NORTHERN COLORADO
WATER CONSERVANCY
DISTRICIPROCEEDINGS
of the
Fifth Annual Meeting
of the
National Reclamation
Association
at
SPOKANE,
WASHINGTON
November 23
and 24, 1936
THE WHITE HOUSE . Washington
November 11, 1936. Mr. 0. S. Warden, President,
National Reclamation Association, Post Office Box 1703,
Helena, Montana. My dear Mr. Warden:
The National Reclamation Association was organized to en-courage the conservation of water, the greatest western resource, and its use for irrigation. The program under the Federal Recla-mation policy has steadily gone forward and has relieved unem-ployment not only in the West, but in the industrial East where these western developments create a market for the products of the factories. The prolonged drought has given added emphasis to the benefits of irrigation.
To the annual gathering of your Association in Spokane, No-vember twenty-third and twenty-fourth, I send my greetings and best wishes for a successful meeting. Your achievements as a group are very gratifying, particularly in educating the public as to the place Federal reclamation takes in our economic existence and in
1g administrative officers preserve a sound policy. Very sincerely yours,
signed) FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
N3
1936
(Copy) Department of
the Interior
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR WASHINGTON
Nov. 18, 1936 Mr. 0. S. Warden,
President, National Reclamation Association, Post Office Box 1703,
Helena, Montana. My Dear Mr. Warden:
It has just been brought to my attention that you have called the fifth annual meeting of the National Reclamation Association in Spokane, Washington, for November 23-24. I desire to express to your group my appreciation of assist-ance rendered during the past year and since my last message to you.
The association is in a position to consult and advise with those of us who are charged with the administration of the Federal reclamation policy. This it is doing. As a result of the joint efforts of the Administration, the association and the representatives in Congress for the various irrigation states, a progressive program of con-struction is under way which not only by its size but by the evidence of planning involved should be very gratifying to western interests.
I send you my cordial greetings and wish for you a constructive meeting.
Sincerely yours, (Signed) HAROLD L. ICKES
The fifth annual meeting of the National Reclamation Associa-tion was called to order by President 0. S. Warden, with these remarks :
"There have been a great many pleasant things during the year, for me as your president, but there has occurred one very sad thing—the death of Dr. Elwood Mead, who was our federal chief and who has so greatly aided us all the way along in our ufforts for reclamation. I think it is fitting, ladies and gentlemen, and I know you will be glad to join with me in a half minute of silent meditation in memory of Dr. Mead."
Mr. Marshall Dana then made the motion that a suitably prepared draft to the honor and memory of Dr. Elwood Mead be made apart of the records of the meeting. Motion was seconded and carried.
President Warden appointed Mr. Dana to prepare the draft, which follows:
BE IT REMEMBERED
Delegates from fourteen western states stood in honor to the memory of Dr. Elwood Mead, late United States com-missioner of reclamation, at the opening of the fifth annual conference of the National Reclamation Association at Spokane,
Washington, November 23, 1936.
The vote of adjournment on November 24th was taken in the form of final tribute to the greatest friend and personal constructive force the cause of western reclamation has known. Eulogies of Dr. Mead's soldier-like valor, his genius and leader-ship were delivered during the conference by United States Senators William E. Borah of Idaho, and Lewis B. Schwellen-bach of Washington, by Representative Compton I. White of Idaho, chairman of the house committee on irrigation and rec-lamation, by Acting Commissioner John C. Page of the Bureau of Reclamation, by 0. S. Warden, president, and Marshall N. Dana, former president, of the National Reclamation Associa-tion. It was directed by unanimous vote that the association's own views with reference to Dr. Mead be made a record of its conference.
• But Isaiah, the prophet, wrote many centuries ago the epitaph suitable for Dr. Mead:
"And they that be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise the foundation of many generations; and thou shalt be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of paths to dwell in.
"I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." For Dr. Mead a monument has been proposed. On a day that is yet to come the people of the west may cast in bronze
the likeness of a man. The face will be turned toward what was once the desert but is now a land of homes and fruitfulness, blooming as the rose. The hand will point to transformatibn as if in benediction.
Yet if no such statue ever is erected, time will prove that Dr. Mead built his own monument. He built it with earth, with concrete and water. He built it of the desert turned into farms and flowers and homes where people dwell in happiness and prosperity.
To Dr. Mead, reclamation owes a debt that cannot be repaid, nor fully told in eulogy. He gave his life to reclamation and found that he had dealt with a living thing. He found for himself the secret of continuing youth, for when he died, although his years were 78, he had reached the zenith of his powers. He was directing the construction of the mightiest reclamation works the world has seen.
If to be greatly useful is to be truly great, Dr. Mead belongs among America's illustrious sons.
Mr. 0. S. Warden, president of the association, after opening the morning session, introduced the first speaker, Governor Martin of the state of Washington.
EXCERPTS FROM GOVERNOR MARTIN'S ADDRESS OF WELCOME
"The recent election was a tribute to the president and the nation as a whole * * *
We are gathered here to discuss a common problem. I am not saying something just about our own state—we have come to discuss the problems of all states. This year the state of Washington is supplying a considerable amount of the foodstuffs that are being distributed to the eastern states to take the place of those products that should have been raised there but were destroyed on account of the drought.
In the past few years there have been more real shipments going to the east from the west—one day, just recently, my attention was called to the fact that over 1,000 cars in a single day, of our fruits and produce, were moving to the eastern markets.
The Inland Empire; eastern Washington, this year is supplying 25% of all the spring wheat that was produced in the United States itself. We never have crop failure out here it seems and so often we are called upon to supply the needs of the people in the east.
It is interesting for me to remind you that in the state of Washington we have the largest timber production activity that is given to any state in this union—that we employ 60% of all the men in the state of Washington in the timber industry. We are having more employment in those great activities in timber and
in those industrial centers on the west side of the state than ever before—under better working conditions and with better wages. It is of interest to know that the state of Washington is one of the bright spots in the United States so far as recovery is concerned. We are proud of our undeveloped resources in Washington— we are proud of our great highway system, and which, by the way, is paid for. Then we are proud of our water; we are proud of our citizens themselves. I do know that Washington has citizens second to none in the United States.
The state of Washington has taken the responsibility of seeing that the second generation are given the advantage of a liberal education. There is no state in this union that has a higher standard of common school education than the state of Washington. We have determined that the state can do nothing more towards making good citizens than giving them a liberal education.
I am very proud that in this state we have a balanced budget. We are on a cash basis and we are doing the things in Washington that we think should be done. We have cooperated with the federal government and assumed our part of the obligations.
