Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

does protect himself against loss from burglary, from explosion, from earthquake, and from riot and civil commotion. for accident or injuries to his employees or to the public resulting from his He quite generally insures against liability property or the use thereof. He may even insure himself by a special contract against excessive losses on his credit.

3. LACK OF CROP-INSURANCE FACILITIES

The only form of crop insurance now generally available to the farmer is insurance against hail. About $25,000,000 is spent annually by farmers for insurance against hail. Such insurance may be said to be good as far as it goes, but it gives protection against loss from only one out of a large number of uncontrollable hazards, many of which cause losses far more numerous and quite as severe as the hail hazard.

The crop insurance needed by the farmer is insurance against all unavoidable hazards in such amounts as will cover at least a substantial part of the actual investment in the growing crop representing accumulated capital and current labor. A number of attempts have been made by insurance companies to develop such general or all-risk crop insurance but these efforts have as yet met with little success. The failure of these efforts must be ascribed in large measure to the lack of comprehensive and reliable information with reference to the hazards affecting the different crops in the various parts of the country, and the actual yearly yields on individual farms.

4. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CAN HELP

The Department of Agriculture has already given some attention and study to the problem of crop insurance as evidenced by certain publications issued and by contributions to the hearings on crop insurance held by a select_committee of the Senate on investigation of crop insurance several years ago. for this purpose has hitherto prevented the department from making more Lack of funds comprehensive and intensive studies of the problems involved in crop insurance. A large volume of data covering many years and bearing on the risk involved in crop production is now stored in the files of the department. These data bearing on crop hazards and crop yields in all parts of the country have as yet been published only in the form of broad averages. in any detailed way and so worked up as to present reliable information with They have not been analyzed reference to counties and other local areas. an actual basis for crop insurance. Broad averages are of little use as hazards to which they are exposed vary only moderately from year to year when Yields of the various crops as affected by the whole country or even an individual State is considered. Insurance must, however, deal with the crops on individual farms and the actual yields on these units in the case of every important crop vary each year from bumper crops to total failures.

Such data with reference to crop hazards and yields are also available from the files of our State agricultural colleges and experiment stations and of the State departments of agriculture. analysis will be gathered if the facilities are provided. A thorough study of the Additional original data needed for a thorough various experiments that have been made in crop insurance should bring out the causes of failure and throw light on many of the problems involved.

A beginning should be made as promptly as possible to compile, gather, analyze, and make available for practical use such information as would be of real assistance in providing a sound actuarial basis for crop insurance, and in devising workable plans for the writing of such insurance. done individual insurance organizations attempting to solve the problem of Until this has been crop insurance protection for the farmer will probably continue to fail. task is too great for a private insurance organization. There is no good reason why the Department of Agriculture should not promptly be put in position to The offer aid and encouragement in the development of crop insurance facilities for the farmers.

[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

Mr. JOHNSON, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the

following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 11781]

The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 11781) authorizing the construction, repair, and preservation of certain public works on rivers and harbors, and for other purposes, have considered same and report thereon with amendments, and as so amended recommend that the bill do pass.

The amendments referred to have been incorporated in the bill and each is designated in the measure.

The committee has deemed it unnecessary to indulge in a detailed analysis of the various items of the bill because of the testimony which has been taken, the engineering data which is available, and the report of the House in respect thereto. By reference, the Commerce Committee makes a part of this report the report of the House committee upon the bill and the testimony and record of the hearings before the Senate Commerce Committee.

The following are the amendments adopted and now made a part of the bill:

Page 3, line 5, strike out the word "twenty-eight" and insert in lieu thereof the word "thirty".

Page 3, line 8, strike out the figures "$400,000" and insert in lieu thereof the figures "$718,000".

Page 3, after line 8, insert the following:

Taunton River, Massachusetts, in accordance with the report submitted in House Document Numbered 403, Seventy-first Congress, second session.

Page 5, line 1, insert the following language:

East Chester Bay, New York, in accordance with the report of the Chief of Engineers, as submitted in Senate Document Number 37, Seventy-first Congress, second session.

