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October 15, 16, 17, 1941
ANNUAL PRECIPITATION 2 TO 30 INCHES • ANNUAL PRECIPITATION 30 TO 80 INCHES •
U. S. Weather Bureau
WHY AND WHERE IRRIGATION IS NECESSARY
National Reclamation Association
1119 National Press Building Washington, D. C.
Washington
October 8, 1941. My dear Mr. Warden:
In troubled 1941, it is good that such organizations as the Na-tional Reclamation Association are meeting to face the problems which have been forced upon us by the rise in the world of military dictatorships. Our democracy meets the evil force without giving ground. An enlightened people determine their course through discussion at open meetings. We, as a people, are demonstrating the strong stuff of which a free society is made.
Federal Reclamation, as you have every reason to know, is near my heart. I have sponsored its growth and development. The conservation policy of my administration has fostered the develop-mott -,)f western waters for multiple uses, the better to serve largerail numbers of c2.4z,ens.
This is a time when defense demands our attention. Emphasis must be placed on public works that fit the immediate national defense need. Thus, power will be the element in the multiple-purpose projects which will, in most instances, determine whether and when construction shall be started. In the meantime, the Bureau of Reclamation shall continue to study potential develop-ments so that a shelf of feasible projects will be ready when the victory shall have been won and we can again resume building America.
Sincerely yours,
(s) FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. Mr. 0. S. Warden,
President, National Reclamation Association, Care of the Westward Ho Hotel,
HIGHLIGHTS FROM HEADLINERS
"The wildest reclamation dreams of former years z_..e How being
written into a tremendous accomplishment." —From President Warden's Annual Address.
"In fact, in ten years federal reclamation has been promoted by Congress from the whipping boy to an honored position of promi-nence."
—From the Secretary-Manager's Annual Report.
"It was no one man's work; it was the work of thousands of men from one end to the other of this great land of ours, and I hope that every man here who believes in the future of this country will take up the work and carry it forward."
—From the statement of George H. Maxwell. -Father of the Reclamation Act."
"The 'policy makers' . . . apparently are insisting on getti”,., hold of their hydro-electric development, seeming to think iat. . . it can be operated better from Washington than it .(1.1 by farmers themselves."
—From Lin B. Orme's address on - Water Users'
Problems.-"Remember this, stick together. We will build the West into a better land than Horace Greeley ever dreamed, on a sound, lasting foundation, by irrigation."
—From John J. Dempsey's address on "Western
Derclopment.-"In the development of the waters of the West, power is a subor-dinate project, suborsubor-dinate to the primary needs of domestic-use and irrigation."
—From Abe Fortas' address "Relation of Power to Reclama-tion."
"Now as never before, we must project our plans far beyond our present horizons. If we do, and I am counting on your help, this year will be among the most significant in the history of federal reclama-tion."
ress."
_From. iv. Iv. Nhocniaker's addreNs terextm of the Manufac-turer in Recl(,mation."
"In the meantime, the Bureau of Reclamation shall continue to study potential developments so that a shelf of feasible projects will be ready when the victory shall have been won and we can again resume building America."
—From Franklin I). Roosevelt's October 8t1t letter to President Warden.
-If we were to maintain an average flow of the units of produc-tion and stabilize the price per unit, our income wouldn't fluctuate."
-From curl Wilkin's address "The Farm: Problem."
"That sugar is a problem hard to solve and something to be dealt with in accordance with the views of experts, is not correct in my opinion."
—From E. W. Rising's address "The Sugar Picture Today."
"But perhaps the greatest help can be given during the acquisi-tion of the rights-of-way and water rights, in the breakdown of large land holdings, and in the negotiations of the repayment contract." —From Wesley R. Nelson's address "Wheeler-rase Projects— Their Problems and Progress."
"We need the mountains, the hills and the great protected back country or we can not have sufficient water for our valleys."
—From W. 8. Rosecran's address "Forest Management and Rec-ta mat ion."
"Possibly no other group has a more vital stake in the proper care of the forests on our watersheds than the water users."
—From Earl H. Clapp's address "Derelopment and rare of the Forests In Our Watersheds."
"Irrigation development has been moving eastward and the de-velopment of inland waterways for navigation has been moving westward, both developments finally meeting in the Great Plains
region.--From R. J. Tipton's address "Priorities in the Beneficial Use of Water."
"It should be understood at the outset that in this discussion, or so far as any position taken by this Association is concerned, the question of private versus public power is not involved."
—From Clifford H. Stone's address "New and Pending Water Legislation."
"It will be 43 years before maximum dryness will occur." —From Halbert P. Gillette's speech "A Menacing Long Series of Droughts."
"The settlement of a good reclamation project is largely a prob-lem of commonsense advertising, designed to reach experienced irri-gation farmers with a fair amount of capital."
—From Clifford Saynor's address "The Settlement of Irriga-tion Projects."
"Frankly, your Association and the Department of Agriculture have not always seen eye to eye, but today we are, so far as I know, in subtantial agreement on our goal, our methods, and our respon-sibilities."
—From M. S. Eisenhower's address "Changing Attitudes in Agriculture."
"Civilization does begin and end with the Plow. The land is the ultimate national resource."
—From Ralph Bradford's address ''The National Values of Western Resources."
"We must also contend with an evil from abroad which now necessitates the consumption in an increasing measure of the same materials which are required in our reclamation program."
National Reclamation Association
1119 National Press Building \Vashington, D. C.
0. S. WARDEN ORA BUNDY ROBERT W. SAWYER J. A. FORD
(1941-1942)
OFFICERS FLOYD 0. HAGIE -DIRECTORS Huth) B. FARMER, Yuma, ArizonaJ. R. FAUVER, Exeter, California CLIFFORD H. STONE, Denver, Colorado N. V. SHARP, Filer, Idaho
E. PORTER AHERNS, Scandia, Kansas 0. S. WARDEN, Great Falls, Montana H. D. STRUNK, McCook, Nebraska A. M. SMITH, Carson City Nevada
PERRY W. JENKINs, Cora, Wyoming
- - President First Vice President Second Vice President Treasurer - Seei•etary-Manager
E. W. BOWEN, Tucumcari, New Mexico HARRY E. POLK, Williston, North Dakota FRANK RAAB, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma ROBERT W. SAWYER, Bend, Oregon W. D. BUCHOLZ, Newell, South Dakota R. E. BASKIN, Seymour, Texas ORA BUNDY, Ogden, Utah J. A. FORD, Spokane, Washington
Program
TENTH ANNUAL MEETING October 15, 16, 17, 1941
Phoenix, Arizona
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15
9 : 00 A. M. to 1:00 P. M.—REGISTRATION OF DELEGATES--Hotel Westward Ho
(Note: A registration desk will be open from 7 P. M. to 11 P. M. Tuesday evening, October 14, at the Westward Ho for the con-venience of those who wish to register at that time.)