There is a great development and future for the state of Wash-ington and the great northwest itself. We are here today to discuss this great reclamation problem. I assume you come here as friends of the program as a whole; that you have not come here just as a friend of your own particular state and its particular program. I believe reclamation is facing the most crucial moment of its existence right now and there is only one possible way we can succeed, and that is by having a united front of the people of Washington and of the people of Texas and all of these western states must stand together. We must be for the whole, entire program carried on in an orderly way. Divided we cannot hope to succeed.
Through the planning board funds a thorough and analytical study was made of the Yakima project. This report was prepared at considerable expense by the state planning board. Copies of this report are available. I know that the opinion is that every dollar in the Yakima or Wenatchee or any other reclamation project of this state has been justified. While there may have been errors made, as a whole the program is a success and we are proud of it, and if the programs elsewhere could have been as successful as they are in Washington, then none of us would need to apologize. What we have to assume as a group is a program of education. People, generally, are ignorant of the facts and problems of reclama-tion. Most people think of Coulee dam as a power project; to me it is a great reclamation project. A program, when carried to its completion, will give to our people 1,250,000 acres of land for homes, to carry on as a happy people should. Yes, what we need is education. We need to be good salesmen; the people of the east are just as vitally interested in this program as the people of the
west. We are preparing the west for the east—they must come here, and after the program is carried to its completion, forty or fifty years from now, the expense involved will have been justified. A campaign of education is necessary to our people.
The purpose of this gathering should be to develop a program of education so those people of the east who may be skeptical and critical of this program can see that we are only doing what a farsighted people should be doing—preparing the last frontier for those people of the east; and so they will join with us in making a greater commonwealth and a greater United States of America. I pledge the continuance of our wholehearted support in the further-ance of reclamation. We have in our western states some of the outstanding leaders in reclamation. It is going to be my purpose to use every agency of state toward a plan of cooperation for the development of our own state.
If we all face th 3 issue on that basis—and I have every reason to believe that we shall pass this crucial test that will be given to reclamation perhaps in the pending congress, then we will come out immeasurably victorious; and the fact that we have a captain in Washington, D. C., in our president, who believes in the things that this organization stands for and who is willing to subscribe to them, it seems to me should give it encouragement. I believe we are going to win.
This program is greater than our state program—it is a program for the people of the United States—with this great republic of ours with all the opportunities that are given to it * * * we can do nothing better than to further a program that will mean an orderly development of our resources.
There is no program that will do more to place people def-initely in a home in which a measurable amount of independence can be given to them, no program can further that more than to reclaim these millions of acres of land by giving to them the water and the power that God has given to us in abundance.
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL RECLAMATION ASSOCIATION
0. S. -Warden
It is my appreciated privilege to open the door of this fifth annual convention of the National Reclamation Association. Let me begin by saying that I have thoroughly enjoyed the year as your president.
It is my pleasure also, first and foremost, to thank a highly capable board of directors for sympathetic and earnest support at each turn of the road. There have been hundreds of other disciples who continually preach and understand the gospel of reclamation. They have helped day by day. Personally, I have learned more than I ever expected to know. A journey of three thousand miles
revealed inspiring accomplishment. There has been, and is, only one regret—I intended to see every federal reclamation project in the twelve-month period. There was not enough time. There was much to do in Washington—and largely on this account, a second journey could not be made. There was a highly profitable meeting of the directors at Salt Lake City a few weeks ago. Com-missioner Page attended. It was a busy reclamation day. There was an intimate discussion of fundamental principles in procedure. There were new determinations and a full measure of enthusiastic confidence. May I add—to my mind—the year 1936 has accumulated abundant evidence that there is to be continued progressive recla-mation accomplishment.
We are coming to a conclusion in the United States that there must be a better use of land and water resources. That is where reclamation comes in as part of a great national enterprise. That is where the west wins its reclamation argument.
We have in the west the land and the water and the forests. These, if you please, are the never-ending resources of any nation. They have a perpetuating value greater than the gold and silver and the copper of all the mines. They are still an eternal heritage when the mines have been worked out, or when there is not smoke to warm the chimneys of industry. The water of our mountain streams is more precious than the gold nugget that hides in the sand below. Institutions come and go. Walls that are built of mortar and stone crumble and fall. The forest-covered mountains, the lakes and the streams are always ready to make a constant supporting contribution. These are not figures of speech. All the history, from the days of Abraham and his sheep, down through the centuries, even unto this year 1936 in America, teach the same constant lesson. The future will not differ from the past.
If, however, we continue to slash our forests and abuse our land, there will be both regional as well as national penalties. In the west, indeed throughout the whole United States, we are paying some of these penalties now. We have all the while been advancing to new frontiers. To be sure, there has been progress and improve-ment in methods of agriculture and stock raising. There has also been master bungling. The verdict of research is an accusing witness as we meet here to find out how we may plan—how we may build—how we may conserve the natural value that we have selfishly taken away by mistakes that we must now frankly admit. We have just about destroyed or greatly damaged a hundred million acres of land. We have impoverished another hundred million acres—through lack of intelligent operation or by cropping year after year and putting little or nothing back. The wind has also taken its toll and sixty-five million acres, we are told, have been ruined or seriously injured because we are careless and neglectful.
There is no darker story in our history than the chapters that tell how we have misused the land. The accusing verdict
applies not alone to the acreage that has been devoted to general agriculture. We have almost destroyed some of the great western ranges. There is a wide-spread depletion almost everywhere. 'The exceptions only prove the rule. Just the other day I was reading: The secretary of agriculture, in response to a senate resolution, and reporting on the western range, says that it has been depleted no less than 52% from the virgin condition. This is a finding of reduction in grazing capacity for domestic livestock. The federal public domain has suffered a depletion of 67%. The Indian, state and county holdings do not help the record. The major forest areas make the best showing, but after thirty years of management they are declared to be 30% below virgin conditions. I can add personal testimony. I saw these ranges 40 years ago.
You will agree with me that these land depletions amount to a staggering indictment. At the Pacific northwest conference in Boise a few weeks ago I said that our treatment of the land has been careless, negligent, positively and continually destructive. The wording sounds severe. I am afraid research will add to these cold, icicle facts and that we must face them if we intend to chart a different course—if we are determined to write new and better chapters into the history of our agriculture and stock raising industry. I am sure, as well, that the National Reclamation Asso-ciation welcomes the consolation that many of these misused acres have not been damaged beyond repair—that it is ready to help restoration and conservation as we strive for more correct culti-vation from the ocean on the east to the ocean on the west.
