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Show Federal Plan to lame Missouri River After War ill Benefit II Million People Living in Its Basin Dams Curb Erosion, Provide Irrigation, Electric Service By WALTER SHEAD WNU Washington Correspondent Harnessing the nations second mightiest river, the turbulent, muddy Missouri, which annually roars its flood crests along its twisting course for 2,460 miles through seven states, will become one of the major postwar projects. More than 11 million people live in this great basin of a half billion acres, h of the area comprising ' t of the United States. one-sixt- For more than 30 years feeble attempts have been made to shackle the destructive power of the Missouri. Millions of dollars have been expended in levees and dams in attempts to prevent the costly floods which annually destroy vast sums in crops and property. Damage of the 1943 floods alone was placed at $35,000,000. Army engineers and the bureau of reclamation of the interior department have been for some time at in the development of a comprehensive plan. The army approached the job from the standpoint of navigation and flood control. The reclamation engineers were interested also, in irrigation, erosion control and power projects. On November 27, 1944, a reconciliation report was filed in whioh the two agencies were in complete accord and the congress in its flood control bill accepted the entire program and also authorized $200,000,-00- 0 each to the army and the es cross-purpos- ONE OF MANY dams and reservoirs already constructed in the Missouri Valley basin is the Gibson dam on the Sun river in Montana. The top of the great wall is about 200 feet above the river bed. Eighty-nin- e more such projects are planned. possible benefit and the ultimate goal should be the greatest procurable economic returns and human benefits for the entire region.. Arguments on Rule. Even agricultural interests are divided on the pros and cons of regional authorities as opposed to operation by established federal agencies. For instance, in agricultural sections where there is plentiful rainfall along the lower Missouri and water resources are adequate, opposition is voiced as subsidized competition by the extension of irrigation. Public opinion is joined in industrial areas with the railroads in opposing the development of new competing waterways. One basic objection to operation bureau has by the reclamation come from large land owners and ranchers of the west and northwest. Under the law governing the bureau of reclamation, this agency cannot propose irrigation for more than 160 acres of land for any one person. Another objection is that all reclamation projects must be over a period of approximately 40 years. In contrast, the statutes governing TVA give 60 years or more for liquidation and a regional authority likely would not be hamstrung by the limitation of acreage proviso. In a recent pronouncement however, Harry W. Bashore, commissioner of the reclamation bureau said: We continue to stand on the basic policy that the bureau will support the principle of relatively small family farms as one of the foundations of American agriculture and rural social life. On new land which is brought under irrigation for the first time, we shall insist that the undeveloped property be parcelled in lots of not more than 160 acres. Forms Shrink in Size. ' During the past 20 years the average size farm or ranch in the states of the Missouri basin have increased, rather than diminished in size, due largely to the decrease in population. For instance, in 1920, the average size farm in Montana was 480 acres, in Wyoming was 749 acres and in Nebraska it was 339 acres. By 1940 the farms had increased to 821 acres, 1,866 acres and 391 acres, respectively. Dust bowls, droughts, floods have driven farmers and ranchers from the plains states during the past decade. Net loss of population in the period from 1930 to 1940 in the seven plains states was 302,314. In area of North the Missouri-Souri- s Dakota, a strictly rural farm area, 28.7 per cent of the population moved out, equal to 1,000 families of five each. The financial loss entailed by this shift of population in at least four of these states is reflected in abandoned farms, abandoned towns and unused properties. It is further reflected in increase of size and congestion in the three larger cities of the basin, Denver, Omaha and Kansas City. These Benefits Expected. The agreed plan of the reclamation bureau and the army engineers is intended to do these things: X Provide navigation and flood control on the river from Its mouth to Sioux City, a distance of about 760 miles, by construction of levees and revetments to provide a channel 6 feet deep and 300 feet wide. 2 Construct 89, reservoirs and dams with a combined capacity of 45,700,000 acre feet of water. (An is water a foot deep over acre-foone acre.) This is more than the annual average flow of the river at its mouth. These reservoirs are to be constructed to withhold water along the main tributaries including the Yellowstone, the Big Horn, the Belle Fourche, the Cheyenne, the North Platte, the Republican, the