.1. M. to 12:00—STATE CAUCUSES With the following order of business:
Elect members of Legislative Committee Elect members of Resolutions Committee Elect Director
Discuss reclamation problems and policies of the state, including budget and state quota
Wednesday Afternoon Fiesta Room, Hotel Westward Ho 1:30 P.M.—FIRST CONVENTION SESSION
4:311
1:35 P.M.—INVOCATION
Dr. R. N. Merril, First Methodist Church, Phoenix, Arizona 1:40 P.M.—WHAT ABOUT PHOENIX
Dr. Reed Shupe, Mayor of Phoenix 1:50 P.M.—WHAT ABOUT ARIZONA
Hon. Sidney P. Osborn, Governor of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona 2:011 P.M.--PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS
0. S. Warden, Publisher, Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls, Montana 2:3(1 P.M.--TREASURER'S REPORT
J. A. Ford, Manager, Spokane Chamber of Commerce, Spokane, Washington.
2:4)1 '.M —SECRETARY-MANAGER'S REPORT
F. 0. Hagie, Secretary-Manager, National Reclamation Association, Washington, D. C.
3: I I) P.M.—HONORING GEORGE H. MAXWELL
Executive Director of the National Reclamation Association which was organized as the National Irrigation Association on June 2, 1899—Father of the Reclamation Act of 1902.
:(:2(1 P.M.—REPORTS ON STATE CAUCUSES
By Director from each State (5 minutes each) P.M.—ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT
Wednesday Evening
6:30 P.M.—DINNER MEETING OF DIRECTORS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE Continental Room, Hotel Westward Ho
President 0. S. Warden, presiding
Advisory Committee composed of Director, Member of Legislative Committee, Member of Resolutions Committee from each state, and two others from each state chosen by the Director. 7:30 P.M.—WATER USERS' FORUM
Fiesta Room, Hotel Westward Ho
Raymond A. Hill, Consulting Engineer, Los Angeles, presiding Motion Picture, "THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE DESERT"
By Lin Orme, President, Salt River Valley Users' Association, Phoenix, Arizona.
An informal discussion of the probems of water users.
Program Chairman—Lin B. Orme, President, Salt River Valley Water Users' Association, Phoenix, Arizona
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16 Fiesta Room, Hotel Westward Ho President 0. S. Warden, presiding 9:45 A.M.—WESTERN DEVELOPMENT
John J. Dempsey, Under Secretary, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C.
10:05 A.M.—RELATION OF POWER TO RECLAMATION
Abe Fortas, Acting Director, Division of Power, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C.
10:35 A.M.—TODAY'S RECLAMATION PROGRAM
John C. Page, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Washington, D. C.
11:00 A.M.—JOHN C. PAGE QUESTION BOX
During this hour Commissioner Page will answer questions sub-mitted in writing not later than 7 P. M., Wednesday, October 15. If time permits, he will also answer questions from the floor. 11:50 A.M.—OFFICIAL CONVENTION PHOTOGRAPH
In the Patio, Hotel Westward Ho 12:15 P.M.—LUNCHEON
Patio, Hotel Westward Ho Auspices Convention Committee
Ora Bundy, First Vice President, Ogden, Utah, presiding 12:45 P.M.—ENTERTAINMENT
1:00 P.M.—INTERESTS OF THE MANUFACTURER IN RECLAMATION W. W. Shoemaker, Chairman, Agricultural Committee, National Association of Manufacturers, and Vice President, Armour & Company, Chicago, Illinois.
1:30 P.M.—ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT
Thursday Afternoon Fiesta Room, Hotel Westward Ho President 0. S. Warden, presiding
2:00 P.M.—THE PROBLEMS OF AGRICULTURE
Carl H. Wilkin, Economic Analyst, Raw Materials National Coun-cil, Sioux City, Iowa.
2:25 P.M.—THE SUGAR PICTURE TODAY
E. W. Rising, Executive Vice President, Western Beet Growers Association, Nampa, Idaho
2:50 P.M.—WHEELER-CASE PROJECTS—THEIR PROBLEMS AND PROGRESS
Wesley R. Nelson, Chief Engineering Division, Bureau of Recla-mation, Washington, D. C.
3:20 P.M.—ANSWERS BY SPEAKERS TO QUESTIONS ON ANY OF ABOVE SUBJECTS
4:00 P.M.—TOUR OF SALT RIVER PROJECT
Ending with dinner at Steam Plant of C. A. L. & P. Co.
Thursday Evening
7:00 P.M.—STEAK DINNER AT STEAM PLANT C. A. L. & P. Company, Hosts
William R. Wallace, presiding
Informal speeches by visiting Governors, Congressmen, Senators and distinguished guests.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17 Fiesta Room, Hotel Westward Ho President 0. S. Warden, presiding 9:45 A.M.—FOREST MANAGEMENT AND RECLAMATION
W. S. Rosecrans, President, American Forestry Association, Los Angeles, California.
10:10 A.M.—DEVELOPMENT AND CARE OF THE FORESTS IN OUR WATERSHEDS
Earl H. Clapp, Acting Chief Forester, U. S. Forest Service, Wash-ington, D. C.
10:30 A.M.—EVALUATION OF PRIORITIES IN BENEFICIAL USE OF WATER
Royce J. Tipton, Consulting Engineer, Denver, Colorado 11:00 A.M.—NEW AND PENDING WATER LEGISLATION
Clifford H. Stone, Director, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Denver, Colorado
11:30 A.M.—ANSWERS BY SPEAKERS TO QUESTIONS ON ANY OF ABOVE SUBJECTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT 12:15 P.M.—LUNCHEON
Patio, Hotel Westward Ho Auspices of Convention Committee
J. R. Fauver, Director, Exeter, California, presiding 12:45 P.M.—ENTERTAINMENT
1:00 P.M.—A MENACING LONG DROUGHT
Halbert P. Gillette, President, Gillette Publishing Co., San Ma-rino, California
1:30 P.M.—ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT Friday Afternoon
Fiesta Room, Hotel Westward Ho President 0. S. Warden, presiding
2:00 P.M.—THE SETTLEMENT OF IRRIGATION PROJECTS
Clifford Kaynor, Publisher, Ellensburg Daily Record, Ellensburg, Washington
2:25 P.M.—CHANGING ATTITUDES IN AGRICULTURE
Milton S. Eisenhower, Coordinator, Land Use Program, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.
2:50 P.M.—THE NATIONAL VALUES OF WESTERN RESOURCES Ralph Bradford, Secretary, United States Chamber of Commerce,
Washington, D. C. 3:15 P.M.—BUSINESS SESSION
Report of Auditing Committee Report of Budget Committee Report of Legislative Committee Report of Resolutions Committee Selection of next Convention City
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT 4:00 P.M.—MEETING OF NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS
7:30 P.M.—TENTH ANNUAL BANQUET
Patio, Westward Ho Hotel
Auspices of Phoenix Convention Committee (Informal)
TOASTMASTER
Dr. Alfred Atkinson, President, University of Arizona, Tucson ENTERTAINMENT
Floor Show Troubadours Dancing
MESSAGES FROM FRIENDS OF RECLAMATION President 0. S. Warden
ADDRESS
FOREWORD
In the interests of brevity and economy, this printed proceed-ings of the Tenth Annual Meeting of the National Reclamation Association has been reduced to a reproduction of the vital part of the addresses, speeches, papers and discussions as outlined in the printed program.
A reproduction of the reports of committees, including resolu-tions adopted, copies of testimonials of appreciation presented to Hon. Carl Hayden, United States Senator from Arizona, and to Mr. George H. Maxwell, "Father of the Reclamation Act," as well as messages from a few of Reclamation's friends, in-cluding one from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, have also been made a part of this report.
The annual meeting and convention was participated in by 939 registered delegates from 22 states, the District of Columbia, and the Republic of Mexico.
The addresses, speeches and discussions were of a high order, covering a score of subjects pertaining to Reclamation and water conservation. The resolutions adopted by the convention out-line a program-of-work that should challenge the best efforts of individuals and all local, state, and federal agencies which are truly interested in advancing the Federal Reclamation pro-gram.