I am ready to make the land problem a national problem— because that is what it is. Fifty years ago, and more, there was an exodus of farmers from New England. We have all heard, and all know about the abandoned farms in that country. Even unto this day the people who live in the land where the Pilgrims and the fluritans made a new civilization are suffering the penalties that have followed ill-directed conservation and care. In the middle west speculation, excessive land values and, in many cases, continued stingy cultivation have hindered steady earning and real progress in well arranged agriculture. Uneven methods of production have thrown monkey wrenches into the business of farming in that country where Lincoln split the rails and read his books by candle light. Look to the south—one big crop—cotton—spreading west-ward. There are large new cities in the land of the old plantations, but there must be further rural development—an effort to make more people well-to-do—some day there will be a complete new south. In the far-stretching southwest there is expanding pro-duction, but there are still problems in marketing and need of planning—where dwell a great population to be adequately sup-ported. There must be worked out a widely extending popular consumption, because the people of that section cannot use what they produce. In the far southwest there has been remarkable accomplishment—the refrigeration cars bring the fruitage to nation-wide markets. In the great northwest—the big farm that President
Jefferson purchased from Napoleon—through reclamation and planning, we are learning how we may make all of our people well-to-do. There has been considerable risky stock raising and desultory agriculture, but as we store the rush waters of the springtime, and as we more completely use the waters of our mountain streams—there will be a new west. There is much to do, but we are off to a new prosperity.
If, then, we sum up these situations, east and west, north and south, I believe that the National Reclamation Association is ready to set up for the great western half of our country sound proposals, the fruitage of experience and accomplishment, that will stand both the regional and national benefit test. We are talking about a national land policy that will ensure progressive agriculture and stock raising—a policy free from sectional prejudice suited to the needs of each state and each area—leading the way until we make use of all lands to the greatest advantage—enabling each section to bring about a balanced agriculture—a policy that will protect our water resources—use them correctly and fairly for the benefit of the people of all states—still within a fair considera-tion of the welfare of the whole naconsidera-tion. I wish to emphasize the claim that each region is entitled to a developing agriculture— that within a national land policy of conservation and developed advantage reclamation takes its place as a regional method—an essential part of the most important enterprise of this generation. After thirty years of ample demonstration and experience there is little need to plead the cause of reclamation before this convention. We of the west know the value of what has been done. We know that reclamation must be the inspiration of and a continuing force if we are to have a new prosperity—a group of states where well-to-do people can live and carry on. Even that is not enough. We must prove that reclamation is good for the whole nation. Every plan must, first of all, be honest. The National Reclamation Association must cling to its catechism of principles. Our experience has taught the tests of feasibility. When a project finds approval there should be enough assurance of what the fruition will be. In reckoning the merits of all projects there should be the promise of additional well-to-do communities, and self-supporting sections in the nearby country—an increasingly advantageous use of the land together with a reasonable oppor-tunity to use or to dispose of the production—transfers of population to land of higher utility must not unduly add to agricultural surpluses or create objectionable demand and supply situations but rather, through differing well-planned production, subtract from surpluses and contribute to the general welfare of the nation —projects should be economically sound, through estimated ex-pected revenue over a reasonably determined period, for the recovery of constrnction costs or, in the case of an exception to this rule, through a sufficient benefit to justify the expenditure on the basis of general rehabilitation.
Permit me to repeat the question—Can the fourteen states of the National Reclamation Association unite and stick under, the banner of feasibility and march to a tune of uniform accomplish-ment? I think they can. May I recall the land policy you adopted at our 1935 convention in Salt Lake City? This was the wording: The association observes and welcomes the appearance, with nation-wide approval, of a well defined national policy which in its full fruition should bring about a maximum beneficial use of the land and water resources of the entire United States. My friends, there should not have been, and there never should be again, a sectional prejudice in the development of American agriculture. A proper national land policy recognizes that each section of the country is entitled to a developed agriculture as a properly balancing factor in its general progress. With the acceptance of this funda-mental principle, reclamation takes its proper place as a great nation-wide development, in complete harmony with sound business procedure. So much for an affirmative platform. Upon it I believe we are determined to sell progressive reclamation to the national government and to ourselves.
We now come quite naturally to a further important consid-eration. What may or will the states do through organized effort, planning or by cooperative contribution with the national govern-ment? Personally, I am of the opinion that the states will ultimately supply a part of the money. I think the government will some day put it up to us in this way. Thousands of miles of highways have been successfully built under this procedure. The plan has worked well. Some time would perhaps be required for legislative enact-ment, but the states would find a way to meet a government challenge of this sort. There would result a combined wholesome economic supervision. Such cooperation seems fully sensible and fair in the reclamation, maintenance and conservation of the lands of the west. With such a fairly contrived percentage gathering of funds to carry on, there ought to be a speeding up of reclamation. The depression has taught us many lessons. The natural resources department of the government is delving into many development and conservation problems in a way that should greatly help inter-state solutions. The different departments of government that have to do with resettlement and land conservation may be brought into a coordination of effort where feasibility is difficult, but where a combination of objectives may the more readily justify public expenditure. There is a general advantage if regional plans are in harmony with state plans. Inter-state compacts are highly desirable, if we can be neighborly and con-siderate enough to bring them about.
I am able to speak of illustrative accomplishment in my own state—Montana. The legislature two years ago enacted a law to carry out such a cooperative program. There were established a state water conservation and planning board, and a state grazing commission, endowed with broad powers looking to rehabilitation with a studied development of natural resources. Considerable
construction is well under way. In cooperation with the public works administration, and allied agencies, there is now being ex-pended three million dollars upon twelve conservation projects, ranging in cost from a few thousand dollars to five hundred thousand dollars each. The state grazing commission has organized and has placed eight million acres of range land under unified operation. These cooperative projects are entirely aside from those under the direction of the bureau of reclamation. The conservation problem of today, therefore, involves what the government may do—what national research may advise--what the states may plan and help.
It will be a good thing if the time comes when the states contribute some of their own money while they ask the government to lead the way in the making of a new west.
The ugly depression, that is now melting into better business, and the great drouth of 1936 have persuaded and revealed many new friends for reclamation. The lessons that have been learned are impressive. Th research committes of the government have accumulated evidence that wherever rain is short, water must not run away. Every well conceived reclamation project is a pillar in the western economic structure. Nevertheless, while we are winning our way, there is plenty of missionary work to do.
