DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Hon. JAMES S. PARKER, Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. PARKER: Careful consideration has been given to the bill H. R. 10291, transmitted with your letter of February 27, with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as the department might desire to communicate. This bill would authorize the State Highway Board of Georgia, in cooperation with the State Highway Department of South Carolina, the city of Augusta, Ga., and Richmond County, Ga., to construct, maintain, and operate a free highway bridge and approaches thereto across the Savannah River, at or near Fifth Street, in said city of Augusta. Favorable action on the bill is recommended. C. F. MARVIN, Acting Secretary. Sincerely, О BRIDGE ACROSS THE WHITE RIVER NEAR CALICO ROCK, ARK. MARCH 25, 1930.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. PARKS, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 10340] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 10340) granting the consent of Congress to the Arkansas State Highway Commission to construct, maintain, and operate a free highway bridge across the White River at or near Calico Rock, Ark., having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass. The bill has the approval of the War and Agriculture Departments, as will appear by the letters attached and which are made a part of this report. WAR DEPARTMENT, March 8, 1930. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. So far as the interests committed to this department are concerned, I know of no objection to the favorable consideration of the accompanying bill (H. R. 10340, 71st Cong. 2d sess.) granting the consent of Congress to the Arkansas State Highway Commission to construct a free highway bridge across the White River, at or near Calico Rock, Ark. Hon. JAMES S. PARKER, PATRICK J. HURLEY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. PARKER: Careful consideration has been given to the bill (H. R. 10340) transmitted with your letter of February 28 with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as the department might desire to communicate. This bill would authorize the Arkansas Highway Commission to construct, maintain, and operate a free highway bridge and approaches thereto across the White River, at or near Calico Rock, Ark. The location indicated for the proposed bridge is on the system of Federal-aid highways approved for Arkansas. Favorable action on the bill is recommended. Sincerely, C. F. MARVIN, Acting Secretary. BRIDGE ACROSS THE COOSA RIVER NEAR GILBERTS FERRY, ALA. MARCH 25, 1930.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. HUDDLESTON, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign. Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 10461] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 10461) authorizing Royce Kershaw, his heirs, legal representatives, and assigns, to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge across the Coosa River at or near Gilberts Ferry, about 8 miles southwest of Gadsden, in Etowah County, Ala., having considered the same, report thereon with amendments, and, as so amended, recommend that it pass. Line 9, after the word "Ferry," insert the following: "about eight miles southwest of Gadsden, in Etowah County, Alabama, ". The Hon. M. C. Allgood, who introduced the bill, has submitted the following information with respect thereto: Mr. ELTON J. LAYTON, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Clerk Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. LAYTON: This is to acknowledge receipt of your favor relative to H. R. 10461. In reply to inquiry 1 will state that there is now a ferry in operation at Gilberts Ferry. It is my understanding that no tolls are charged to the people of Etowah County, this being the county in which the ferry is operated, but that tolls are collected from people outside of Etowah County. In reply to inquiry 2 will say that I am informed that the people in the vicinity of the proposed bridge petitioned the Etowah County Board of Revenue for a toll bridge. In reply to inquiry 3 will state that the members of the board of revenue of Etowah County have discussed this proposed bridge with me on several occasions and I have seen several articles in the Gadsden Times, a daily paper touching upon this proposed bridge. I received no protest from anyone against the building of this bridge. In reply to inquiry 4 will state that neither the State or county or municipality is in financial condition to finance a free bridge in this locality. In reply to inquiry 5 will state that it is my judgment that if this toll bridge is not constructed that the people will be forced to continue to use the ferry. Trusting this is the information you desire, I am, Yours respectfully, M. C. ALLGOOD. The bill as amended has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the letter attached and which is made a part of this report. WAR DEPARTMENT, March 12, 1930. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. So far as the interests committed to this department are concerned, I know of no objection to the favorable consideration of the accompanying bill (H. R. 10461, 71st Cong., 2d sess.) authorizing Royce Kershaw to construct a bridge across the Coosa River at or near Gilberts Ferry, about 8 miles southwest of Gadsden, in Etowah County, Ala., if amended as indicated in red thereon. PATRICK J. HURLEY, Secretary of War. Hon. JAMES S. PARKER, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. PARKER: Careful consideration has been given to the bill H. R. 10461, transmitted with your letter of March 5 with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as the department might desire to communicate. This bill would authorize Royce Kershaw, his heirs, legal representatives, and assigns, to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge and approaches thereto across the Coosa River, at or near Gilberts Ferry, in Etowah County, Ala. The location indicated for the proposed bridge is not on the system of Federal-aid highways approved for Alabama. The bill appears to follow the usual form for a private intrastate toll bridge. Nevertheless, the bill would provide for a private toll bridge on a public highway, for which reason the department recommends against favorable action on the bill. Sincerely, R. W. DUNLAP, Acting Secretary. О |