superintend the thing. There have been a half a dozen different projects where the War Department expended funds provided in the act Col. ABBOT. But Mr. Steenerson would have to see that there was no snarl thereMr. STEENERSON. We will see to that. The question occurred to me, Does not the flood control act confer jurisdiction upon the War Department? Col. ABBOT. If it is retroactive in a preliminary survey which was ordered before it became a law? Mr. STEENERSON. There is work to be done on the river, both inside of the reservation, where the Interior Department has jurisdiction, and outside where the War Department has jurisdiction, because of its control of navigable streams. Although the main purpose may be flood control, yet it seems to me that if there was any doubt about the jurisdiction of the War Department it has been ended now. It seems to me that is the proper department to do this work. Of course I am perfectly willing to have the Interior Department do it, but, as Mr. Schanke suggests, the Interior Department would be limited. Col. ABBOT. When they get to that boundary line, then there will be trouble below? Mr. STEENERSON. Yes. Col. ABBOT. I see that point very clearly. Mr. SCHANKE. I am not speaking for the department when I say these things should be done; I am simply Col. ABBOT. We are not asking you to commit the whole department, but asking for your ideas, in view of the fact that we are liable to tread on somebody's toes by almost anything we do. Mr. SCHANKE. I thought it possible to try to get Congress to appropriate more money for the improvement of the navigable stream, and have the Interior Department expend the funds. Col. NEWCOMER. I think if the Federal funds are applied as you say for the improvement of navigation they would probably have it done in that way. I think it has always been done that way. Mr. SCHANKE. I do not suppose there is any real legal obstacle in the way? Col. ABBOT. We are very much obliged to you. Mr. STEENERSON. I have not had so much time as I would like to have had to study this matter. 66TH CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. J DOCUMENT 1st Session. No. 69. SILVER LAKE HARBOR, N. C. LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR, TRANSMITTING, WITH A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, REPORT ON PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF SILVER LAKE HARBOR, OCRACOKE ISLAND, AND ENTRANCE THERETO FROM PAMLICO SOUND, N. C. JUNE 2, 1919.-Referred to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors and ordered to be printed. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, May 29, 1919. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a letter from the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, of 10th ultimo, with report by Mr. Robert C. Merritt, assistant engineer in charge, dated December 24, 1918, on a preliminary examination of Silver Lake Harbor, Ocracoke Island, and entrance thereto from Pamlico Sound, N. C., made by him in compliance with the provisions of the river and harbor act approved August 8, 1917. Very respectfully, NEWTON D. BAKER, |