248 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA CANAL

 The CHAInMAN. I think I may say that the part of Florida with
which I am familiar is concerned almost exclusively with the effect
of the canal on the ground waters.
 Mr. BucKxAN. I am coming to that.
 The CHA rRA. They have a real fear, and that is on the part of
thousands of citizens of Florida.
 Mr. Bucxx&. I am coming to that, if you please, very shortly.
 In support of the project, there are in the official record resolutions
of the Mississippi Valley Association, the Atlantic Deeper Water-
ways Association, the National Rivers and Harbors Congress, the
Texas and Louisiana Intra-Coastal Waterway Association, the Legis-
lature of the State of Florida, and numerous commercial and civic
organizations from various parts of the country.
 I quote from a resolution of the Mississippi Valley Association, in
convention at St. Louis, November 27, 1985 [reading] :
 We recommend * the Gulf-Atlantic Ship Canal now under construc-
tion, and its completion under the schedules laid down by the Chief of
Engineers.
 Again, I quote from a resolution of the Atlantic Deeper Water-
ways Association, in convention at Boston, October 7, 1985 [reading]
 This association has for many years urged the construction of a canal across-
Florida, and we are gratified that the Federal Government, through the Army
engineers, has begun work on a ship canal which will not only serve ocean
commerce but will provide a connecting link between the intracoastal water-
ways of the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. We recommend the further
allocation of funds for the completion of this project, the benefits of which will
be Nation-wide.
 Again, I quote a letter under date of February 12, 1935, to Senator
Fletcher from the National Rivers and Harbors Congress, signed by
its president, Frank Reid:
 MY Dman SATOms FParcHm: At its thirtieth annual convention held in
Washington, D. C., May 2-3, 1965, the National Rivers and Harbors Congress,
upon the recommendation of its projects committee, voted unanimously to
endorse the Gulf-Atlantic ship canal across Florida as being sound, needful,
and sufficiently advanced in status and a project that should be promptly con-
structed in the public interest.
 The projects committee of the congress is composed of an outstanding water-
 way leader from each of the 10 engineering divisions of the United States, and
 gave careful consideration to this project at open hearings. The committee
 itself voted unanimously to recommend approval of the Florida canal, and its
 report was adopted without a dissenting vote by the convention composed of
 delegates from 40 States, the District of Columbia, Alaska, and Puerto Rico,
 representing the Federal Government; States; cities; counties; State, munici-
 pal, and local governmental agencies; chambers of commerce; waterway asso-
 ciations; agricultural, labor, industrial, and trade organizations throughout the
 Nation.
 This project will strengthen the national defense, provide a permanent in-
 vestment which will increase the national wealth, greatly benefit industry,
 agriculture, commerce, and labor, and afford protection to human life and
 property from the menace of the tropical hurricanes that visit the Florida'
 Peninsula.
 From my own personal examination of the project, I am convinced that it is
 one of the most meritorious waterway projects ever undertaken by the gov-
 ernments, and that the expressed fears of its 111 effects are groundless. I hope-
 the Senate Committee on Commerce will not be misled by the insidious cam-
 paign to discredit and destroy our national waterways.
 Very truly yours,
 PsAwx R. RmD,
 President, National Rivers ad Harbors Congress..