Five states—Arizona, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Utah—announced their intentions of organizing during the year state reclamation associations in order to better concentrate and coordinate local efforts upon irrigation and reclamation matters.
Bakersfield, California was chosen as the 1942 convention city.
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1J
4 \ PROCEEDINGS OF THE TENTH ANNUAL MEETINt;
National Reclamation Association
Hotel Westward Ho Phoenix, Arizona WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
October 15, 1941
FIRST CONVENTION SESSION President 0. S. Warden, presiding
CALL TO ORDER 1:30 P. M.
Mr. Warden : The tenth annual meeting of the National Reclamation Assoeiaticm will please be in order.
According to a ten-year custom, we will have the invocation by Dr. R. N. Merrill, of the First Methodist Church of Phoenix, and one of the leading Christian workers in the city.
INVOCATION
Dr. Merrill with delegates standing gave the invocation. IN MEMORY OF EDWARD T. TAYLOR
Mr. Warden: I would like to have the convention pause with me for a moment while we do honor to a great man who has recently passed away. Since our meeting a year ago, reclamation has suffered a great loss in the death of Edward T. Taylor of Colorado, who served the cause in his own state and at the Na-tional Capitol. A few weeks before his death I was at his office. We were in council about what we should do for the cause of Reclamation during the next Congress.
I will ask you to rise and let us stand a moment in respect to the memory of Honorable Edward T. Taylor of Colorado.
(Entire delegation stands for the moment in silence). Mr. Warden: Ladies and gentlemen—I remember a couple of years ago I came to Phoenix intending to stay two days. There were so many attractive things to see and so many pleasant people, I didn't get away for three weeks. I am more than pleased, then, to come back here and hold this convention in the beautiful city of Phoenix. Of course we wish to have a salutation from the head of its government and to learn what his plans for us are while we are here.
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I have the privilege of introducing Dr. Reed Shupe, the Mayor of Phoenix.
ADDRESS OF WELCOME Dr. Reed Shupe, Mayor of Phoenix
Dr. Shupe: It is a real pleasure and honor to welcome this eminently important convention to the city of Phoenix.
The Hohokam pre-colombian period, when a highly developed culture thrived in this valley, is far removed from today. This an-cient people developed at least one hundred twenty-five miles of canal to irrigate this valley, which was spotted by at least twenty-two farming communities. Then something happened—for one thing, the land became water-logged and alkali-crusted. These people were apparently unaware of the benefits of drainage, and consequently, a destroying drought, together with the attacks of hostile tribes, consumed a progressive, cultured civilization.
How well the name of Phoenix is taken for this beautiful city. As the legend goes, every five hundred years this bird Phoenix of extravagant reddish-golden plummage, was consumed by fire, only to rise again out of its own ashes, more splendid and beautiful than ever.
Phoenix has fulfilled the destiny of its namesake. It stands in the heart of millions of fertile acres which have been reclaimed from the dry Unproductive desert, by the life-giving waters of
irri-gation, on the ashes of an old civilization.
Phoenix owes most of its growth to this fertile valley which surrounds it, and today it pays homage to the vision and industry of the men who made this fertility possible.
We look at this convention with great anxiety and interest because our hopes and lives are intimately concerned with the programs developed here. We hope the accomplishments of the past with their many benefits to mankind will give us added in-spiration to work diligently and co-operatively in the solution of our present problems.
We are proud and happy to welcome the members of this con-vention to Phoenix, and hope your stay will be so pleasant that you will wish to come again.
Mr. Warden: We have heard about the city of Phoenix. For many long years the members of this Association have been told about the state of Arizona, about its scenery, its fruits and everything else. The idea has been given to this convention that the state of Arizona is the consummation of all that the great West
affords in the way of benefits and pleasures we may enjoy. We will have a further message from the governor of the state of Arizona, the Honorable Sidney P. Osborn.
ADDRESS OF WELCOME
Hon. Sidney P. Osborn, Governor of Arizona
After an intimate discussion of the development of the water resources of the state of Arizona in accord with the desire of the people of his state, Governor Osborn spoke further regarding the Reclamation Act:
Time does not permit an extensive exploration or discussion of the provisions of the Reclamation Law, but some of its major features may be briefly examined. It seems unfortunate that the agency has been substantially limited in its activities by the lan-guage of the Act in the establishment or associating its services only with what has heretofore been designated as "Federal Irriga-tion Projects."
Considering the limitations imposed on this Bureau it is no great surprise to see that more lands have been developed outside the purview of the Reclamation Law, than within it. The pioneers who envisioned the legislation never expected that the Agency would be prevented from assisting in the development of any meri-torious agricultural project and until the Reclamation Bureau conceives its purpose as synonymous with giving reasonable aid to agricultural regions or localities without distinction between mere project origins, designations, or administrative machinery, it will not meet the broad and farsighted concept of its founders.
Perhaps because of its legal limitations in the Reclamation Act, or because of the limitations of its applied policies, substan-tially every Western state, for the past quarter of a century, has sought to provide the necessary enabling legislation for the devel-opment of its important and necessary agricultural regions, which for various reasons could not secure the attention or aid .of the Reclamation Bureau.
The proof of this fact is found in the great variety of state agencies now existing and only by such means have the different localities been able to develop their land.
We have today Irrigation Districts, Power Districts, Agricul-tural Improvement Districts, Cooperative Enterprises, and other State Units too numerous to mention. These also, have had to fight for their place in the Social and Industrial Roster of accepted governmental agencies. There can be no doubt but that it was never the intention of the sponsors of the Reclamation Act that
14
they should go unaided 1).‘ ally National Agency that might •be cre-ated, and again I say that the proof of this is found in the elemen-tary provisions of various sections of the Reclamation Law.
By present sections :;72 and 383 of the Reclamation Law, U. S. ('ode, it was assumed that the Reclamation Bureau would respect the water laws of the States on inter-state streams where its works might be established. This, of course, included the doctrine of ap-propriation of water and its application to beneficial use. Without an excursion into detail, it is pertinent to point out that this prin-ciple must be faithfully observed in order that State rights shall not be disregarded—not necessarily by direct provisions but by subtle administrative practices and complicated requirements. This close observance of the provisions of the law, is an essential to the stability of the agricultural industry of the respective states; and to the continued respect for the prestige and dignity of the Reclamation Bureau; and certainly it is to be hoped that where these detrimental tendencies are being applied, the practices shall be summarily terminated, and that the laws of the State in which the Reclamation Bureau functions will receive their due and proper respect and consideration.
It is true that under section 524 of the Reclamation Act, U. S. Code, provision is made for certain kinds of cooperation with various State Agencies, but this permissive cooperation seems too limited to substantially accomplish its purpose.
In considering the scope of the Reclamation Act and its me-chanics, we may properly inquire as to whether the agency thus established, may not profitably be released from many of its im-pending legislative provisions and be enabled to act and function on a broad national basis where the "caste system" will not obtain, and where meritorious agricultural development enterprises— whether originally sponsored by State or Nation will receive rea-sonable aid and assistance.
It may be that within the frame work of our National Highway legislation, providing for various degrees of cooperation with re-spect to different classes of roads, we may find a solution for our problem and as a result the Reclamation Act will be so amended as to extend its benefits in relative measure to all meritious agricul-tural developments of the country whether originated locally or Federally.