Smoky : Hill and along the main . self-liquidati-ng TOO MUCH WATER The ram- paging Missouri river Is eroding millions of tons of good soil away every year. Here the flood waters carved into the bank, washing out a road, and leaving, pillar of earth to indicate the earlier line. 4 t bureau of ' reclamation to get the program underway. President Roosevelt signed the bill on December 23, but put a hiatus in the proceedings by recommending the creation of a Missouri Valley authority to handle the project and asserting that his approval of the bill was with the distinct understanding that it would in no way jeopardize'. tiie creation of such an agency. He appealed for early consideration of the new authority by the 75th congress. The President further .asserted: I consider the projects authorized by the bill to be primarily for postwar construction. Now. Only Blue-PriHence, the project is now merely in the blue-pristage and it is possible that a fight may develop in the new congress over whether there shall be divided responsibility as to the army and the reclamation bureau, or whether a new Missouri valley authority shall be created. Proponents of single regional control point to the Tennessee Valley authority and its successful operation as a yardstick for future federal policy in developing and controlling all the nations waterways. However, there are powerful interests which oppose the creation of these regional authorities, such as the power utility interests, the railroads, the national rivers and harbors congress, the Mississippi Valley association, and even divided public opinion along the waterway. The rule of thumb, for instance, of the TVA is that regional authority will produce the largest possible benefits at the least possible costs, and each task must be carded out in such a way as to contribute to the total result to salvage every nt nt ot new land and furnishing supplemental water to 547,000 additional acres to increase crop values approximately $130,000,000 annually on 53,000 farms of about 90 acres each. 4 To increase the population of the Basin by about 636,000 from irrigation development alone. 5 To increase the assessed valuation of properties approximately $600,000,000. 6 To furnish adequate and safe water supply and sewage facilities for 19 cities and towns along the ' . river. ' 7 To construct 17 hydroelectric plants which will provide 3,800,000,-00- 0 kilowatt hours of electricity to be sold at an annual value of $17,-141,0- Fruit, Meringue and Cupcakes . . . (See Recipes Below) Dessert Simplicity Desserts that are delicious in spite of their simplicity-anyet hearty enough to satisfy appetites whipped to their keenest by sharp wintry weather are the order of the day. Were concentrating on desserts that take up little time and effort, little of the d 00. precious, rationed sugar, but use plenty of fruits in season. There are recipes many them that among use eggs or milk to fortify diets create additional recreational facilities through formation of new lakes and parks and the pro8 To tection of fish and wild life, j 9 To introduce proper land use, soil erosion conservation, contour treatment and reforestation. States in the Missouri Basin watershed include approximately of Montana, from the source of the Missouri in the southwest corner of the state; North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, including roughly the northeast half from a line bisecting the state from the northwest to the southeast corner; approximately the northeast quarter of Colorado; the north half of Kansas; a tip of the southwest corner of Minnesota; a strip along the west boundary of Iowa and the northern part of Missouri from a line reaching from the Ozarks in the southwest in a northeasterly direction to St. Louis. Needs of the people in these widely scattered areas of long distances are divergent. Those living along the lower river want flood protection at one season, and supplemental water for navigation at others. In the western and northwestern section the people want protection from local floods, water for irrigation, water for sanitary and domestic uses and power for various purposes. The comprehensive plan which has been agreed upon is intended to store water to prevent floods and water the land in time of drought. The great river will be made to serve the people to live within its basin and thus decrease its destructive power. Will Pay for Itself. Construction cost of the plan is estimated at approximately which is to be from the sale of water and power over a period to be determined. Only $400,000,000 ofth& cost has been authorized. The entire nation has a stake in maintaining the agricultural productivity of the plains states, for even 9 in the drought period of these seven states Montana, the Dakotas, Wyoming, Colorado, Kan- sas and Nebraska, produced 41.5 per cent of the nations wheat; 43.4 per cent of the rye; 43.8 per cent of our barley; 15.3 per cent of our oats and 10 per cent of our corn. Droughts, the dustbowls and the lowering of the ground water level by the rampaging 'river has permitted wheat yields to reach 20 bushels to the acre only 5 times 