230 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA CANAL

 The CHAuIxN. Of course, that is not needed in Florida. Nature
takes care of that.
 Mr. BUCKMAN. I beg to be excused from answering that question.
May I resume, Mr. Chairman
 The CHAPMAN. Yes.
 Senator FITrCH I would say that General Markham's testi-
mony, as I recall it, is that there was an increased cost in excavation,
but that he considers the whole project will be brought within the
estimates which they furnished.
 Senator VANDENBER. Excuse me, Senator. I do not believe that
is quite what he said, is it
 Senator FizrCHI. That is my recollection.
 Senator VANDENBERO. At any rate, it can stand for itself.
 Mr. Buckman, just before you proceed, you referred to the report
of the special board of Army engineers, which has not yet been
published. Is that the only reference you intend to make to that
report?
 Mr. BUCKMAN. No; I have other references to make to it, Senator.
 Senator VANDENBEG. Perhaps I may as well comment here as at
 any time, Mr. Chairman, that it seems very strange to me that there
 should be a report-and I do not know what is in it any more than
 you do-to which Congress should not be entitled at a moment when
 It is in the definite consideration of this matter. And I quote from a
 letter from Major General Markham, under date of February 11,
 1936, in which he declines to release any of this information. He
 says-
 That the publication even of an abstract report, an abstract copy of the
 report, would be in violation of the understanding of the Department with the
 committees of Congress.
 I think that is really an absurd situation.
 The CHAIRMAN. Let me understand about this. What is that
 report? To whom was it made? What is the report?
 Senator VANDNBERG. It is a report to the Board of Rivers and
 Harbors engineers, as I understand it, and Mr. Buckman, you will
 correct me if I am wrong.
 Mr. BUCKMAN. By the Special Board of Survey.
 Senator VANDENBERG. By the special board; yes. Mr. Buckman
 the Department, General Markham says, or no, excuse me, General
 Pillsbury says:
 The review of the Board has been deferred at the request of local interests
 desirous of submitting additional data.
 Is that true, that this review has been delayed at the request of
 local interests
 Mr. BUCKMAN. That is quite true. Shall I elaborate on that for
 the information of the committee
 Senator VANDENBERO. Yes.
 Mr. BUCKMAN. Early in 1925--
 The CHmIaAN. 1925?
 Mr. BucrKMi. I beg your pardon.
 The CHImIAN. Yes.
 Mr. BUCKAN (continuing). The Board for Rivers and Harbors
 of the Corps of Engineers stated that it was ready to examine the
 report of Special Board of Survey on this project.