★★ 5-23-30

SR-71-2-VOL 2- -38

1

2

Page 5, strike out lines 16 to 25, inclusive, and insert in lieu thereof the following language:

The Secretary of War is authorized and empowered to accept from the State of New York the State-owned canals, known as the Erie and Oswego Canals, and to operate and maintain them at their present depth, at an annual estimated cost of $2,500,000, as barge canals only, and not as, or with any intention to make them ship canals, or to hinder or delay the improvement of the St. Lawrence waterway as the seaway from the Great Lakes to the ocean: Provided, That such transfer shall be made without cost to the United States, and without liability for damage claims arising out of said canals prior to their acquisition by the United States, and shall include all land, easements, and completed or uncompleted structures and appurtenances of the said waterways and their service: And provided further, That no project for the widening or deepening of these canals or for the elevation of bridges in connection therewith shall proceed without subsequent authorization of Congress.

Page 10, after line 16, insert the following:

Claiborne Channel, Maryland: The existing project is hereby modified so as to provide for a channel fourteen feet deep from the vicinity of the harbor wharves to deep water in Eastern Bay with widths of one hundred feet for a distance of eighteen hundred feet to the bend opposite the existing Black Beacon, thence widening in a distance of two hundred and sixty feet to one hundred and fifty feet to fourteen feet depth in Eastern Bay, with necessary widening at the bends at an estimated cost of $12,125, with $3,000 per year for maintenance.

Page 12, line 13, beginning with the word "conditioned", strike out the remainder of that paragraph.

Page 12, line 21, after the word "improvement", strike out the remainder of that paragraph.

Page 13, after line 13, insert the following:

Cape Fear River, at and below Wilmington, North Carolina, and between Wilmington and Navassa, North Carolina, in accordance with the report of the Chief of Engineers submitted in House Rivers and Harbors Committee Document Numbered 39, Seventy-first Congress, second session.

Page 15, strike out lines 11 to 14, inclusive, and insert in lieu thereof the following language:

Far Creek, North Carolina, in accordance with the report submitted in House Document Numbered 112, Seventy-first Congress, first session, but subject only to the condition that local interests shall furnish all necessary rights of way and areas for the disposal of dredged material.

Page 17, line 16, after the word "modified", insert the following language:

in accordance with the report submitted in Senate Document Numbered 132, Seventy-first Congress, second session.

Page 17, line 21, strike out "$394,000" and insert in lieu thereof "$1,210,000".

Page 18, after line 14, insert the following:

Intracoastal Waterway from Jacksonville, Florida, to Miami, Florida: The existing project is hereby modified in accordance with the report submitted in Senate Document Numbered 71, Seventy-first Congress, second session, and subject to the conditions set forth in said document.

Page 18, strike out lines 20 to 25, inclusive, and insert in lieu theref:Miami Harbor, Florida: The existing project is hereby modified in accordance with the report submitted in House Rivers and Harbors Committee Document Numbered 15, Seventy-first Congress, second session. The sum of $200,000 is hereby authorized to be expended for the prosecution of the works herein adopted.

Page 20, line 6, strike out the figures "$4,546,000" and insert in lieu thereof the figures "$2,000,000".

Page 20, line 16, after the word "authorized", strike out the remaining language in that paragraph.

Page 21, line 14, after the word "improvement.", strike out the remainder of the language of that paragraph.

Page 23, line 1, insert a new paragraph reading as follows:

Cedar Bayou Channel, Texas, in accordance with Senate Document Numbered 107, Seventy-first Congress, second session.

Page 25 strike out lines 24 and 25, and on page 26 strike out lines 1 to 9, inclusive, and insert in lieu thereof the following:

Mississippi River between Illinois and Minneapolis: The existing project is hereby modified so as to provide a channel depth of nine feet at low water with widths suitable for long-haul common-carrier service, to be prosecuted in accordance with the plan for a comprehensive project to procure a channel of nine-foot depth, submitted in House Document Numbered 290, Seventy-first Congress, second session; and the sum of $7,500,000, in addition to the amounts authorized under existing projects, is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the prosecution of initial works under the modified project: Provided, That all locks below the Twin City Dam shall be of not less than the Ohio River standard dimensions. Page 26, line 23, after the word "Iowa:", strike out the remainder of that paragraph and insert in lieu thereof the following language:

There is hereby authorized to be appropriated in the prosecution of the existing project the sum of $15,000,000, in addition to the unexpended balance of funds previously authorized, and it is intended that said sum be expended within a period of three years: Provided, however, That if said sum is not expended within said period said authorization shall not lapse.

