| Show Ic DC c-DC CO COU U V O OO O OC Oin s CD fD CD r O C in o 0 0 4 D I 0 10 0 r C CD 4 Ii 0 D' D t C C Co C o r CRISIS RISIS FEARED REARED IN RECLAMATION lION 4 l I Continued from Paje Pace One only Incidentally beneficial compared compared com corn pared to reclamation projects All arid land states which have decided projects for conservation i and use of water In dry regions are carrying on the best and most funI fundamental fun tun- I of public works he said They are arc certainly the most permanent permanent per per- manent and desirable from the standpoint of at unemployment re- re Greeted b by Governor Governor Henry H. H Blood welcomed welcomed wel wel- corned the members member to Salt Lake City pointing out this is a most important conference and it comes at an opportune time and to the right place A report also was wasI I read by Kenneth C. C Miller iller secre secre- tary treasurer If It reclamation is to be carrIed I forward in full vigor and if projects undertaken are arc to be completed and thus brought to a self liquidating status It will be necessary that this fourth National Reclamation con con- ference deal clearly and courageously courageous courageous- ly y with facts said President Dana It will be necessary to take these facts to the country so convincingly that reclamation ma may win the wide public confidence support and action action action ac ac- ac- ac tion to which its intrinsic values entitle entitle en en- title it Itis It is no longer sufficient to argue projects as local issues he said Reclamation has become one great project of oC numerous units In numerous numerous nu nu- instances these units are arc tested and authenticated on individual indi vidual merits and as a part of the whole In other instances and covering covering cov cov- ering cring a long period to come reclamation reclamation mation matlon in its several aspects should be made an integral part of the nations nation's nations nation's nations nation's na na- na- na tion's thoroughly studied intelligent plan to know and to employ its resources resources resources re re- re- re sources in land Jand and water at the rate made desirable by steady ress Calls CaUs Plans Inadequate He pointed out that net allocations to the bureau of reclamation from the public works fund are arc now shown to be while the allocations from the works relief administration administration administration adminis adminis- total He added o that to carry carryon on construction on authorized authorized authorized au au- au- au projects during the next fiscal year will require about 85 Far from keeping in balance with other developments said Mr Dana the facts are arc that plans now affectIng affecting affecting affect affect- ing the future of reclamation arc are not sufficiently broad to meet the requirements of the American pile Despite the generous attitude of President Roosevelt congress and heads of the national administration tion it is to be doubted that allocations allocations alloca alloca- for reclamation arc are in proportion proportion proportion tion to other objects provided for i in the recover recovery program be he as as- Pro by Figures Mr Dana said the statement that tha t reclamation Is not proceeding proceeding- at arate ft a rate dictated b by national policy is by figures and premised upon broad necessity to enunciate such a policy The people of America asserted Mr Dana must be dissuaded from the mistaken Impression that to irrigate western land Jand c creates eates a food tood surplus by greedy grabs from Crom ft t political political po po- HUcal pork barrel Twelve million people In the west are dependent on irrigation as 88 a method of agriculture enforced by natural conditions Not only Is it true that western agriculture stops if reclamation ends but these people people people peo peo- would be compelled to move elsewhere were irrigation discon discon- East Would Lose Eastern manufacturers and supply supply sup sup- ply agencies would lose Jose much more than their present annual an au- annual nual market and their carloads carloads carloads car car- loads of shipments to federal reclamation reclamation reclamation rec rec- projects he said Mr Dana pointed out the dangers besetting reclamation referring to eastern propaganda against it it He added that President Roosevelt has again demonstrated his approval of oC reclamation For discussion by members the following recommendations were submitted by Mr Dana 1 That a further reclamation pro program ram be authoritatively prepared prepared prepared pre pre- pared ready to carry carryon on for tor the completion of projects authorIzed authorized author author- in the public works and the works relief programs and further to carry rry to completion and beyond the year 10 program pro pro- program gram approved in 1926 2 2 That reclamation be fitted toa to toa a e. rational and reaching far national national national na na- policy of water and land use 3 That the present federal reclamation reclamation mation matlon bureau be continued in undisturbed and unreduced efficiency ef ef- and vitality as the agency proven by repeated tests as tho the most logical and desirable desirable desirable desir desir- able from the viewpoint of the national government the projects projects projects and public interest as a 4 whole 4 i. That the supporters of reclamation reclamation mation broaden their own view to consider the reclamation of ot land in relation to other factors of or economic progress and the tho social advancement of the people people peo peo- pie also that auxiliary agencies agencies agencies agen agen- cies whether established or emergency whether federal state or local in character be fully used wherever these can be of advantage in forwarding a rational program or may be reciprocally and cooperatively helpful 5 That the review of ot reclamation reclamation reclamation tion as a national policy by John JohnV W. W Haw and F. F E E. E Schmitt as assisted assisted as- as b by George O. O Sanford and others and tho the recommendations contained in the so-called so Haw Schmitt report be given definite attention and action by bythe bythe bythe the National Reclamation asso asso- elation at the present conference confer confer- ence 6 That