On
May 7, 1957, S. T. Sheard spoke before the Public Works Subcommittees of
the Senate and House Appropriations Committees in Washington to urge them
to approve and even increase the flood control appropriation asked for
by the Corps of Army Engineers.These
include four inseparable flood control projects:East
Brimfield and Westville on the Quinebaug, and Buffumville and Hodges Village
on the French.
Mr.
Sheard was elected Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Quinebaug-French
River Manufacturer’s Association in mid-February to replace W. A. Stewart,
AO’s former president, who resigned.
In
addressing the members of the Committee, Mr. Sheard said:“...Although
the modest $4,577,000 requested would bring the combined projects only
to 36 per cent completion (based on latest cost estimates), we accept the
engineer’s judgment that this amount is as much as could be prudently spent
during the coming fiscal year.
“In
this connection, however, we would like to point out the economic advisability
from the Federal government’s viewpoint, of completing these projects as
speedily as possible.Cost of completion
of the four projects was estimated in 1955 at $18,840,000.Today
it is $21,750,000, an increase of 15.5 per cent.Of
the budgeted $4,577,000, therefore, $2,910,000 could be said to be making
up for cost increases.”
What
WE Can Do
On
his return from Washington, AO NEWS asked Mr. Sheard what we here can do
to help speed action on these projects which will prevent a recurrence
of the 1955 flood damage.Here is
his statement:“I was very well
received by all the Senators and Representatives whom I contacted.However,
because they are very busy people, and also because of the present economy
pressure on Congressional Appropriations, I would urge that people living
in this area contact both their Senators and Representatives, urging the
passage of appropriations for the Quinebaug-French Rivers Flood Control
Projects.”
Where
To Write
Write
the elected representatives of your area, if you want to urge them to vote
for passage of appropriations for the Quinebaug-French Rivers Flood Control
Projects.
The
Honorable Leverett Saltonstall,
The
Honorable John F. Kennedy
United
States Senate,
Washington,
D.C.
Senators
from Connecticut (same address):
The
Honorable Prescott Bush
The
Honorable William E. Purtell
U.
S. Representatives from Connecticut:
The
Honorable Horace Seely-Brown
The
Honorable Antoni N. Sadlak (Rep. at Large)
The
House of Representatives,
Washington,
D.C.
U.S.
Representative from Massachusetts (same address):
The
Honorable Philip J. Philbin
In
writing, be sure to give your name and address as they appear on the voting
list.