a control that is practically absolute.

Among these are the basins of the following: Vermillion, Maligne, Turtle, Seine, Otunkamamoan, Manitou, and Footprint.

The advantages of this lake level and run-off control, administered in the public interest, are substantial. It is possible to state in somewhat definite terms the gains that would accrue to power users on the entire reach from these suggested dams down Rainy River, Lake of the Woods, and Winnipeg River to Lake Winnipeg. In the definite consideration of the importance of the storage to these interests alone-which in itself more than suffices to justify the undertaking the benefits, direct and indirect, to all other public and private interests on each side of the boundary are so definite that they should not be lost sight of. We refer specifically to navigation, lumbering, paper and pulp, general manufacturing, summer recreation, fishing, labor, agriculture, railroads, mercantile and public advancement, health and sanitation, all of which will benefit through sustained lake levels and uniform run-off control.

As to the water powers, developed and potential, that would benefit, we submit the following table showing power sites below the proposed storages, which would secure the full advantage of these reservoirs. As these reservoirs above the

Namakan chain of lakes would provide for a uniform regulated flow of 3,600 cubic feet per second at the outlet of Namakan Lake compared with the present monthly minimum flow of 1,000 to 1,450 cubic feet per second, all of the power sites below, using the high figures of 1,450 cubic feet per second as the present minimum, would benefit to the extent of an increase in dependable minimum flow of 2,150 cubic feet per second. In addition, there are water-power sites along the boundary waters above Namakan Lake which are not capable of practicable development without the storage provisions recommended herein. With these storages there is here a possible potential of about 25,000 horsepower capable of development. All other powers which have been or can be developed without this storage, will be materially increased in primary capacity and value, at a cost for storage which is but a small fraction of the cost of developing equiv alent power elsewhere. These powers are:

The regulated flow from the proposed storage reservoirs above Namakan Lake would directly benefit all of these powers to the extent of the increase in dependable minimum flow. It is to the general interest to maintain Lake of the Woods at the most uniform level consistent with conditions, and this interest is not served by the exclusive use of that body and the present storages, as the sole storage for the powers on the Winnipeg River below. Further, the complete development of the powers on the Winnipeg River, which is now well within reasonable expectation, will demand the utilization of all available storage to meet the uniform power demands. The proposed storage on the boundary waters above Namakan Lake will make available an increase in minimum dependable flow of 2,150 cubic foot-seconds for all these powers, at an estimated capital cost of only $426,125, or only $19,800 per 100 cubic foot-seconds. It will increase the dependable power at these sites by over 71,700 horsepower continuous (80 per cent) efficiency at a capital cost of only $5.94 per continuous horsepower. The added storage on Rainy Lake will not only increase the mean head at the outlet, but will also increase the minimum dependable flow at all the power sites below by approximately 900 cubic foot-seconds at an estimated capital cost of $279,000 or only $31,000 per 100 cubic foot-seconds. It will increase the dependable power at these sites by over 30,027 horsepower continuous (80 per cent) efficiency at a capital cost of only $9.30 per continuous horsepower.

SIMILAR DEVELOPMENTS

The necessity and desirability of providing adequate storage and regulation of the run-off has been well recognized in other localities, and development along these lines has been undertaken by public and private enterprise. It is interesting to note, in particular, the action taken along these lines in the Province of Quebec, which undoubtedly has been fully considered by your commission. A brief summary may here be helpful for purposes of ready comparison:

St. Maurice River.-A storage dam was built giving a complete control of the headwaters of this stream from a watershed of 3,650 square miles. This has made possible an increase in the minimum flow of the river at Shawinigan from an average of 6,000 cubic feet per second to 16,000 cubic feet per second. The cost of this scheme to the Government was $2,500,000, or $25,000 per 100 cubic foot-seconds.

St. Francois River.-This stream drains that section of the Province known as the eastern townships. Storage dams have been built by the commission at the outlet of two large lakes, St. Francois and Aylmer. The minimum flow of the river has been increased by about 900 cubic foot-seconds. The cost of these dams has been about $750,000, or $83,333 per 100 cubic foot-seconds.