reclamation forces should now reach decision as to what we ought to do about power developed de developed developed de- de incident to reclamation projects that while we wo recognize recognize recognize nize the financial interest and the return due to the government government government govern govern- ment and while we also recognize recognize recognize nize the desirability of ot a policy of fairness to the agencies concerned con con- concerned in the distribution of power we should consider as the chief of ultimate objects of solicitude the people who use it particularly those on the projects project 7 That the successes attendant upon organization of state reclamation reclamation reclamation rec rec- or irrigation associations associations associations warrant active continuance continuance ance of the of such associations until all of at the western states are fully tully organized organ organ- zed and affiliated with the naj national na- na j association Mr i speaking for Dr Elwood Mead United States CC l i- missioner of reclamation said al allotments allotments allotments al- al as important as they areto are areto areto to the permanent prosperity of ot the west represent only omy one fifth of the proportionate share of unemployment ment relief appropriations He added added added add add- ed that allotments for reclamation represent sent only 2 per cent of the total appropriations made in the emergency relief act ad Answers Criticisms If Ie the people of the west are convInced convinced convinced con con- vinced that to them works for the conservation of ot water arc are most important important im im- beneficial and permanent of all public works why should they not be allowed to spend a small percentage of their pro rata share of ot the emergency ncy unemployment appropriation in construction of class works which the they are convinced convinced convinced con con- vinced are most beneficial he asked He emphasized that it is highly beneficial to the nation the east middle west and west that the far tar west hest is using a small amaH percentage of Its ts pro rata share of the unemployment ment relief appropriation in building build build- in ing great self-liquidating self water conservation conservation conservation con con- projects which accomplIsh accomplish a desired purpose of employment employment employment employ employ- ment that will not be a a. crushing burden on taxpayers Criticisms we have most frequently frequently frequently fre fre- heard about bout reclamation projects are that the government is redeeming more land when there Is I already a surplus of ot farm tarm land he said The Tho experience of ot this country country country coun coun- try during the drouth and dust- dust storms a year ago largely answered this criticism Governor Blood read a letter from President Roosevelt in reply to a request for for a survey of ot the proposed Green and Bear rivers diversion plan to be conducted conducted conducted con con- ducted by Utah Idaho and Wyo Wyo- ming Presidents President's View He read from the letter fetter in part as follows Your letter outlines a very involved in involved involved in- in and complex plan and its importance would seem to justify a separate allocation for a complete complete com com- study It is refreshing to seethe see seethe seethe the executives of ot three states assemble assemble assemble as as- for the consideration of these interstate problems Such problems are arc usually handled handled handled han han- by the bureau of at reclamation but unfortunately at present no funds are arc available for this study An allocation of was made for this type of work in the Colorado Colorado Colorado Colo Colo- rado river basin but this cannot consistently be used on the Bear river especially since Idaho is not one of the tho Colorado river basin states A luncheon was held at Star Starlite lite Gardens Gardens- under the auspices of ot the Association of Western Vestern State Engi Engi- Policy Outlined Dr L. L C. C Gray of ot Washington D.C. D.C. D.C. D. D C. C director of the division of land utilization was principal speaker at the afternoon session He made the following recommendations recommendations as the basis of ot a desirable national reclamation poll policy C 1 View the scarcity of ot water in arid sections and there be developed developed developed devel devel- a well rounded plan for tor the I use of ot water based on technological and economic conditions That there also be state slate participation in planning planning plan plan- ning and developing reclamation projects 2 There should be a general na ne national nl to complete and perfect perfect perfect per per- old projects and utilize more fully so 50 far as practicable before starting new ones A 3 That consideration be given facilitating development of ot numerous numerous numerous numer numer- ous small and seemingly unimportant tant irrigation operations 4 4 No federal project involving reclamation of ot land for agricultural purposes be undertaken until its economic feasibility and advantages have been considered by a nonpolitical nonpolitical board Others Heard He stressed the need for guiding reclamation developments in line Une with a national land use policy Other speakers were verc John W W. Haw director of ot agricultural de do- de- de for the Northern Pacific Pacific Pa Pa- railroad E. E F. F Elaine Blaine father of ot the Columbia basin project and Edward Hyatt state engineer of California If It Reclamation Survives will be bethe bethe bethe the subject of an address at a dinner din din- dinner ner meeting Friday night at the chamber of commerce to be delivered delivered delivered de de- livered by Mr Dana V WASHINGTON ASHINGTON Nov No 1 15 JiP UP Dr Elwood Mead commissioner of reclamation rec rec- today declined to comment comment comment com com- ment on statements by Marshall N. N Dana Portland Ore in Salt Lake City concerning reclamation other than to say it Is in no nr different position position position po po- than anything else Dana president of the National Reclamation association was quoted quoted ed as saying r reclamation faces an emergency because approximately has not nol yet been provided provided provided pro pro- vided for tor its continuance |