There are still eastern congressmen and business men who do not understand two already proven facts—first—that the successful irrigation project buys more from industry and eastern markets than it sells in those same markets. Second—that through use within the home state, and differing production, it often substantially subtracts from so-called surpluses, and in any event does not work out a regional injury anywhere. It gives more than it takes, and is, therefore, a definite contributor to industrial production and the general welfare. Illustrative yearly proof is plentiful enough—he who runs may read that the Yakima valley produces fifty million dollars in crop and that one-half of this value goes for the purchase of the products of eastern industry—some of it even goes to eastern agriculture. Ohio ships two hundred and twenty-five carloads of fabricated merchandise to the Salt river valley project in Arizona. Illinois and Michigan each send three or four hundred carloads the same way. In the Billings irrigation territory in my own state, thousands of carloads of the products of industry are sold. In the presence of such annual records, the proof appears that western markets may easily mean as much or more than the foreign markets that we hear so much about. It is of the utmost importance that this association possess itself of complete information covering all federal reclamation projects—the use and disposition of all the products. With this knowledge in hand, we will have the right to ask every congress-man and every senator from our member states to learn the recla-mation lesson from A to Z. These officials can render no greater service to their states. In a year or two of time, then, the non-understanding opposition to reclamation will crumble away under
the clear light of proven accomplishment, and the whole truth of a completely convincing record.
This convention should express appreciation of federal assist-ance to reclamation during the last few years. In sunshine and shadow the bureau of reclamation has been continually helpful. While the revolving fund has been cramped by the moratorium, and a receding of regular revenues, large sums have been expended upon emergency projects that will directly or indirectly irrigate extensive areas. Still there is manifestly a critical situation. The revolving reclamation fund under present laws, we are told, will not enjoy more than five or six million dollars annually for the next few years, whereas something like forty-five million dollars per year will be required over the five-year period just ahead to adequately carry on construction requirements. This amount will only take care of projects already started. New projects will merit money. It has been suggested that the reclamation fund might be nourished through repayments from emergency fund projects, by oil royalties, from naval reserves or public land fees. I cannot conceive that these sources would make out an adequate interior department reclamation budget. It seems entirely clear that we must ask the congress not only for further emergency or public works funds to carry on the enterprises of this sort, but also for a substantial amplification of the revenues that go into the revolving fund. This association, I believe, intends to advocate a reasonable completion of these large emergency projects. At the same time there is a prevailing opinion that this generation would enjoy a greater benefit from a large number of smaller enterprises in all of the states. At every recent natural resource western con-ference there have been three insistent demands. First, and perhaps paramount, funds for storage or additional storage because of inadequate water to carry on progressively land already under the ditch. Second, there is need of additional construction where settlers have been waiting for a long time for water—depending upon assurances of various sorts. Third, there are new feasible projects that ought to be built, if we are to go on progressively with reclamation development.
In the deliberations of the year now closing, there has been intimate consideration of the payment moratorium by your directors and consultation by your officials with congressional committees. The present re-payment plan is the financial foundation of reclama-tion under existent federal enactment—therefore is an issue of large importance.
There is apparently a concensus of opinion, as we come out of the conditions that have made delayed payments desirable and find the project settler, for the most part, in a better situation to meet repayments, that this association may wisely unite with the federal irrigation congress, convened at Provo, Utah, a few days ago, in the position that it is desirable to avoid a further general moratorium, as soon as the congress can make an investi-gation, and devise a method or methods of repayment which shall
have sufficient flexibility to meet expected contingencies of the years to come—within a fair consideration of the agencies acting as guardians of development funds and the reasonable ability of the settler to pay. In the hurry of the 74th congress, the proposed appropriation to so investigate and determine did not prevail. I know, however, that the especially interested committees of congress realize the need of this legislative study. A recommendation by this association is appropriate and desirable.
It may be worth while if I say that this study of proper settler payments may be and is regarded as a problem involving much more than a consideration of the present moratorium. There has come into the picture an intermingling of agencies and objectives as we control, supervise and use a great natural resource—water. Navigation, power, flood control—each takes a place whether we would have it so or not.
There are reclamation advocates who think that there should be several payment plans to meet the needs of various types of projects and that, as we go on, no one plan will be able to meet all irrigation requirements. They contend that it would be a preferable policy if the government would simply deliver water to the land, and sell it at a price in proportion to the benefits. Irrigation enterprises would then become revenue projects rather than repayment, and there would then become revenue projects rather than repayment, and there would be an annual liquidating income in perpetuity the same as when water is sold for power or any other beneficial use. They cite the circumstances that congress has authorized a $370,000,000 flood control bill. Its purpose is control and regulation of our streams making water available for maximum beneficial use for such purposes as navigation and power, or for drainage and the prevention of flood damage. Such a program is reckoned a national benefit properly financed by public funds. Its purpose is the conservation for beneficial use of a basic natural resource. It is therefore urged that irrigation in the west should be added as a part of a national program. The policy would bring it about so that groups of our people could use the water for many purposes—payment being measured by annual rentals in proportion to benefits. The theory, of course, is the use of all natural resources and payments measured by afforded benefits. In the case of smaller projects this method of operation probably would not be practical. The states might set up an agency responsible for such construction, ownership and operation.
The use and disposition of power has become an issue in reclamation, because different agencies are developing such units in connection with irrigation enterprises. A majority opinion seems to prevail that the title to reservoirs and power plants so involved should remain with the government. It may be recalled that Dr. Mead was -studying the question. His opinion apparently was that power revenues should eventually go to the federal gov-ernment, but that there were different conditions prevailing upon
the various projects and that there would probably be modifications to fit differing conditions. It was recognized, I believe, that where the water user obligates himself to pay the entire cost, there night be a question of equity, but that a general plan might be applied to new projects where a considerable portion of the cost must be charged to power in order to make the projects feasible. In the western states, the use of water for irrigation and domestic purposes is recognized as a prior right. This power issue may properly come within a proposed governmental investigation of policies.
With these imperfect remarks, I can only hope to preface your convention with an incomplete review and some indicative suggestion.
Looking back—there has been a constant accomplishment push-ing through difficulties.
Looking ahead—are there rainbows or clouds in the sky? We have come a long way since President Theodore Roosevelt put comment into his first message with these words:
It is as right for the national government to make the streams and rivers of the arid region useful by irrigation works for water storage, as to make useful the rivers and harbors of the humid region by engineering works of another kind. The reclamation and settlement of the arid lands will enrich every portion of our country.
In less than a year after this message congress passed the reclamation act. Sometimes I think our enthusiasms are not fully tempered with patience. The National Reclamation Association was organized only five years ago. At that time, as I recall, there was a single objective—the bureau of reclamation wished to borrow five million dollars from the general government. Since that time there have been many millions expended in emergency and other reclamation projects. We have come a long way. Taking, then, confidence and strength out of history, we may count some of the rainbows of today. I refuse to see the clouds.