St. Anne (of Beaupre) River. This stream is tributary to the St. Lawrence, into which it flows about 20 miles below Quebec, on the north shore. Two storage reservoirs have been built to regulate the flow of this stream at a cost of $350,000. The minimum flow at the Laurentian Co.'s plant at Seven Falls (head 410 feet) has been increased by 100 cubic foot-seconds, at a cost of $350,000 per 100 cubic foot-seconds.

Lake Kenogami-(Chicoutimi district).—Lake Kenogami is the source of two rivers where power is generated for the plants of Price Bros. & Co., at Kenogami, and the Chicoutimi Pulp Co., at Chicoutimi. These plants could be operated to full capacity only part of the year. The storage provided by the commission shall assure a minimum flow aggregating 1,800 cubic foot-seconds for both streams with the result that the plants shall be operated to full capacity during the whole year. The cost of this storage (just completed) shall be over $4,000,000, or over $222,000 for each 100 cubic foot-seconds of total minimum flow.

All of the above-mentioned storage reservoirs are operated by the Quebec Streams Commission, and the benefiting companies pay an annual charge sufficient to cover the interest on the capital cost, sinking fund in 30 years, cost of operation and maintenance, and a small profit.

This policy has proved a great help in the industrial development of the Province.

Conclusion. It will simplify the matter of general control of this internationa watershed, if important matters affecting storage, water levels, outflow, and regu lation thereof, are left to this commission to deal with as varying circumstances and conditions may warrant. The division, assessment, levy, and payment of the cost of all the proposed work should be in the hands of the commission. In this assessment, we shall expect that the amounts already expended by us shall be taken into account. On this basis we shall willingly pay our share of the proposed work and shall render energetic aid toward the early consummation of the maximum development, carrying with it the greatest benefit to the peoples of these two countries.

The benefits to the people of Canada and the United States may briefly be summarized in conclusion. Navigation will be improved and may be revived after having practically passed out of existence for several years. The scenic beauty of the streams and lakes will be enhanced under control and they will become more accessible to tourists and as recreation grounds. The more uniform levels will improve the waters as fish, fowl, and game preserves, and for breeding purposes.

New wealth in the building up of industries, with all its concurrent and farreaching possibilities, will be created. The construction of necessary works and power plants is only the first step in bringing into existence that new wealth, which must annually increase as the beneficial results extend to and are enjoyed by an added population of artisans, merchants, manufacturers, and indeed, those in every walk of life. The increased wealth of each and every community within this area will be many times the proposed expenditures. Annually and for all time the people of both countries will enjoy its benefits, which in dollars and cents, it is almost impossible to calculate.

Respectfully submitted.

O

E. W. BACKUS.

APPROPRIATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AT MILITARY

POSTS

JUNE 17, 1930-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed.

Mr. RANSLEY, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 12996]

The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 12996) to authorize appropriations for construction at military posts, and for other purposes, introduced by Mr. Ransley, having considered the same, report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass.

Under date of May 29, 1930, Hon. F. Trubee Davison, Assistant Secretary of War, acting for the Secretary of War, directed a letter to the acting chairman of the committee urging action on bills to authorize appropriations for Army housing and for Air Corps technical construction for the fiscal year 1932. Mr. Davison and General Summerall, also General Fechet, appeared before the committee to explain the serious condition, in so far as housing and technical construction are concerned, that the Army has found itself in because of the temporary war-time construction and the permanent building program for which Congress has been authorizing appropriations for some years.

The chairman of your committee, Mr. James, has taken a great personal interest in this construction program for some years, and had introduced bills early in this Congress to provide the necessary authorizations to permit the regular annual appropriations.

The Acting Secretary of War pointed out to the committee that in order to obtain the necessary appropriations to carry out the 1932 increment of the program it would be necessary to have this authorization bill adopted at this session. This being accomplished, estimates for 1932 will be included in the Budget, and the estimates will then be submitted to the Appropriation Committee in December of this year.

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