Page 27, lines 14 and 15, strike out all after the word "authorized" down to and including "$3,500,000" in line 20 and insert in lieu thereof the following: ": Provided, That an expenditure of $5,000,000 shall be authorized to be appropriated for the prosecution of work under this project."

Page 30, strike out the word "document:" in line 25, page 31, strike out lines 1 to 4, including the word "Street", and insert in lieu thereof the following:

document, except that the Calumet River Branch of the Indiana Harbor Ship Canal shall be dredged to a depth of twenty-two feet, and a bottom width of one hundred and sixty feet, for a distance of five hundred and fifty feet, immediately south of the south end of the turning basin at the forks, the original work having been practically completed. The conditions required under the act of

June 25, 1910, are hereby waived.

Page 31, line 16, after the word "document," strike out remainder of page and page 32, line 1, ending with the word "passed," and insert in lieu thereof a colon and the following:

Provided, That the diversion of water from Lake Michigan shall be so controlled by the Secretary of War under the supervision of the Chief of Engineers, as to meet the needs of a commercially useful waterway as defined in said Senate document, from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River and to conserve fully existing interests of navigation on the Great Lakes: Provided, That nothing in this act shall prejudice an action at law or any equity respecting the diversion of water from the Great Lakes watershed.

Page 36, line 1, beginning with the word "Provided," strike out the remainder of that paragraph.

Page 38, after line 18, insert the following:

Willamette River between Oregon City and Portland, Oregon, in accordance with the report submitted in House Document Numbered 372, Seventy-first Congress, second session, and subject to the conditions set forth in said document.

Page 39, line 6, strike out the word "four" and insert in lieu thereof the word "five", so that the line will read "to a width of five hundred feet."

Page 40, after line 17, insert the following:

Everett Harbor, Washington, in accordance with the report submitted in House Document Numbered 377, Seventy-first Congress, second session.

Lake River, Washington, in accordance with House Document Numbered 2, Sixty-ninth Congress, first session, as modified by the report of the War Department dated May 10, 1930, pursuant to the Commerce Committee resolution of February 22, 1930.

Page 41, after line 6, insert the following:

Harbor of Refuge, Seward, Alaska, in accordance with the report submitted in House Document Numbered 109, Seventieth Congress, first session.

Page 49, strike out lines 4 to 6, inclusive, and insert in lieu thereof the following language:

Inland Waterway from Beaufort to Jacksonville, North Carolina, leading from Craigs Point, and via Salliers Bay, Howard Bay, and New River, and a further survey of New River with a view to providing suitable depth for navigation from Jacksonville, North Carolina, via Ware Landing to Doctors Bridge to a point near Richlands, North Carolina.

Page 49, strike out lines 14 to 19, inclusive, and insert in lieu thereof the following language:

Channel from Pamlico Sound near the mouth of Neuse River, to Beaufort, North Carolina, via Swan Point, Cedar Island Bay, Thoroughfare Cut, Thoroughfare Bay, Cora Sound, touching at Atlantic Wharves, and to run through Mill Point Shoal by Sealevel, across to Piney Point, and touching the wharves of the various communities through the straits and Taylors Creek Cut with a view of securing a depth of seven feet with suitable width.

Page 50, after line 16, insert:

Trent River, from Trenton to Tuckahoe Bridge, North Carolina.

Resurvey of Contentnea Creek, a tributary of the Neuse River, North Carolina. Limestone Creek, Duplin County, North Carolina.

Page 51, after line 22, insert the following language:

Preliminary survey and examination of Shem Creek from Hog Island Channel, South Carolina.

Page 52, after line 24, insert the following language:

Flint River, Georgia, to Montezuma, Georgia.

Page 54, after line 8, insert the following:

From the mouth of Saint Marys River on the Atlantic Ocean.

Page 54, after line 21, insert the following language:

Alafia River, Florida, to connect Government channel in Hillsboro Bay with said river.

Page 55, after line 17, insert the following language:

Channel from Pensacola Bay, Florida, into Bayou Chico.
Page 55, after line 22, insert the following language:
Waterway from Choctawhatchee Bay to West Bay, Florida.

Page 56, after line 5, insert the following language:

Upper Saint Johns River, Florida, from Lake Harney to Lake Washington, with a view to securing a navigable channel of suitable depth and width, together with its incidental effect on flood control.

« ÎnapoiContinuă »