In August, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, visiting Montana, said:
Before American men and women get through with the job, we are going to make every ounce and every gallon of water that flows from the heavens and the hills count before it makes its way down to the Gulf of Mexico.
I think the president intended to include the waters of the Columbia as well as all the other rivers of the west.
In a letter to the Spokane Chamber of Commerce, of date August 29, 1936, President Roosevelt wrote:
The tragic drought of 1936 has reemphasized the im-portance to the welfare of the nation of conserving the waters
of our western streams for use in stabilizing agriculture and strengthening the economic structure of the arid and semi-arid states. Federal reclamation projects served to mitigate the effects of the drought of 1934 and are this year in many local-ities giving another demonstration of the wisdom and usefulness of our national reclamation policy.
In the closing days of the recent campaign, the president again used these prophetic words:
We will persist in successful action for better land use, for reforestation, for the conservation of water all the way from its source to the sea, for drought and flood control, for better marketing facilities for farm commodities, for a definite reduction of farm tenancy, for encouragement of farmer co-operatives, for crop insurance and a stable food supply. I only wish to add—if there are rainbows, let's chase them. If there are promises, let's pass them on to the coming congress. If reclamation is the "nation's last frontier," let's be pioneers worthy of the name—a new prosperity for the west is at the end of the trail.
THE BUSINESS MAN AND RECLAMATION
Excerpts from the Address of Eric Johnson, Director, United States Chamber of Commerce, Spokane, Washington
This is an unusual meeting—unusual in the subject that is being discussed, and unusual from a broader point of view. There are millions of acres of land which have been carelessly and ruthlessly destroyed for the present generation. The greatest of our natural resources is the proper utilization of our land. The greatest problem that faces this country is the raising of the purchasing power of the great mass of people so they can purchase those things which the American system produces. One method and one potent method of doing it is by taking farmers off of non-productive land and putting them on land where the fruits of their efforts will enable them and their families to live under the American standard. There is no better method of doing this than to irrigate and reclaim the arid lands of our country.
Contrary to most opinions I have a very high regard for the accomplishment of business men in their chosen field of endeavor. American business has perhaps been the greatest instrument for the continuation and the forwarding of our progress and our standard of living. America is on the greatest housing hunt in history. It is not an ordinary building boom; it is a new method of living. American business has done more for the increased material standard of living than all other forces combined.
America has taken the luxuries of air conditioning, proper control of heat, electricity, etc., and made them necessities. It is told that the average person who lives in the suburbs cannot
get along unless he has two cars in his garage. American business has been the greatest dissatisfier in history and, therefore i has contributed more towards the material standard of living than any other force—and yet with all of this, business has been greatly inept in the proper correlation of those irreconcilable forces which are directing government and those forces which are directing business.
Communism and fascism only come through the failure of the leaders of business and the leaders of government to reconcile their differences. Fascism only occurs when business and business leaders, worn out from the battle of internal conflicts and pressure from without, finally decide to give up the struggle—therefore American business fears both of these extremes.
Now there are two extremes to this point of view; the one, that government should not interfere with business enterprises in any manner, and the other extreme, that government should take over all business, and in between these two extremes is the broad highway, the traveling of which has always meant the forward progress of America—which system is held together by certain binding forces. * * * This inter-related whole has been the binding post which has kept America together. It has been a binding force that has always in the past, and will always continue in the future to take the middle course between these two extremes. Unfortunately, a great many business men fear the government because it is government, frequently goes too far. Government, you know, is only human; it is composed of men who are human.
Business leaders are fearful of reclamation because they don't understand it. They seem to think it is a door for more government interference.
American business should never fear government interference if that government interference is for the purpose of assisting in production, distribution or consumption. The important thing is to raise the standard of the American people so that they can consume those things. Most American business men are in favor of doing those things which will soundly develop the purchasing power of the people so they can consume those things they produce.
The eastern business man doesn't realize what it is all about. He feels that reclamation and irrigation is another scheme where the government is furthering its way into business. It seems we western men must do all in our power, must devote our energies towards the proper education of those business men and those farmers.
The goal that we have in mind is the proper education so American business will realize the advantage of reclamation and irrigation. Business must use the same energy and resources to sell the American people, not only the product of its machine, but the system under which that product is made.
It seems to me that American business must teach the American public that this American economical system is producing fruitage every day—every month—and every year.
THE OBJECTIVES OF RECLAMATION
John C. Page, Acting Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamatian,_., The task of the bureau of reclamation is the strengthening'\ of the agricultural foundation for the civilization which is growing up so rapidly here in the arid west, For a generation the bureau has been the most important agency at this work. It is appropriate from time to time to inquire again into the objectives of our work, and it is good to have these objectives restated, for they must not be lost sight of even temporarily. The purpose of the bureau of reclamation is to plan and to construct irrigation projects.
It is axiomatic that the public welfare can be most efficiently
advanced by conservation and judicious use of natural resources. to(V) Water is the most valuable resource of the area west of the 100th
meridian. Its conservation and wise use, therefore, creates the greatest benefit and imposes the most grave responsibilities in this arid region.
Many who are not familiar with the problems have assumed that there will be no end to irrigation, not realizing that all the available water in the west is insufficient to provide adequate supplies for more than about three out of each one hundred acres in the far western states. Definitely there is an upper limit, and while it has not been reached, thoughtful people will realize that this limit placed by the available water is closely approached in some, and riot infinitely far distant in any area today. Farmers of humid regions need not fear that the west will overreach itself. The concern in regions more bountifully supplied with water should be, on the other hand, that the maximum agricultural development in the west may be all too small.
Next to water in importance in this region is land, the resource which in humid sections holds the first position. Because of the upheavals of nature—recent in terms of geology—much of the west is incapable of supporting vegetation. This non-productive area is in addition to the vast expanses which must remain unused because there is insufficient water. There remain only three percent of this western territory where land and water occur in combination suitable for successful farming. Fortunately, how-ever, some of the western soils are inherently productive to a greater degree than those in humid sections. This is true because plant food remains in soils of the arid region where the leaching action of heavy rainfall does not operate. The well-nigh perfect control of water and crop methods possible under irrigation, permits, in addition, the maximum beneficial use of the land which can be cultivated. With proper cultivation, irrigation farming has more permanency.