If we examine section 522 of the Reclamation Act we find that it reads in part as follows:
"Whenever a development of power is necessary for the irrigation of lands, under any project undertaken under the said reclamation law, or an opportunity is afforded for the development of power under any such project, the Secretary
of the Interior is authorized to lease for a period not exceeding ten years, giving preference to municipal purposes, any surplus power or power privilege, and the moneys derived from such leases shall be covered into the reclamation fund and be placed to the credit of the project from which such power is derived: Provided, That no lease shall be made of such surplus power or power privileges as will impair the efficiency of the irriga-tion project."
We further see that this Agency set-up contemplates Construc-tion, Administration and Judicial activities, and this fact consid-ered in the light of practices which have developed, opens questions as to the future power policy of the Bureau. From my examination of this feature of the Reclamation Act, it is pertinent to inquire if the construction, administration and judicial functions may not be separated into sections to the great gain of the Bureau, and the benefit of the nation at large. Motive power is today the life-blood of the country. Its control and administration must be placed in the hands of some regulatory agency operating without the em-barrassment of other functions. Nationally we have engaged in the development of vast power enterprises within different regions of the country. The development of such power projects is one thing, and the regulation of the benefits flowing therefrom is another.
The present National administration is attempting to provide a yard stick by which prices for this essential necessity of our national life may be stabilized. This involves the question of regu-lation of national power prices. Just what form the machinery will finally take is a timely question.
Governor Osborn closed his impressive address with the fol-lowing welcoming remarks:
It is the desire of the people of Arizona that each member of this Convention should take away with him pleasant impressions and happy expressions of our hospitality. I have no wish to trouble or afflict you with our local problems, only as they are inseparably connected with larger national problems; and I trust that I will not be considered presumptious because I have placed before this great and powerful body some reasons for, and some arguments against an unsatisfactory power situation in Arizona.
It is to be hoped that the Reclamation Bureau, as an Agency of the Federal Government, will seek to provide the ways and means by which cooperation with all stable agricultural organiza-tions may be given and carried out; and will develop the required machinery to ascertain and make certain that the benefits of cheap power, developed by Federal projects, will be passed on to the ul-timate consumer, and not into the pockets of those who have so long exploited the electric power user.
16
In addition to the pleasure of acting as host to this Conven-tion—Arizona has an intimate historical interest in this gathering and in the results and things for which it stands.
Within this Valley where your Convention is meeting, was es-tablished the first Federal Irrigation Project authorized by the Reclamation Law. In the initiation and sponsoring of the Reclama-tion Law, Arizona, as a part of the great West, had a keen and practical interest. But it had more than that. Its delegate in Con-gress, Arizona, being at the time a Territory, and its citizens as a whole, like to feel that they contributed an honorable part in securing the enactment of the law. Arizona also feels that it is a matter of no small distinction that this state has been the labora-tory in which many of the problems of the Reclamation Bureau have been tested and settled—that here, valuable experiments have been made and experiences capitalized. Arizona also feels that by reason of its ideal agricultural soil and climate, no better labora-tory could have been selected for the Bureau's initial project; and in the building of the Roosevelt and other dams on the Salt, Tonto, Verde and Gila Rivers of Arizona, the United States Recla-mation Bureau was presented an inviting prospect, and that it developed that prospect with much credit to itself, and in ample vindication of those pioneers who envisioned the potentialities of the West, and of the agency for the establishment of which, they toiled so long and faithfully.
It is a pleasant duty on behalf of all of the people of Arizona to welcome you to our state. It is our hope that your stay will be pleasant; that you will remain for a long time and that you will come back again and again, and in the words of old Rip Van Winkle, it is our hope that you all live long and prosper.
Mr. Warden: In accord with a custom rather than a desire, at this time the President of your Association presents remarks call-ing attention to some of the problems that the Reclamation Asso-ciation must try to solve, and directing attention to work that needs to be done before our next annual convention in 1942.
THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 0. S. Warden, Publisher Great Falls Tribune,
Great Falls, Montana
I wish to thank the Tenth Annual Convention of the National Reclamation Association for patient attention and gracious con-sideration throughout the 6 years you have been kind enough to let me handle the gavel as your president. There have been many things for you to do, and you have done them well.
Not so long ago the 17 member states of the National Reclama-tion AssociaReclama-tion was the dwelling place of unmolested Indians. This broad domain was claimed by four different nations. They tell the story down in New Orleans that pioneer settlers up in the new wild country of Ohio and Kentucky sent bitter complaints to the Presi-dent of the ITnited States—Why, said they, should we stay in this venturesome country, trying to make it productive, if the French are to always keep the port at the mouth of the great Mississippi River—our only transportation way out. President Jefferson— himself a farmer—read these petitions and negotiated with France. The French reaction was—why keep a vast expanse of western land if we sell the harbor of New Orleans? In western parlance the French viewpoint was—take the hide with the cow. This was the Louisiana Purchase. The price was 15 million dollars. We gave Mexico 15 million dollars for California, Nevada and Utah—the most of New Mexico, Arizona and a part of Wyoming and Colorado. We annexed or took Texas—you may write your own history. The southern boundary of New Mexico was finally fixed and Uncle Sam paid Mexico another ten million dollars. The northern boundary was adjusted by treaty with Great Britain. Russia gave up its claim to west coast areas. There you have it, the title complete, and the fences located. The United States paid 40 million dollars for its 17-state western ranch. By way of good measure we got Louisi-ana, Arkansas and a part of Minnesota.
Now after a hundred years or so, the assessed valuation of property in these 17 states that you represent is well above a $17,000,000,000 total. The people who live in these states spend a billion dollars a year with eastern friends—buying their produc-tion and fabricated merchandise. We are good neighbors. Reclama-tion will enable us to buy billion dollar unit number two at the end of another generation—a market, if you please, of economic value greater than the foreign trade we have ever had, over all the seas, and with all foreign countries everywhere, at any time. That's the story of how we came into the national picture, and where we are now.
There were 100 years of reclamation in the west—through private investment and government assistance—from the time the missionary and the trapper diverted a little water from an isolated stream, up to this year 1941; before Congressman Leavy, in the House of Representatives at Washington, speaks of the great Grand Coulee Dam as the eighth wonder of the world. This century story is as well known to the delegates here assembled as the history of the 13 original colonies. In parenthesis I might add—you know more about Grand Coulee than you do about the other historic wonders of the would, although they have come down through the centuries in the histories you studied at school. Furthermore, I am not sure the Congressman from the state of Washington can
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hold the eighth place among the wonders of the world unless he will consent to add Boulder Dam and the Central Valley Project of California--making the wonder list up to an even ten.
The wildest reclamation dreams of former years are now being written into a tremendous accomplishment. We rub our eyes and wonder what next when we look upon Grand Coulee the greatest man-made dam in all the world—and when we are told that it will be the largest hydro-electric development upon the planet earth in 1943. Lake Mead at Boulder Dam becomes the biggest man-made lake—large enough to float a battleship—storing at the mo-ment ten thousand billion gallons of water—a governmo-ment enter-prise we were obliged to defend a few years ago. The Central Valley Project of California is shaping a new empire of fertility. Leaves will no longer wither upon the orange trees along the Sacra-mento and San Joaquin Rivers. A few days ago at Minot, North Da-kota, I listened to Engineer Sloan of the Bureau of Reclamation as he presented impressive reclamation possibilities, taking waters from the great Fort Peck Dam through diversion and the installation of power to Medicine Lake—then on over North Dakota to the Red River country, reclaiming perhaps 1,500,000 acres of land. I won-dered in amazed satisfaction what wonder of the world this will be. It is hardly enough to say that the heart of Reclamation beats with pride in this year 1941 when it comes into the record that we are storing 41,000,000 acre feet of water in 73 reservoirs-300,-000 gallons for each person who lives in the west.
