232 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA CANAL
 Mr. BucxxN. I do not attempt to answer why or why not so far
as the Board of Bivers and Harbors is concerned. I am only answer-
ing that the proponents of the canal requested the postponement at
that time. They have not since requested its postponement at any
time and they are not requesting a postponement now. But at the
time they requested a postponement it was because it was being proc-
essed through another department of the Government, and because
they were not ready to go before the Board with their presentation.
 Senator VANDENBEmO. Do you mean the proponents of the canal
are now ready to have this considered by the Rivers and Harbors
Engineering Board ?
 Mr. Bucvxx I see no objection in the world.
 Senator VANmmmDG. I think you ought to notify the Board of
Rivers and Harbors Engineers, because they are laying on you all
the responsibility for holding up this normal process of a report to
Congress.
 Mr. BCMxxAN. I cannot agree with that interpretation, Senator.
 Senator FizrCHEi Why should they do that?
 Senator VANDWMNB o. That is what they did do.
 Mr. BucKx9. They never told us that.
 Senator FLra~ m The Board of Review has made a report of the
 examination of the whole subject to the President. They are acting
 under another act of Congress.
 Senator VNDENBERG. Yes; but now the responsibility comes back
 to the Congress to provide funds in the normal Budget, and we must
 resume the normal processes, as I see the situation.
 I guess we cannot get any further on that. Go ahead.
 Mr. BucxxK. I guess we cannot get any further along that line.
 The CHarIMA I think I ought to say that it is not an unusual
 thing for Army engineers, when the local interests have any reason
 to as for a postponement of action, to make that postponement. I
 have had that never-to-be-forgotten experience myself.
 Senator VANDENBERG. Exactly; but it is very unusual for Congress
 to proceed to make any appropriations in the absence of these reports.
 Senator FImTCHEm. Not if the project is made a Federal project
 by Executive order.
 Senator VANDENBERG. I was asking the chairman for a comment.
 The CHAIRMAN. The answer is "yes."
 Senator VANDENBERG. All right.
 Mr. BUOxMAN. May I resume, Mr. Chairman
 The CHAIRMAN. Yes.
 Mr. BucxxAN. The board further recommended the deepening of
 the canal to 35 feet when the traffic shall justify it. The board fur-
 ther found that, based upon the economic survey of the special board
 of survey of the Corps of Engineers, such a sea-level canal would be
 economically justified, on a 4-percent basis, up to a cost of $160,000,-
 000.
 The CHAMAxN. Now, just a moment. When they recommended
 deepening the channel to 35 feet, was that the depth of channel which
 was finally included in the estimate of $142,000,000?
 Mr. BUCKMAN. No, Senator; 30 feet was the final.
 Senator FLwTCHE. And to be increased to 35 when the traffic
 justified it?
 The CHAIRAN. Yes. I see.