History discloses that the most ancient civilizations were founded on irrigation. It also indicates that agriculture and allied human activities have a greater degree of permanence in irrigated areas. In our own nation, though it is comparatively young, areas in the humid section, once opulent, now are declining because of soil exhaustion, but in the arid west farms first irrigated by the Spanish at about the time the Pilgrims were landing at Plymouth Rock, still are in production today. Prehistoric Indian civilization in Arizona flourished on irrigated land. Now our cities rise above irrigated fields in the same locale.
Thus it behooves the people of the west to think not only of the benefits to be derived from irrigation by this generation, but to consider also the great responsibility which rests upon them for conservation of both water and land in anticipation of future needs. As generations come and go, greater and greater reliance will be placed in the lands of this area for the support of our nation.
Careful planning then is not only justified, but to proceed without it would be a foolhardy shirking of a responsibility. Selfish considerations must be eliminated and efforts must be unified to develop wisely and carefully the resources which have been entrusted to the west.
It was with this vision and for the purpose of assuring leadership that the bureau of reclamation was proposed by Theodore Roosevelt. This vision also inspired another Roosevelt—Franklin D. Roosevelt, our president, when he gave reclamation its greatest impetus through allotment of funds for a great new program of construction. Consistently from the beginning, the bureau of reclamation has sought to plan well, and has endeavored to build for permanency and the greater good of the greatest number.
When the bureau of reclamation was young, it was a much simpler matter to plan and construct projects, but the easy developments have been exhausted. The size, scope and complexity of projects has increased, but the bureau has continued a well-rounded plan to provide a use of western waters as intelligent as it could be made by the conscientious body of men of which the bureau is composed.
Storage of supplemental supplies, generation of hydroelectric power, pumping to lands above the river levels, and flood control, are features which have been added by the requirements of increasingly complex projects. Complete control of great rivers has been achieved, and scores of storage reservoirs have been put in operation.
Most of these reservoirs provide a large measure of flood protection, and many serve power plants in addition to canals. While requirements of storage for maximum flood control and for irrigation and power generation conflict in some instances,
all the dams constructed by the bureau of reclamation are effective in the reduction of peak runoff during flood periods.
The projects where the development of water power is possible have benefited greatly both from the revenue derived from the sale of energy and from the opportunity to use electricity in homes and industries. This resource is assuming greater and greater importance as machinery is improved and as the investment in storage works increases. More water power opportunities are
created by the large dams necessary in this era.
This year, as has happened many times in the past, a severe drought has sharply contrasted irrigated areas of a large section of the west with the lands about them, which are forced to rely on rainfall. With an area comprising nearly one-fourth of the United States suffering complete crop losses due to drought, the irrigated lands have produced yields greater than their averages. Under such conditions the benefits of irrigation are impressive even to the casual observer. It is a revelation to one familiar for many years with irrigation, after traveling for hundreds of miles where the blight of drought has fallen, to come suddenly upon an irrigation ditch with verdant fields and fat cattle beyond it. It leaves no doubt that our reliance must be upon irrigation. A flowing canal this year was a mighty comfort to thousands of farmers in the western great plains. It was the envy of many thousands not so fortunate as to have its protection.
Irrigation projects this year are the sole support of many counties, municipalities and school districts. Dry farmed areas and livestock are paying almost no taxes in many localities. There are counties in the drought area where less than five percent of the taxes are being paid, and there are others, which have irrigated sections, where more than ninety-five percent of the taxes are being paid promptly.
While not so prominently displayed, the indirect benefits of irrigation are equally important. The sure and certain production of crops on irrigated lands in the west provides a national balance which is extremely important in times of depression and stress, such as those experienced in recent years. Irrigation projects have been compared to piers on which the railroads bridge the western part of the continent. A wide variety of specialty foods and products which can not be supplied by other areas of our country originate on these irrigated lands and .spread from coast to coast, improving diets and decreasing the total of things which must be imported. Idaho potatoes, Arizona and California grapefruit, oranges and lemons, and Washington apples are prominently dis-played, for example, in every market in the city of Washington, D. C. Only by expansion of the irrigated areas can new opportunities be provided in this day for those dislodged by calamity or by press of population growth. The public land frontier is gone.
The markets created in new communities which appear after irrigation is begun on lands which otherwise must forever remain
desert, are tremendously valuable to manufacturing centers. The volume of inter-state and inter-regional trade thus created provides a powerful safeguard for the industrial life of the nation. iWith the great uncertainties of foreign markets which now exisf, the development of domestic trade assumes ever increasing importance. The wealth created by irrigation is a national asset of vast pro-portions. The value of products from federal irrigation projects each year closely approaches the total cost of our operating projects.
The study made this year by the Washington state planning council of the Yakima project provided detailed information of the benefits of that area to the state and nation. The report is a very valuable document and the state of Washington has made a great contribution to the cause of reclamation in its preparation and publication. When similar studies are made of other irrigated sections, such as the Salt river and Yuma valleys in Arizona, the Imperial and Central valleys in California, the Twin Falls and Boise areas in Idaho, to name only a few, the results will astound the people of the United States. It is safe to predict that the data would be sufficient to overwhelm opponents of further irrigation development.
Originally the western states were blessed with a wide variety of natural resources in abundance. Many have been despoiled and are being used up at a tremendous rate. The oil fields, the mines, the forests, have been diminishing rapidly. To maintain the place which these western states must occupy in our nation, irrigation must be developed to replace these diminishing resources. The bureau of reclamation is fully convinced that the most important factor in the future well-being of the west will continue to be irrigation.
There are on file with the bureau of reclamation applications from 400 areas in the west for studies of proposed irrigation projects. The bureau investigational program should be pushed so that a complete inventory of irrigation possibilities will be available as soon as possible.
The bureau of reclamation was set up for the primary purpose of developing land and creating new opportunities. Its field of operation has in general been that of large undertakings. The scope of the work should now be extended to include many isolated projects of insufficient size to demand attention heretofore. Many such projects have been proposed by several of the western states. They include supplemental water supplies and improvement of canal systems for areas ranging in size from a few hundred to a few thousand acres. Because of the value of these small projects in cementing the structures of the states, and because of their great number, they are of increasing importance. Wyoming alone has listed several hundred projects of this type. Construction of these projects will become an important part of the national program for control of little waters.
The development of hydroelectric power should be considered in the study of all projects, and where feasible power should be included in order that efficiency of water can be increased by double usage in order that water users may have the benefit of power generation.
Flood control also should be considered in the planning of all storage reservoirs, and the cost of providing this benefit should not be assessed against the irrigated lands.