Some day the history of Reclamation will be correctly and completely written—starting with the missionaries who irrigated land in the west—a by-product in the enterprise of saving souls. Private capital did what it could. That was chapter one.
President Theodore Roosevelt sent a message to Congress and we had the Reclamation Act. We were soon well into chapter two. Ten years ago a confeience of governors became the father and the mother of the National Reclamation Association. They wrote a constitution in which we were directed to cooperate and help the Bureau of Reclamation. This we have done. This we are doing. Politics has not been allowed to enter the door. Let me urge you to keep it out always. Inspiring progress has been reached in the third chapter of the Reclamation record. This is enough of history.
I would like to review briefly the 1941 Reclamation legisla-tion in the 77th Congress. The Pilgrim fathers of the Plymouth Colony started the fashion of being thankful. In the spirit of those earlier days the National Reclamation Association could hold a notable Thanksgiving day in this year 1941. For the first time, we have received just about all we asked for from the Congress. We can now believe the scripture—Ask and Ye Shall Receive. I am
ready to join with you in thankful appreciation of what the Ad-ministration, the Budget and the Congress are doing for Reclama-tion. In 1931 the total appropriation for Reclamation items was a little more than $9,000,000. In 1941, ten years later, the 77th Con-gress has made available, in one bill, a new high total of more than $100,000,000. This has been done in the presence of a demanding naticmal defense. The grim war clouds over the world do not hide rainbows in the reclamation sky. I think you may correctly believe that this Association has worked harder throughout the months since adjournment of the Great Falls Convention of 1940 than in any other year of its history. We were especially determined that there should be an adequate fund for engineering investigation, and a somewhat larger item for the building of the so-called
Case-Wheeler projects in the Great Plains area where the migration of destitute farmers has not stopped. This legislation, I am sure, will turn the trick if money is supplied for the engineering and the construction of these cooperative enterprises. The act was devised with much study. There may still be need of adjustment or amend-ment, but under its fundamental provisions thousands of farms may yet be saved—in four or five states where some farmers are finding it tough to hang on. With continuing patience and work reclamation will blanket the west. The Bureau of Reclamation has all the money it can spend in this 1941-1942 fiscal year. A few years ago such a situation would have been regarded as the realization of our fondest dreams. The government has been generous to the West—in reclamation and in bountiful relief. A great lesson has been learned if we plan wisely for the future. Listen to this—from July 1, 1933 to June 30, 1941, relief expenditure in the 17 Western states amounted to $2,823,364,318. If this great sum had been avail-able for reclamation the expenditure could have brought all the waters of the west into beneficial use before this time. What a cele-bration we could have staged at this convention!
I am confident in the faith that tile Reclamation boat will con-tinue to sail a well chartered course. However, some new issues have developed since we were in convention assembled, causing serious concern—a criss-cross of argument, in the western states, .as well as a continuing interest throughout the country. You will easily conclude that I refer to the so-called New River Decision of the United States Supreme Court relating to streams that are now capable, or that may in the future be prepared for navigation trans-port—also to the different proposed authority measures appearing in the Congress that would establish agencies within the principal watersheds of the country to acquire, construct and operate through large discretionary expenditure--but without detailed consent or approval by the Congress. The questions then that arise in connec-tion with these proposals are clearly of tremendous importance. There is, I am quite sure, general agreement that this Supreme Court decision puts a new and far-reaching control in the hands
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of the Federal government over the waters that flow in streams of the west where reclamation may be devised. There will have to be new conclusions if we are to accept developing ambitions of the government, and at the same time satisfy the states that de-sire to interpret, uphold and enforce some of their statutes here-tofore enacted. If we are to have mutually acceptable progress, there must develop a plan that will permit the government to look after its investments or whatever it may have to sell, and in a har-monious way bring about highly desirable natural resource de-velopment along our rivers--all the way from the head waters of the stream to the confluence, or the sea.
I am not speaking of compromises, but I think we should strive with all our might for an acceptable middle ground, using agencies that will construct and operate in fairness to the people, but without contentions between the government and the states. I am sure this can be done if we try hard enough. I hear extreme and scarehead statements on both sides of rigid arguments— whether in support on the one hand of a reasonable privilege that everyone feels the government should have, for instance to dis-pose of power, like the energy at Bonneville or Grand Coulee, or on the other hand defending the so-called blanket T. V. A. author-ities like the measure originally proposed by Congressman Rankin, or the Arkansas authority bill, or other bills of like sort now be-fore the Congress.
Where there is strenuous objection to these authorities it is on the ground that they give to a commission undesirable privilege to acquire, build and carry on enterprises in a watershed—privi-leges that have not been approved or appropriated for in severalty by the Congress. If these strenuous objections persist, progress may be greatly hindered by continuing fierce contention. Courts do not build much of anything.
Perhaps then, you will not consider it an impertinence if I suggest a way out. I think it is correct to say that the 17 states of our Association would be well satisfied with a law providing for the construction and development of our land and water re-sources—including incidental power—by the agencies heretofore. employed--the army—the Bureau of Reclamation and the Depart-ment of Agriculture with a statute providing quite clearly what each is to do—the projects to be recommended year by year to the President, the Budget and the Congress by a small evenly representative and economically conducted commission, appointed by the President, with the approval of the Senate. Such a com-mission could be fairly representative. This sort of a federal law, I believe, the National Reclamation Association would wisely sup-port. We may as well understand, I think, that the government will not invest or advance millions of money, then walk away and leave it. In any event, I would like to ask that you keep your thinking
clear, and your judgments cool, as we try to reach fair conclusions in this Convention—fair to the States—fair to the Government, from which we are asking so much—fair to the People who are now anxious about the benefits that ought to come to each par-ticular region from the development of its natural resources.
There is another warm question—not new but still urgent. Wherever Reclamation goes the growing of sugar beets wishes to follow. This is a cash crop in a non-surplus industry. Half a dozen states have wished to plan a progressively increased acreage. My own state would have planted 30,000 additional acres in 1941, and needs at least two new sugar factories. This Association, two years ago at Denver, advocated an orderly expansion of sugar beet acreage within the United States, and legislation favorable to the sugar industry by quota regulation and adequate tariffs. A year ago at the Great Falls convention the sugar resolution reiterated this position, again urging expansion of the production of beet sugar within the United States. The west will not accept a dif-ferent conclusion. I wish to be severely frank—not too critical. Four-fifths of our troubles over domestic sugar production ap-parently arise from the circumstance that two-thirds of the Cuban sugar industry is owned by United States capital. We are scrapping with our own people. They are resourceful too. The Western Beet Growers Association, a fine western organization, has found that out. A well-known western Senator a few weeks ago told the story in a public document. Ever since 1934 through tariff reduction, in-creasing purchases, and even an export-import bank loan to assist Cuban sugar production, we have been a better neighbor to Cuba than we have to the American farmer. A beet grower said to me the other day: "I'll go with you to help an island plantation worker —my part—but I don't want to send him my last shirt." That's just one opinion.
