70969 INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FOURTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION PURSUANT TO H. Res. 30 TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS TO MAKE INVESTIGATIONS INTO ANY MATTER WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES SEPTEMBER 23, 1955-CORDOVA SEPTEMBER 24, 1955-PALMER SEPTEMBER 24, 1955-SEWARD SEPTEMBER 25, 1955-KING SALMON SEPTEMBER 26, 1955-KODIAK PART 3 Printed for the use of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs Serial No. 27 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1956 Grayson Allen, United States commissioner and city attorney- Harold Z. Hansen, executive secretary, Cordova District Fisheries R. A. Bauer, consulting engineer, Matanuska Telephone Associa- Don L. Irwin, director, Alaska Agricultural Experiment Station Allan H. Mick, director of extension, University of Alaska...... Phil Durant, chairman, utilities board, chamber of commerce_ 108 102 Isak J. Jensen, Naknek, Alaska. 157 Harold C. Ostrosky. 145 George H. Cornelius, president, Kodiak Exploration Co__ 211 Clarence Dizney, member, Kodiak Health and Welfare Council and deputy United States marshal.. 208 John Gibbons, chairman, Kodiak Chamber of Commerce, commit- 180 Ernest Harding.... 213 David W. Henley, Kalsin Bay. 186 Jack Hinckel.. 205 Leon H. Johnson, mayor of the city of Kodiak, Alaska_ 201 Robert Logan, correspondent for the New York Board of Marine Joe Zentzer, Pasacshak Bay, Kodiak Island_. [NOTE.-See subject index following last page of hearing.] 180 ALASKA, 1955 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1956 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON TERRITORIAL AND INSULAR AFFAIRS, OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS, Valdez, Alaska. The Subcommittee on Territorial and Insular Affairs scheduled hearings at Valdez for September 23, 1955, but due to inclement weather was unable to keep its appointment. Subsequently, several persons submitted in writing the statements they had planned to present orally at Valdez. The written statements follow: STATEMENT OF MAYOR HELEN L. LONG FOR THE TOWN OF VALDEZ RELATIVE TO FLOOD CONTROL OF THE VALDEZ GLACIER STREAM The most serious threat to the physical existence of the town of Valdez exists because of the relatively uncontrolled activities of the Valdez Glacier Stream and its tributaries. Valdez is located on the northeast shore of Port Valdez, on the terminal moraine of the Valdez Glacier. A large alluvial fan extends approximately 3 miles back of Valdez, terminating at the glacier. The glacial streams, fed by Valdez Glacier, periodically have done considerable damage to the area. In 1912, floods caused major damage to the town of Valdez, and a flood wall or dike was built around the town by the Army engineers. In 1933 this dike was raised and extended by the Alaska Road Commission. In the past few years, the Alaska Road Commission, in an attempt to stabilize a portion of these streams, has built a levee about a half-mile long, a mile southeast of town. This levee has helped channel the flow of glacier water into a wide plain to the southeast of Valdez. In the last 2 years it has become evident that the streams are swinging northward across the alluvial fan, "and it may be only a question of 4 or 5 years until these streams may again threaten the town of Valdez" (excerpt from letter from Brig. Gen. C. H. Chorpening, USC, Assistant Chief of Engineers for Civil Work, to Mayor George H. Gilson, February 24, 1953). The people of the town of Valdez have long been aware of the danger that is ever present, and through their town government and the chamber of commerce have endeavored to secure relief. Not only is the civilian population concerned; the Federal Government itself has a considerable financial stake in Valdez. The taxable assessed valuation of the community is well over $3 million. Federal investment in the form of buildings and installations of the Alaska communications system, the Alaska Road Commission, Richardson Highway, Route No. 1 leading to the interior, and the maintenance of services such as that of the post office, the United States Commissioner and a weather observation station would suffer drastically in the event of flood damage. The value of the Federal stake in Valdez is well over $3 million. In addition to the obvious results of flood damage, to both private and public property, as a result of the participation of the town of Valdez in the program of the Alaska Public Works Administration, several utilities and public buildings have been or are being constructed. Already installed and in service is a sewer system; under construction and due for use about October 1 is a water system; under construction and probably in use by the first of the year is a 15-bed hos |