These plans, together with vigorous prosecution of work now under way and contemplated, will form the future program of the bureau of reclamation. However, it would be inconsistent on the part of the west to press demands for further moratoria on project repayments and support these plans for further expendi-tures. The congress can not be expected to continue appropriating funds for construction if representations are made at the same time that completed projects are incapable of returning the invest-ment of the federal governinvest-ment to them.
The western states must also realize that most of the large projects now being proposed are so complex and costly that few can meet the present requirement of the reclamation law that the investment be repaid in 40 years. The western states should give this situation serious consideration in order that a determination can be made concerning the method of financing these projects. More liberal terms on the part of the federal government might be justified in some instances. It is conceivable that state co-operation might be required. Perhaps a different method of assessing the costs of projects would be helpful, especially in instances where there are multiple tangible benefits. Perhaps some other basis can be found. In any case, this subject is worthy of careful thought.
It is hoped that a commission can be appointed to make a thorough study of financing, repayment and other policies of the bureau of reclamation for future guidance.
Reclamation is at the crossroads, and the best thought of the west should be applied to the problems confronting us. We must not lose sight of our purposes. We must solve these problems which have been growing in importance through the years. Tinder the leadership of the late Dr. Elwood Mead reclamation went steadily forward. It must continue to do so.
The objectives of the bureau of reclamation can not be more completely defined, nor the achievements more clearly set forth, than in these words of Dr. Mead:
"The fundamental idea of the reclamation act was the creation of homes, and in that it has been preeminently suc-cessful."
The bureau of reclamation has been honored in the past by fine support of its work on the part of all the western states. It will hope to justify your confidence in the future.
PRESENT STATUS OF RECLAMATION PROJECTS R. F. Walter, Chief Engineer, Bureau of Reclamation
With the advent of 1933, due to the result of moratoriums on payment of construction charges, beginning with the year 1930, and the falling off of royalties from oil and minerals, the reclamation fund was practically depleted and except for the Boulder dam, then in its early stages of construction, it appeared that the rec-lamation bureau would be insolvent for some time to come, as twenty-five million dollars had been borrowed from the general treasury to earlier complete several projects, of which only ten million had been repaid. This would even under more prosperous circumstances require all the available assets of the reclamation fund for several years.
As it is said to be darkest just before dawn, so with federal reclamation, which was fast fading out of the picture, to be suddenly revived by a program of reclamation of the arid west, far beyond the fondest dreams of the most optimistic. Of the approximately nine billion dollars appropriated during the following three years for emergency purposes, the bureau of reclamation has received to date $232,591,000 or about 2½%, which was about equal to all the resources of the reclamation fund during the 31 years since the passage of the reclamation act in 1902.
This situation found the reclamation bureau well prepared with a number of feasible projects fully investigated and ready for initiation of construction, which accounts for the large allotments made to reclamation and the subsequent construction of many dams and irrigation projects, which although meritorious, it was believed, had little chance of attainment for many years to come.
The ten year program proposed for an expenditure of ten million dollars a year, for which the bureau was preparing under what was considered by most everyone as a "pipe dream," was rapidly advanced to a six year status and augmented by the investigation of many new projects, many of which have been found feasible and placed in line for future realization, as additional funds become available.
This augmented reclamation program has been spread over thirteen states and the territory of Hawaii. It has involved the completion of the great Boulder dam and the salvation of the empire in the Imperial valley, as well as benefiting the entire Pacific southwest. It has made possible the commencement of con-struction of the Grand Coulee dam and the Columbia Basin project, a project that will create another empire and be a similar benefit to the Pacific northwest. It has made possible the improvement of 19 existing federal reclamation projects, ranging from the con-struction of badly needed drains to that of supplemental water supplies through construction of additional dams.
Twenty-five new major dams, the construction of which was authorized under this program during the past three years, are
in various stages of progress. Three were completed and in service during the 1936 irrigation season.
All but two, which were delayed by legal requirements, are under construction or contract, several of which are nearing com-pletion or will be completed during the coming year.
In order to be prepared for future emergencies, when quick action will again be called for, sixteen major investigations are in progress, from which long range planning at least may result. If the present investigation of new opportunities should result in feasibility, with the demand and subsequent adoption of the usual number of such projects by congress, the cost of the completed projects in the six year program upon which the bureau of reclama-tion is engaged, including the Columbia Basin and Central Valley projects, would represent an investment of some $956,797,000, of which $176,647,000 has been expended and obligated to June 30th last and $122,204,000 was available to continue the work, purchase materials, and for the encumbrance for new contracts during the present fiscal year. This would require the expenditure of an average of over $50,000,000 per year for the next six years for reclamation of the arid west, with requirement for an expenditure of nearly $400,000,000 after 1943 to complete all of them.
These are indeed very large figures and a few years ago would have been considered astounding, but the rate of progress represents only about one-half of that which has been accomplished by the bureau during the past three years.
I am sure that everyone present is interested in some special development of the reclamation in some particular locality, and for their benefit I have compiled a brief summarized statement of the progress in the various states, as follows:
ARIZONA
Gila Valley project—Construction of a main canal and laterals for use on a desert area of 150,000 acres within the United States of a portion of the water conserved by construction of Boulder dam. By allotment and appropriation a total of $3,118,000 has been made available for this project. The ultimate cost is estimated at $20,000,000. Two contracts have been let and work is actively in progress.
Colorado river Indian surveys—A public works allotment of $25,000 was made to the bureau of reclamation for surveying and studying the feasibility of a project on the Colorado river Indian reservation near Parker, Arizona. This allotment was subsequently transferred to the Indian bureau.
Nutt 1?iver project—By allotment and appropriation $5,000,000 has been made available for the construction of Bartlett dam on the Verde river in Arizona, now under way, to conserve additional
waters for use on the old and well established Salt river valley federal reclamation project, where settlement of more land than the present water supply will properly irrigate has been peripitted. In addition, more adequate spillways are being installed in a series
of dams on the Salt river, built by the Water Users Association 1 for development of power, under this project. The ultimate cost
of this development is $6,894,000 and all features are under con-struction at this time.
Yuma project, which has been in operation for three decades, received an allotment of $85,000 from the public works administra-tion for construcadministra-tion of drains.
A public works allotment of $150,000 was made for investi-gations on the Verde river, which resulted in its abandonment due to lack of water supply and high per acre cost.
CALIFORNIA
The all-American canal, one feature of the Boulder canyon project, was launched late in 1933 with a public works allotment of $9,000,000. Subsequently, an allotment of $11,500,000 was received from emergency relief sources and an appropriation made of $6,500,000, bringing the total of money available for this work to $27,000,000. All-American canal will replace the present main canal serving the Imperial valley in California which loops 50 miles through Mexican territory. In addition, a new type of head-works being constructed with Imperial dam will provide a means for desilting the water and thereby saving in maintenance cost of canals $1,000,000 a year to the Imperial valley irrigators. The authorized expenditure is $38,500,000. The project is about one-half completed.