Perhaps some of you know that I personally support the social security and common people legislation enacted by the present administration at Washington, but I think the present sugar act is an un-American contrivance that has favored Cuba too much, has prevented the building of factories in new reclamation areas, and has held western farmers—many of them—in a vise so they have not been able to raise sugar beets at all. Announcement a few days ago by the Secretary of Agriculture that beets may be grown upon unrestricted acreage for a year, along with a larger sales quota, may open the door a small crack, but it doesn't begin to solve the domestic sugar problem. What we need is a new sugar law per-mitting dependable expansion over a period, and reaching all the way in its provisions from the beet field to the mouth of the con-sumer. We will have such a law if the beet growers, the cane growers, the factories and labor send a united petition to the Con-gress. When that day comes we will eat more of our own sugar. The west will celebrate that day.
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There is another touchy problem of intimate concern in the agricultural sections of the west. We hesitate to press for a full solution when international friendships have great value. It is the truth, however, that the so-called reciprocal trade treaties, so far entered into, have in a total reckoning injured American agri-culture and the home stock growing industry. If the farmer hasn't been sold all the way down the river, surely nothing has been done to help him paddle up the stream. The trading treaties so far have been largely to the disadvantage of the products of the ranch and the farm. I think it is true that already more than 200 reductions have been made in tariffs on agricultural and stock products. There have been no increases. Fifty million acres additional would be cultivated if we produced at home these products that we are bringing into the home market. In years before the war agri-cultural and stock exports were declining and imports were in-creasing. When there is world peace again, if the United States ever permits the destruction of the small farm home, the blessings
we most pray for will not come to our democracy.
The intimate concern of this Association includes every facility that has to do with the use of water upon the land. The stream flow in dependable rivers did not bother us for a while. Multiple projects however pushed our engineering far back into the water sheds. The water study reaches all the way from the small forest rivulet to its confluence with the larger stream, and on to the sea. It was a rude awakening when we found the forests gone in a thou-sand places, and the water levels falling year by year. It was a startling situation as we came to know we had exploited and mis-used great forest areas that formerly kept the high mountain snows till the thirsty days of mid-summer. Bewildered at first—we have learned a great lesson. Through reforestation, and otherwise, the watersheds must be restored if water levels are to be raised and moisture kept for the crop growing season. There is a plain duty ahead—the Federal government, and the states, putting aside sense-less quarreling about divisions or responsibility, should look to the broad welfare of the nation, and together protect the forests from destruction by fire, restore them to what they were when the Al-mighty turned them over to us. A statement by H. G. Wells the other day that Federal control of all natural resources will have to be a part of economic reform after the world war may make us stop and think, and perhaps do something about it. The National
Recla-mation Association can help solve the problem.
The blessings of reclamation are not all counted until we measure the forage crop contribution of irrigation in the valley and add it to adjoining grazing acres reaching far into the hills. A few thousand acres reclaimed along the stream may make a great area profitable in a unified support of livestock. The late Edward T. Taylor, long time chairman of the Appropriations Committee in
the House of Representatives at Washington and foremost recla-mation leader in this generation, had clearly in mind this double benefit when he wrote the Taylor Grazing Act. It remains for those of us who have been proud in following a great leader to perhaps amend the law with experience, but to realize the vision that in-spired the constant service of Mr. Taylor's whole life.
We cannot keep the veterans beyond the span of a life. Dr. Elwood Mead had to leave his desk when the reclamation plan was far from the fruition that cheers the faith of this convention. We are meeting today in the home city of George H. Maxwell, evangelist of the early days, who was preaching the gospel of reclamation in a wilderness of opposition when there were no friends in the Con-gress who wished to help the cause. I hope it will always be our custom to remember, and to fittingly honor the pioneer advocates of reclamation.
I must not extend these annual remarks. The curtain is rising upon a new reclamation picture. The work of this Association will broaden into a greater and a finer service. I wish I could live long enough to see many more green meadows close by the flow-ing stream, the pasture land that slopes away to the higher ground, and the sheltering forests that keep the snow that heaven gives because we do not have the rain, a completing consummation—this will be the finished picture of the new west—all the gifts of nature in the high mountains and the far reaching plains brought into a harmony of usefulness—a government leading the way and friendly sovereign states, building comfortable homes in a free country which in times of war or in times of peace are the unwaver-ing strength' of America.
MR. MORARITY OUTLINES ENTERTAINMENT
At this point Mr. Morarity of the local entertainment com-mittee outlined in detail an elaborate program of entertainment which the Phoenix Convention committee had arranged for dele-gagtes and their ladies, which included a steak dinner at which the Central Arizona Light & Power Company were the hosts of the entire convention.
Mr. Warden: This Association has a good Treasurer. I say "good" because he gives us a better report each year. Treasurer Ford will present his report.
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TREASURER'S REPORT J. A. Ford, Spokane, Washington
The fiscal year of the National Reclamation Association ends October 1st. Accordingly, and in compliance with the action of the board of directors, the books of the Treasurer and the books of the Secretary-Manager were audited as of October 1st and this report is based on that audit and report.
First, I submit the Cash statement of the Treasurer: CASH STATEMENT FOR 1940
Cash on hand, September 23, 1940 Budget collections from September 23, 1940
$ 6,731.76 to September 30, 1941 27,546.75
Total Cash Receipts for 1941 $34,278.51
DISBURSEMENTS, 1941:
Remittances to the Secretary $26,000.00 Treasurer's bond renewal premium 37.50
Bank exchange charges 24.90
Audit for 1940 27.50
Treasurer's expenses; postage, telegraph,
misc., office supplies 126.00
Total Disbursements by Treasurer,
1941 $26,215.90
Next I present the quota statement showing how much of its quota each state has raised and paid into the treasury up to October 1st.
NATIONAL RECLAMATION ASSOCIATION QUOTA STATEMENT September 30, 1941 State Due from 1940 Quota Quota 1941 Paid on 1940 Deficit Paid on 1941 Budget Balance Unpaid Arizona $ $ 1,200.00 $ $ 1,200.00 $ California 4,667.00 4,793.00 Cr. 126.00 Colorado 1,667.00 1,689.76 Cr. 22.76 Idaho 1,000.00 1,000.00 Kansas 487.00 487.00 Kansas 500.00 115.00 385.00 Montana 1,000.00 1,025.00 Cr. 25.00 Nebraska 190.00 190.00 Nebraska 500.00 113.50 386.50 Nevada 49.00 49.00 Nevada 267.00 144.00 123.00 New Mexico 79.00 79.00 New Mexico 500.00 54.00 446.00 North Dakota 105.00 105.00 North Dakota 250.00 259.00 Cr. 9.00 Oklahoma 170.00 170.00 Oklahoma 500.00 147.00 353.00 Oregon 1,000.00 1,000.00 South Dakota 250.00 262.00 Cr. 12.00 Texas 395.00 236.25 158.75 Texas 500.00 500.00 Utah 1,000.00 536.00 464.00 Washington 663.50 663.50 Washington 4,667.00 4,363.50 303.50 Wyoming 516.00 516.00 Wyoming 1,000.00 1,046.00 Cr. 46.00 Miscellaneous 10,000.00 7,433.00 2,567.00 $ 2,654.50 $30,468.00 $ 2,495.75 $25,180.76 $ 5,445.99
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Next I want to submit the financial statement of the Secretary-Manager.
