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<br />10 MISSOURI:RIVER FROM l{ANSAS CITY, MO., TO THE MOUTH.
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<br />3. The appropriations and allotments mnde for this-project are
<br />as follows: "
<br />'.'
<br />June 25, 1910.... . ... ..... . . . . . _ . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .' $1,000,000
<br />Feb. 27, 1911, authoriz.ed :........... . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. -} 000 000
<br />Aug. 24, 1912, appropnated.. _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . '
<br />July 25, 1912.......... .. . . . . __ . ... . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . .... . . . . .. . .. .. . . 800, 000
<br />Mar. 4, 1913. ....... _. " .. ....... _ _ . . . . . . _ . .. . . . . _ _. . .... .. .' . .... ." 2,000,000
<br />Oct. 2, 1914............... .. .. .. .. .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..~ ... . .. . . . . . . . 850,000
<br />Mar. 4,1915..... ..... .......,..... ................. ...,'. :........... 1,000,000
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<br />
<br />Total of 6appropriatione.........:........ . .......... .. . . . . ... ." 6,250,000
<br />
<br />It will be noted that the appropriations have been mnde nt about
<br />half the rate mentioned in the act adopting the project. .
<br />4. The expenditures to March 4, 1915, were $3,577,290.85, con-
<br />sisting of $3,286,082,59 for improvement and $291,208.26 for main-
<br />tenance. It is estimated that the project is about 9 per cent com-
<br />}!leted. There have been large expenditures for plant since the
<br />mception of the project, and for that reason and on account of the lack
<br />of appropriations at the proper rate, the amount expended and the
<br />percentage completed appear out of proportion, But it has. been
<br />demonstrated that the work can be done within the estimated unit
<br />cost, and it is my opinion that with appropriations at the r~te.:of
<br />$2,000,000 per year for improvement and sufficient funds for mainte-
<br />nance the project could be completed within the total estimated cost
<br />5. The cost of maintenance after completion of the project is
<br />estimated at $500,000 per year. The mnintenance work, induding
<br />snagging, is now costing about $100,000 per Yl'nr. It will gradually
<br />increase as the work progTl'SSl'S. If appropciations are continued
<br />at the rate of about $1,000,000 per year, and the maintenance increases _
<br />from $100,000 to $500,000 per year, Q.veraging $300,000 per year
<br />during the l'xecution of the work, it is plain that over 20 years trom
<br />this time will be requirl'd to compll'te tIle r.roject. .
<br />6. I consider that the qUl'stioll of. mOllifying or abandoning the
<br />project is one to be decided by a comparisori of the cost involved with
<br />the benefits derived. Assuming the money of the Government to be
<br />worth 3 per cent interest, the total estimated Cost of the project
<br />represents 8600,000 per year interest. Adding the' maintenanee
<br />cost of 5500,000 per year gives $1,100,000 per.year as the permanent
<br />charge to the Government resulting from the execution and mainte-
<br />nance of this project.
<br />7. The benefits derived are represented by the increased facilities
<br />for navigation. There are other incidental benefits, such as the pro-
<br />tection of lands from erosion and the amelioration of flood conditions,
<br />but these have not been recoQ'J1ized as/roper objects of Governmeilt.
<br />expenditure on the Missouri 'River an are therefore not considered
<br />in the analysis. .
<br />8. The commerce to be considered is present and prospective, and
<br />the advantages that commerce will obtain from the improvement
<br />are the actual saving in freight charge'S by tlw use of theriv6r and the
<br />effect on rll:i1road freight rates produced by the possibility of water
<br />transportatIOn.
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