Central Valley—Central Valley project, designed to redistribute the waters of the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys of central California and to prevent the reversion to desert of lands valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, was approved by the president and received an allotment of $8,100,000 from emergency funds, and an appropriation of $6,900,000 bringing to $15,000,000 the amount available for commencement of construction of the project. The ultimate cost is estimated at $170,000,000. This project is only awaiting the completion of legal preliminaries for actual construc-tion to begin.
Klamath project—A public works allotment of $25,000 and an emergency relief allotment of $135,000 was made for construction of dikes and drains and completion of laterals in the Tule lake division of the Klamath project.
COLORADO
Public works allotments in the following amounts were made for investigation of various proposed developments in Colorado:
Blue river-South Platte tran-mountain tunnel, $100,000; eastern slope surveys, $100,000; western slope surveys, $150,000; Colorado-Big Thompson trans-mountain diversion, $150,000; Rio Grande surveys, San Luis valley project, $5,000. These surveys have either been completed or are nearing completion at this time, with definite progress made toward finally determining the feasibility and ad-visability of undertaking construction.
For construction of the Pine river dam, $1,000,000 was appro-priated. The ultimate cost will be $2,600,000 when completed.
Construction of new works on the Grand valley project, an old operating project. For this $200,000 was appropriated.
An allotment of $2,725,000 was made from public works funds for additional storage for and improvements to the Uncompahgre project, the improvements including the construction of Taylor park dam for further regulation and conservation of the water supply of this area, drainage, for which $500,000 was set aside, and the lining of the Gunnison tunnel, for which $300,000 was earmarked.
A small allotment of $20,000 was made to the bureau of rec-lamation for improvement to its permanent offices in Denver where the engineering division is housed.
IDAHO
Allotments and appropriations were made for three separate programs of work on the Boise project. These included a public works allotment of $15,000 and an appropriation of $160,000 for drainage work; an emergency relief allotment of $600,000 for raising and repairing Arrowrock dam; and an emergency relief allotment of $700,000 and an appropriation of $1,000,000 for commencement of construction on the Payette division of the project; the canals of which will serve about $35,000 acres of lands originally included
within the confines of the project.
Minidoka project received an allotment of $30,000 for com-pletion of the Gooding division.
An allotment of $2,000,000 of public works funds was made for construction of the upper Snake river project, by which the waters of this stream will be regulated and conserved for the use of irrigators along its course. Construction of Island park and Grassy lake dams is involved. Both are under contract at this time.
• MONTANA
Bitter root project in Montana received a public works allot-ment of $100,000 and an emergency relief allotallot-ment of $200,000. With this money the old irrigation system of this project is being rehabilitated.
The Buffalo rapids project was investigated with an allotment of $25,000 made from public works funds.
The Frenchtown project was constructed with a public works allotment of $180,000 and an emergency allotment of $60,000. The work included construction of irrigation structures and canals, which are now completed.
Chain of lakes storage project received a public works allotment of $1,750,000 for construction which includes the building of Fresno dam. This will augment the supply of the Milk river project.
Milk river project, an old operating project, received an allot-ment of $75,000 of public works funds for construction of additional laterals and structures.
The Sun river project received a public works allotment of $950,000 and an emergency relief allotment of $215,000 for enlarge-ment of the main canal, completion of the spillway in Gibson reservoir, construction of drains and drain structures and extension of the canal and lateral system of 40,000 acres of new land.
NEBRASKA
An allotment of $30,000 for water supply studies in the Platte valley was made. This project is being constructed by the land owners with a loan and grant of public works funds.
NEVADA
The Rye Patch dam was constructed on the Humboldt river with an allotment of $1,400,000. This provides regulation and conserva-tion of the waters of the Humboldt river for the benefit of one of the most important agricultural areas in the state of Nevada. It is completed and in service.
Truckee river storage project received an allotment of $1,000,000 for use in construction of Boca dam on the Little Truckee river in California for the purpose of regulating the water supply to lands in the Truckee meadows near Reno. Award of the contract for construction is pending.
NEW MEXICO
Rio Grande project received a public works allotment of $200,000 for construction of drains and improvement of the lateral system on the Rio Grande project.
Carlsbad project received an emergency relief allotment of $1,000,000 and an appropriation of $900,000 for construction of the Alamogordo dam which is necessary to replace leaky storage facilities built before the project was taken over and rehabilitated by the federal government.
Caballo dam on the Rio Grande river is being constructed by the bureau of reclamation with a public works allotment of
$1,500,000 granted the international boundary commission of the state department and an allotment of $950,000 to the bureau of reclamation, in conjunction with the international boundary com-mission's program for the rectification of the Rio Grande. It is under construction. Caballo dam will also serve to regulate the water released from the Elephant butte dam of the Rio Grande federal reclamation project and make possible future power de-velopment, long under consideration at the Elephant butte dam. A public works allotment of $140,000 also was made for an investigation of the waters of the Rio Grande basin in the states of Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado, in cooperation with the national resources committee.
A public works allotment of $30,000 also was received to investigate irrigation possibilities under the Conchas dam being built for flood control by the war department corps of engineers.
OREGON
The Burnt river project received an emergency relief allotment of $600,000 for the construction of Unity dam, now under way on the Burnt river and the regulation of the water supply for the irrigators along that stream.
A public works allotment of $65,000 and appropriation of $450,000 was made for commencement of construction of the Deschutes project in central Oregon, the ultimate construction to include construction of the Wickiup dam on Deschutes river and the necessary canals for the irrigation of 50,000 acres. Construction is being delayed by the necessity for additional investigations.
An investigation of the Grande Ronde river was financed with a $10,000 allotment from public works, and $4,000 advanced by Grande Ronde Reservoir Company.
The main division of the Klamath .project in southern Oregon received an allotment of $36,000 from public works for additional drainage.
Construction of the Owyhee project was completed with a public works allotment of $5,000,000, an emergency relief allotment of $100,000 and an appropriation of $200,000.
The Stanfield project received a public works allotment of $100,000 for rehabilitating of its irrigation system.
Surveys were made of the Umatilla river with $10,000 made available by the public works administration and $5,000 advanced by Pendleton, Oregon.
The Vale project was completed with a public works allotment of $1,000,000 and an emergency relief allotment of $340,000. Construction under these allotments included the building of Agency valley dam, now completed and in service.