NATIONAL RECLAMATION ASSOCIATION
STATEMENT OF CASH RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF THE WASHINGTON, D. C., OFFICE, F. 0. HAGIE, SECRETARY-MANAGER,
FOR THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 16, 1940, TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1941 Cash on hand, September 16, 1940
Cash received from J. A. Ford, Treasurer Total cash Budget Allowance for $ 353.41 28,000.00 $28,353.41 Expenditures for Period Sept. 16, 1940, to DISBURSEMENTS One Year Sept. 30, 1941 President's budget, including
travel and expense $ 2,000.00 $
Secretary's travel expense 3,000.00 2,217.47 Furniture and fixtures 300.00 125.50 Rent ($40 extra electric current
included in rent figure) 1,800.00 1,860.00 Office supplies 300.00 269.69 Printing and Mimeographing 4,200.00 3,873.27 Postage and express 1,200.00 1,139.71 Telephone and telegraph 600,00 471.74 Books and publications 100.00 93.65 Salaries and extra help 14,900.00 13,850.00 Miscellaneous and general expense,
in-cluding social security and D. C. taxes 2,068.00 2,318.87 $30,468.00 $26,219.90 TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS, SEPTEMBER 16, 1940,
TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1941 26,219.90
Cash balance in Hamilton National Bank, Washington, D. C.,
as at September 30, 1941 $ 2,133.51 Now having submitted the official annual financial statement according to the audit of the books in both offices, I think I should now report that since this statement was made up, October 1st, a number of states have made re-mittances as follows: Arizona $150.00 Colorado 50.00 Nebraska 25.00 Nevada 26.00 New Mexico 150.00 Okahoma 125.00 Texas 210.00 Utah 839.00
This makes a total of $1,575.00 which has been received by the treasurer since October 1st, and according which does not show in our annual audit.
Now to recapitulate our cash statement.
Cash with Treasurer, October 1 $ 8,062.61 Cash with Secretary-Manager, October 1 2,133.51 Cash received since October 1 1,575.00 Total cash on hand $11,771.12
Let me say this much—that the following states have paid their 1941 quotas in full: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota and Wyoming. Utah has more than paid its quota, but these remittances do not show in this statement; however, the credit is there.
Mr. Warden: The report of the Treasurer will be referred to the Auditing Committee.
GREETINGS FROM CONGRESSMAN WHITE
Mr. Warden: The Secretary has just handed me the following telegram:
"ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF THE ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE NATIONAL RECLA-MATION ASSOCIATION I EXTEND GREETINGS TO THE OFFICERS AND DELEGATES. AS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON IRRIGATION AND RECLA-MATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES I PLEDGE TO YOU MY SERVICES IN ADVANCING THE CAUSE WHICH YOUR ASSOCIATION HAS SO ABLY ADVANCED.
COMPTON I. WHITE, M. C. We will now have the report of Mr. Hagie, Secretary-Manager of our Association.
REPORT OF SECRETARY-MANAGER F. 0. Hagie,, Washington. D. C.
President Warden has epitomized in his own inimitable way the year of joint effort through which we have just passed; he has sketched most of the accomplishments of our joint enterprise and I think has very wisely posted a few directional signs as pos-sible guide posts for the year just ahead.
Treasurer Ford has reported to you on the condition of your finances at the close of your tenth year of common effort to pre-serve and utilize the water resources of the western half of a great nation.
I assume that among other things you would like to have me tell you something of what you got for the money that has been collected and spent.
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I believe the National Reclamation Association has just com-pleted the most successful year of its history—not only from the standpoint of the percentage of its program that has been trans-lated into action and accomplishment by the Congress, but also from the point of view of the spirit and growth of its membership, the new friends that have been made, and the strength of its in-fluence throughout the nation.
The foundation of your Association has never been as strong as it is today—neither in number and strength of state and regional reclamation and water conservation associations which have been organized to work with this Association, nor in the number of agri-cultural, commercial and water-user organizations that are in -porting your Association both morally and financially. If you would compute the number of individuals—the underlying or supporting members—of the more than four hundred organizations throughout the West which not only actively support this Association fin-ancially but which more or less make our program their program and work at it constantly until accomplished, the number would be staggering and almost unbelievable. Add to this several thousand dues-paying individuals, who are reclamation leaders in their own right from every river valley in the West, and the reason why your Association is able to show new and greater accomplishments each year becomes obvious.
In the strictly reclamation field, the convention last year asked for the vigorous promotion of reclamation as contributing to the national interest during the preparedness program. You asked for an expanded Bureau of Reclamation program with more money for all regular reclamation projects, larger appropriations for Wheeler-Case water conservation and utilization projects, con-tinuation of the water facilities program, more money for investi-gations, less restriction and more money for the Bureau's Wash-ington office so that Bureau officials could expedite a continually -growing construction and operation program, and you asked for a staff of irrigation and reclamation advisers to better serve existing operating projects.
It's a great pleasure to be able to report that the present Congress, with the aid and support of the members of this Associa-tion, accomplished each and every one of the above objectives.
Seven or more of the projects of the Bureau have already been designated as defense agencies and have been given defense priority ratings, ranging from A-1 to A-10. Steps are under way to secure priority ratings for all remaining projects which are now authorized.
In order to secure larger appropriations with which to expedite the twenty projects which were being financed out of the reclama-tion revolving fund, it was decided in conference with Senator
Hayden, the late Congressman Taylor, Commissioner Page, Presi-dent Warden and Director Stone, together with representatives of a number of the projects, to ask Congress to transfer the seven largest projects (requiring $123,000,000 to complete) from the re-volving fund to the general fund of the Treasury, thus permitting the thirteen projects remaining (which require less than $25,000,-000 to complete) to divide among themselves approximately $8,-000,000 which annually comes into the revolving fund.
In fairness to the projects so transfered, appropriations of equal amounts from the general treasury were made for each project transferred, and in addition, Congress gave authority to the Secretary of the Interior to enter into contractual obliga-tions for $7,450,000 additional for the seven transferred projects. Under Senator Hayden's leadership these changes were written into the Interior appropriation bill in the Senate and were finally con-curred in by the House. Thus, a matter of vital concern to the en-tire reclamation program became an accomplished fact.
Appropriations for Wheeler-Case projects were raised from $3,500,000 to $5,000,000.
The water facilities program was continued and $500,000 ap-propriated for it.
The amount made available to the Bureau for general investi-gations was increased to an unprecedented high of $1,500,000 for general reclamation projects and $240,000 for Wheeler-Case projects so that a shelf of projects could be accumulated in blueprint form for the day when an increased reclamation construction program might be used to cushion an inevitable decline of the present defense program.
Likewise, more money was made available, and restrictions were removed, to enable the Commissioner to expand and reorganize the Washington office of the Bureau of Reclamation in order to ex-pedite an ever-enlarging construction and operation and main-tenance program.
Early in the year the Bureau set up the Division of Soil and Moisture Conservation, with headquarters in Denver in charge of John S. Moore. This division is organized to bring to the various projects and to the individual farmer a helping hand on problems beyond the ability of the average individual to solve. It will handle such problems as:
Economical use of water,
Savings in storage and operating costs. Preservation of soil fertility,
Increasing crop yields, and
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The Congress also recognized the necessity of protecting dams, reservoirs and power houses against sabotage and so appropriated adequate money to fence, light and guard all such structures that have been built by the Bureau—an example which private irriga-tion projects might well follow.
