Papers

Locks and Dam 26 was a Mississippi River dam complex near Alton, Illinois. In 1976, the United States Army Corps of Engineers reported that the dam had deteriorated and required a replacement. U.S. Congressional debates centered on whether to block or facilitate the building of a new dam complex. Many environmentalists and railroad companies, who competed with Mississippi river barges, were opposed. Many grain farmers in North Dakota and other states favored construction, as much grain was shipped by water. Erickson favored a new dam complex and worked to generate support for it. In the North Dakota legislature, he worked to pass a resolution supporting construction of a new dam complex. His papers contain correspondence with U.S. Senators Quentin Burdick (Dem., ND) and Milton Young (Rep., ND), and U.S. Representative Mark Andrews (Rep., ND) regarding the issue. He also corresponded with private citizens and public and private organizations. Besides correspondence, subseries materials also include newspaper and magazine articles, brochures and pamphlets, reports from public agencies and private organizations on both sides of the issue and copies of proposed legislation. Erickson represented North Dakota at a Council of State Governments hearing on the issue. The hearing was held in Clayton, Missouri in 1976. Hearing reports are included in this subseries.