1879, 1882, 1883, 1895 and not again until 1942. In many of those inter- vening years tfre yield has been be- low 10 bushels to the acre, and thousands of acres of seeded land have been abandoned year in and '' year out. But at last the government has developed a comprehensive plan aimed at the relief of this agricultural arsenal of the nation. From Cut Bank, Mont., in the northwest two-thir- v ds Lamb Steaks with Mustard Sauce Creamed Potatoes Brussels Sprouts Pear Salad Cinnamon Rolls i Jelly Rice Pudding Beverage eggs 1 cap sifted floor 1 teaspoon baking powder Vi teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon Vi teaspoon lemon extract , ' shy in these two important foods. The first is an especially quickly Topping: 10 pear halves, pared and stewed nrpnarpri ripssprt that is satisfying Vi cap sugar but not too heavy: 1 teaspoon cinnamon Fruit Cupcakes Cream shortening, add sugar and Slice plain bakery cupcakes into cream until light and fluffy. Add half oifly way wedges, cutting one at a time and beat well. the eggs and fill) through. Open gently' Add flour which has been sifted with Bits fruit. and with meringue cavity of fruit left over from breakfast or baking powder, salt and cinnamon. lunch may be used. Served with cof- Add flavoring. Pour into a oblong or square pan. Press fee or another hot beverage, these make a tempting climax to heavier the cooked pear halves into the batter and sprinkle with sugar and fall and winter meals. mixed together., Bake for 30 Butterscotch Rice Pudding. minutes in a oven. (Serves 6) M cup rice Orange Crisps. 2 cups milk 7 Vi dozen small cookies) (Makes Vi teaspoon salt 2 caps sifted enriched flour 2 tablespoons butter Vi teaspoon baking powder cup brown sugar Vi teaspoon soda 1 tablespoon Ifemon juice Vi teaspoon salt Vi teaspoon vanilla Vi cup shortening Vi cup chopped dates 1 cap sugar rice Wash rice and add salt and 1 egg to the milk. Bring to a boil and then 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind simmefc 25 minutes. Meanwhile, 2 teaspoons grated orange rind melt butter, add brown sugar and 3 tablespoons orange juice cook over a low (lame until very Sift together flour, baking powder, dark brown but not burned. Add the caramel mixture to the rice and soda and salt. Cream together milk and stir until dissolved. Re shortening and move from heat ' sugar Until light ' and fluffy. Add (I VA and add lemon ' l and beat well. and vanilla egg juice, Add fruit rinds , i'W jL dates. Pour into a and juice. Add wet bowl and Vl ) flour mixture to chill. When cold, creamed mixture. Mix thoroughly. this pudding can be unmolded. , Shape into rolls and wrap up in waxed paper. Chill until firm. Slice Serve plain or with cream. indh thick and bake on unPears are in season and are good to 6erve with cake or just plain greased baking sheets in a moderoven 12 to 15 minfresh or stewed. Here they are com- ate utes. These cookies may also be bined into cake: shaped by using a cookie press, if Pear Cake. fancy shapes are desired. Vi cup shortening4 Vi cup sugar Chocolate Floating Island. (Serves 6) unsweetened lVi chocolate squares Lynn Says Vi cup sugar 3 cups milk Saving Sugar: Syrups may be 4 eggs used in cookies while sugar is Vi teaspoon salt saved for cakes. The texture of Vi teaspoon vanilla cookies is not affected enough by 4 so it of in that tablespoons sugar sugar place syrup is perfectly all right to use it. Use Melt chocolate in top of double cup honey or corn syrup in boiler, add cup sugar and mix well. Add milk slowly, stirring conplace of each cup of sugar, and add 2 tablespoons of flour to each stantly. Reserve 2 egg whites for cup called for in recipe. meringue. vBeat remaining whites Fruits may be sweetened with and 4 yolks slightly with salt. Pour hot milk mixture over eggs, then jams and jellies or honey. Add return to double boiler. Cook,, stirsweetening last with a pinch of salt to make the most of it. ring constantly until mixture coats the spoon and foam disappears. Add Prepared pudding and gelatin mixes may be used with unbaked vanilla. Strain into serving dish; sweet cooky crusts to save sugar cover; let stand until cold. Chill bein making pies. fore serving. Garnish with meringue fruit syrup Thicken left-ovmade it egg whites, sugar and a from canned fruit wifti cornstarch dash of salt. and use as sauce for puddings. Gel the most from your meat! Get Mak use of dried and fresh meat roasting chart from Mis Lynn your fruits for their natural sugar conChambers by writing to her in care of tent. Western Newspaper Union, 210 South Substitute fresh fruits in seaDesfdaines Street, Chicago 6, IIL Please son and custards for cakes and send a stamped envelope lot your' reply. as often as possible. pastries - - JSf'l -- (350-degre- 1930-193- St. Louis in the southeast; from g 400-degr- ee 00 Denver in the southwest to Devils Lake, N. D., in the northeast the harnessed Missouri will extend its stream. benefits but not until after the war. of acres 3 Irrigation of 4,760,400 Point-Savin- cin-ham- self-liquidati-ng to Lynn Chambers. Menas well-greas- ed , $1,325,-000,0- Dessert Trio I e) er Released by Western Newspaper Union. on |