DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA CANAL


 General PnIasLaT. We made a report confined to the request of the Senator
from Florida in order to enable interested parties the opportunity to present
it as a self-liquidating project.
 Senator FUImOHm. In the meantime, this other development took place.
The act of 1935 was passed; another means of treating with the matter
developed.
 Senator CABBY. Is there any need for going on with the hearing if the canal
is not authorized?
 Senator COPeAND. Just a moment. I notice that the Senators from New
Mexico are here.


 ATLANTIO-GUIF OANAL

 Senator FurcHaez Now, General, take the Atlantic-Gulf canaL How much
has been allocated there?
 General MARKHAM. $5,000,000, plus $200,000 and $200,000, making a total of
$5,400,000.
 Senator FLBrCHN. There are two allocations of $200,000 each in addition to
the $5,00,000?
 General MARKHAM. Yes, sir.
 Senator Fuironu. That work is going on?
 General MARKHAM. The entire sum is contracted. The work is going on
vigorously under about nine contractors.
 Senator FlrCHm. And, of course, unless there is an appropriation the work
will have to be cut down, or shut down, cease entirely?
 General MARKHAM. Yes, sir; entirely so.
 Senator FLurBHE. You have got to have funds?
 General MARKHAM. Yes, sir.
 Senator FrTCHUi. Additional funds?
 General MARKHAM. Yes, sir.
 Senator FLrrCHm. And you have recommended $12,000,000 for this next
year's work on that canal?
 General MARKHAM. Yes, sir.
 Senator Flur~HEa And the Budget recommendation to the House covered
that item, did it not, all of these items?
 General MARKHAM. It did.
 Senator FLmrnaHm That is the Budget's recommendation?
 General MARKHAM. Yes, sir.
 Senator FLErCHE. And the number of people employed there now are how
many? Do you know how many are now employed, and how many do you
think would be employed?
 General MARKHAM. I think a little over 6,000, and after we get in full swing
 it will be about 20,000. About 12,000 were employed at peak.
 Senator FtYIOHE.L And how many would be employed if you got into full
 headway?
 General MARKHAM. Depending upon how vigorously the work is prosecuted.
 I think that we have had estimates perhaps up to 40,000, and generally running
 about to 20,000.
 Captain CLAY. Yes, sir; although I do not think that that is based upon the
 proposed allotment of $12,000,000.
 General MARKHAM. As I say, the number would depend upon how vigorously
 the work was prosecuted. With sufficient funds, 40,000 men may be employed,
 because we can expend the money very rapidly, as it is possible to attack the
 work from a great many places.
 Senator THOMAS of Oklahoma. How much would it take to complete that
 canal, building it in a most efficient manner?
 General MARKHAM. We have stated that we could build that canal, and I
 think most efficiently, in 5 years; that it should be built within reasonable
 brackets, of efficiency, between 5 and 7 years.
 Senator FLurcHa Now, another item there is the West Virginia item. How
 much has been allotted to that project and how much is to be required?
 General MARKHAM. $1,164,000 has been allotted, and it is estimated that there
 will be needed $11,610.000 for completion.
 Senator FLET~HE. Has that work begun there, too?
 General MARKHAM. It has. There is clearing going on and borings going on
 at the dam site; the design has been finished, land is in acquisition.