I intend to depart somewhat from the usual type of report and, because this meeting is referred to as the 10th annual meeting of this Association, to reminisce a bit—to briefly review the past ten years—to draw a few comparisons—attempt to reveal something of our antecedents and our predecessors.
The day before the governors and eighty-eight delegates from thirteen western states formed this National Reclamation Associa-tion in Salt Lake City a little less than ten years ago, John W. Haw, Director of Agricultural Development for the Northern Pacific Railroad, who is here today, addressed the group on the subject: "The Crisis Faced By Federal Reclamation."
In order that we may better see in retrospect the road that we have traveled since, I want to quote several passages from that rather memorable address. I quote:
"Federal reclamation of arid land is facing a crisis, a financial crisis, because of drastic shrinkage of its normal revenues wholly or in part attributable to the depression, and a policy crisis arising out of a widespread challenge of its economic soundness and general national benefit or that it should continue to remain as a part of the Interior Department. Make no mistake; Federal aid to existing irrigation districts now in difficulty, to say nothing of irrigated area expansion at some more opportune time in the future, is faced with inter-ruption for financial reasons or outright abandonment for policy reasons, unless there immediately rallies to its support a militant organization from those areas directly benefited . . . The time has arrived when action from Western interests rather than oratory is required . . . "
Again I quote:
"Actually, it can be said that only- in the past year have we been stirred out of our lethargy by the accumulating and more open hostility of Eastern and Midwestern senti-ment opposing reclamation."
Farther on in that presentation, Mr. Haw said this. I quote: "In the spring of 1931 a bill was presented to Congress providing for a loan from the Federal treasury to the Recla-mation Fund of $5,000,000 to tide the Bureau over what
ap-peared to be merely a temporary revenue shrinkage growing out of the depression . . . But even for so meritorious a propo-sition the strength of the oppopropo-sition to anything concerning reclamation was amazing and disconcerting to those who came to Washington to support this legislation. We were frankly alarmed at the extent and unreasonableness of the hostility. We were shocked at the widespread public misinformation on, and misconception of, reclamation which we then knew could not have been engendered except by the spread of false propa-ganda throughout the length and breadth of the land. However, the consternation we felt at that time was by no means as great as that felt by those who witnessed the open, vicious, organized, and finally victorious attacks on reclamation appropria-tions in the spring of 1932. No bureau of the Federal govern-ment was given so little chance to defend its position or was treated with more harsh and arbitrary appropriation curtail-ment. This display has at last made every pro-reclamationist put on his fighting clothes."
Getting more specific as to the seriousness of the situation which called for organized effort by the people of the West. Mr. Haw made this disclosure. I quote:
"From an insignificant beginning this prejudice and mis-conception of the effect of reclamation has developed into a general epidemic of vicious enmity under the careful nurturing of several widespread organizations. It will be difficult and enormously expensive now to effect a correction. It could have been stamped out several years ago at a fraction of the cost that will be involved in now bringing about a change in pub-lic opinion. Nevertheless, we should make a start at once and take to representatives in Congress from districts unfamiliar with reclamation and to the general public, the point of view that this activity is essential to the harmonious development of this country; that only by such means can the agricultural resources of the arid states be developed; that the beneficial ramifications of Western arid land development finally reaches every person and industry in the country, no matter where located . . . there has come to light a program of mailing hundreds of thousands of postcards to voters in the Middle West, a portion of which the recipient detaches and mails back to his Congressman, indicating approval or disapproval of continued appropriations for reclamation. Adroitly worded and presenting a one-side argument, the average voter's re-sponse cannot conceivably be other than negative . . . The newspapers of the Middle West have freely carried in their news columns the twisted arguments of those opposing rec-lamation and hwve vigorously endorsed them editorially."
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Following Mr. Haw's address, the delegates and the governors, working in committees and as a body, completed the framework of this association substantially as it remains today and adopted a program calling for educational work throughout Congress, the East and the Middle West, and for unity of action on the part of the western representatives in Congress.
Marshall N. Dana, of the Oregon Journal at Portland, was elected president. Kenneth C. Miller, Agricultural and Livestock Agent of the S. P. & S. Railroad, also of Portland, was chosen secretary. Mr. Miller is with us today. These men served for four years.
At the first Directors' meeting, the following action was taken. I quote from the minutes:
"It was decided that a minimum of $5,000,000 for the fiscal year ending July 1, 1934, be asked for, to enable the present reclamation program to be continued. This amount is deemed necessary to offset losses from declining income." A year later at Boise, Idaho, at what was recorded as the Second Annual Meeting, President Dana, reporting to 150 delegates from ten of the association's fourteen states, said in part: "The Na-tional Reclamation Association is confronted with two emergency situations:
1. A determined effort to erase reclamation as a national policy, and
2. The plight of settlers affected, as were other farmers of the country, by economic depression."
President Dana reported to this meeting that three separate journeys had been made to Washington, D. C., in the following order:
1. January: To present to the regular Congress the recla-mation emergency, to support extension of time on payments due from settlers on account of construction, and, in New York, to con-fer with Mr. Roosevelt as President-elect on questions of reclama-tion policy, as these would arise during his administration.
2. April: To press before the Special Congress the $5,000,000 loan with which to continue construction of authorized projects, to make personal appeal to President Roosevelt for inclusion of reclamation in the administration's program, and to ask the Presi-dent and the Secretary of the Interior that the administration of the Bureau of Reclamation might continue unchanged in essen-tial personnel.
3. June: To appeal to the President, the Secretary of the Interior, the Cabinet Board for Public Works, the Administration
of Public Works, as then constituted, and others in authority, for inclusion of reclamation in the Public Works program.
In four years President Dana and Secretary Miller, as volun-teers without a cent of salary and bare expense money, built the association from an idea to a going concern that attracted to its fourth annual meeting in Salt Lake City 236 delegates from fourteen states. At this meeting, realizing the conflict which his duties as president imposed upon his duties as associate editor of the Oregon Journal, Mr. Dana asked to retire as president. It was at this meet-ing six years ago that Mr. Warden assumed the presidency, with L. A. Campbell of Helena, Montana, as secretary-treasurer. During this year, President Warden made two trips to Washington, D. C., and Mr. Campbell one trip, to advance the program of the associa-tion. In the meantime, a Washington newspaper correspondent was employed on a part-time salary basis to make weekly and special reports to the officers and directors and to make advisable con-tacts.
In his annual report, Secretary Campbell said in part: "Even though the appropriations were eventually made, I believe we will all agree that the experience was such as to demonstrate the need for improvement in our plan of action for next year . . . Among other things, if the association has a contact man in Wash-ington next year, he should be thoroughly familiar with the prob-lems of reclamation if his reports and activities are to be of greatest value."
Going a step further, the convention to which Mr. Camp-bell made this recommendation approved a recommendation of its legislative committee in the following language. I quote:
"The association itself should be made more effective and be continually more active with full-time paid personnel such as the Board of Directors may choose to arrange for and an amount raised of not less than $25,000 for annual expense." Early in January, 1937, following the above action of the November convention at Spokane, it was my privilege to go to Washington, D. C., at the direction of President Warden and the Board of Directors, and to open the present office of the association. In the nearly five years that have intervened, the membership of the association has been expanded until today it includes some several thousand individuals throughout the seventeen states of the West, and more than four hundred organizations which represent, in round numbers, eighty to one hundred thousand supporting individuals throughout the western half of the nation. Bulletin service was established and has been maintained with the entire membership. Factual studies in support of the reclamation pro-gram as a wise national policy have been made on every phase
