The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-01-04
Norris Introduces
Missouri Riuer Bill
Proposed Development Would
Be Similar to That in
Tennessee Valley
WOULD HALT HUGE FLOODS
Sponsor Says Water Which Now
Does Damage Could Be
Used Upstream

Norris (Rep., Neb0. Thursday intro
duced . bill authorizing q survey Of
The Missouri river and its tributaries
and the erection Of an extensive Sc
res Of dams for flood control. naviga-
ton, electric power production and
irrigation.
The proposed development would
be similar to that begun in the Ten
nessee valley except that authority
would be vested in the bureau Of re-
clamation instead Of q new organ
tzation, and there would be no pro-
vision for the manufacturing Of fer
tllizer.
"For many years." Norris said, I'VE
have been building bikes on the lower
Mississippi to prevent damage by
food control. The very waters that
do that damage, II properly impound-
ed, will be Of great benefit for navi-
cation, irrigation and the development
Of power"
He added that the bill, II enacted
into law, would improve the naviga-
bility Of the Mississippi and provide
m extension Of navigation on the
Missouri.
Would Sell At Cost
water now doing damage in Loui-
siana will be used for irrigation in the
western states" he said. with very
little additional expense, all these I'm.
FOUNDED waters will develop q very
large amount Of electricity which will
ne sold eventually at cost to the
farmers and other inhabitants Of this
region"
Flood control navigation improve
inents would be charged with their al
lotted share Of the total expenditures
The project would be Of an expert
mental nature, the bureau being au-
thorized ito establish, maintain and
operate laboratories and experimental
plants to undertake experiments fo1
the distribution Of electricity" as well
IS to experiment In reforestation and
the proper use" Of marginal lands.
Authorization Is provided for the
bureau to carry out studies designed
to promote the wider use Of electric
power for agricultural and domestic
purposes or for small or local indus
tries"
Would Use Proposed Dam
The dam which the war department
will construct on the Missouri at TT
Peck. Montana, would be turned over
to the reclamation bureau as part Of
the new system.
standby plants, steam or other
wise, are authorized where desirable.
The bill declares the policy Of the
government to be, lin 50 far as prac-
ticable," to distribute and sell the
power generated to state and local
governmental bodies and cooperatives
and that the projects provided fo1
shall be considered primarily for the
benefit Of the people Of the section q
Z whole and particularly the domestic
snd rural consumers to whom the
power can economically be made
available"
When surplus" power Is sold t.
persons or corporations distributing
1t for profit, q schedule Of consumer
charges Is to be fixed by the bureau.
Under the bill, the reclamation bu.
reau would be authorized to entel
into 20-year contracts for the sale Of
power to state and local government.
and to cooperative bodies not organ.
lied for profit. and could construct
such transmission lines as needed.
In addition, the bill provides 70,
direct power sales to farms and small
villages not otherwise supplied al
reasonable rates." the regulations
governing such sale and distribution
being what the bureau considers Jus
and equitable"
Transmission lines could be LEASED
for . period Of 80 years to public o.
cooperative bodies.
Farmers benefitting from irrigation
projects would be assessed according
to the bureaus ALLEGATION Of cost X
irrigation.
In an explanatory statement, Nor.
ris said flood waters would be con
trolled by dams wherever nature ha.
provided natural reservoirs" and tina
stored water would be used for irTi.
Cation.