Evening star., 1936-08-21

patiently every
year for rainfall that has over period
of so years averaged annually diSap-
pointing percentage. More and more
Federal aid, more and more money to
be paid out, it seemed to me, with no
solution in sight.
Then I saw here in Central Wash
ington the greenest fields have ever
seen and the finest agricultural de-
velopment that people could pos
sibly want-and they told me they
didn't want any rain, that 1t was
more or less of nuisance and that
they were glad they didn't get it very
often.
For here in the Yakima section is
the most successful irrigation project
our Government has ever launched
wanted to see the Yakima district
rather than the Grand Coulee Dam
because it is not the dam that will
some day tell the story Of the vast
expenditure now planned, but the
miles upon miles of wonderful fields
and happy people-the objective OF the
Grand COulee project.
I am sorry the Grand Coulee Dam
and irrigation plan has gotten mixed
up in politics. 1t shouldn't be, for it
is going to cost $500, 900, 900 before it
Is finished and it will take many
years to complete, and Republicans as
well aS Democrats in Congress will be
needed to push it through.
came here with lot of questions
in my mind about Grand Coulee,
which is the largest project of its kind
on the North American continent 1t
is to have three times the capacity OF
Boulder Dam. While I was given
many logical and satisfying answers,
I am inclined to believe that the
spending of S500,00 900 is a risky
thing if we are going to have poll
ticians in command of our national
resources to be used by them as a
foot ball of political ambition.
I found the answers to most of my
questions in a very excellent report
Just issued by the State Planning
Council at Olympia, commission OF
level-headed business men appointed
by Gov Martin. 1t makes case for
reclamation as a financial success.
Must Have Outlet for Power.
But I can't see how industries are
ever going to be attracted to the State
of Washington to use the surplus
power generated at Grand Coulee If
the Democratic State platform of this
year, which provides for production
for use" and a socialistic form of gov
ernment, really represents the wishes
of the people of Washington. Nor can
I understand how all the power Is go
ing to be used if its sale is restricted
to municipal governments or districts.
Clearly there must be some way by
which the wonderful supply of water
power can be used beneficially so that.
on the one hand, it will not break
down an existing business investment
and, on the other hand, will give this
region the benefit of cheap power.
It seems to me sensible solution
of this problem can be found along
somewhat the same principle as Is
now in effect at Boulder Dam.
Certainly there is a surplus OF power
be the case. Private companies couid
very well contract for future needs
instead of building more power pro-
1ects of their own-they ought to be
able to buy their additional power
from Grand Coulee.
But for many years to come, power
sales will hardly bring the income
ty1
aoresee.
The Grand Coulee project was
originally conceived as an irrigation
plan and it should be so regarded.
even if it means that the profit and
loss statement does not show as much
net income from power sales as Is
predicted by those who like to mini
mize on paper the ultimate cost.
The building of the great dam
known as Grand Coulee has cost al
ready about s43,OO0,000 It will take
another $17O, 900 to finish the high
dam and then it will require another
1925, 100000 to complete the various
irrigation projects proposed. But not
all of this is to be done at once. And
even if the money were all authorized,
1t is doubtful if more than $50,000,0 900
q year could be spent economically in
the next 10 years.
Two Ideas Linked.
The plan to reclaim agricultural
land requires water power to irrigate
the valley. Without the water power
the irrigation project is not as feasible.
Rural electrification will also absorb
some of the power. But basically, the
Grand Coulee cannot be looked upon
as a power project alone. It must be
viewed in its relation to possible de-
velopment Of the 100000 acres of
land which are to be reclaimed and
settled upon.
These projects are too large for
State financing and involve interstate
uses of water. Undoubtedly the IL
Western States can never be agri-
culturally self-sustaining, but they do
need to put more land in production
to help care for their growing popula-'
ton. With 760,40o,000 acres of land
area, only 54,300,000 are actually or
potentially arable--a little more than
the entire area of Nebraska.
OF the 54,300,000 acres now and
potentially arabic, 24,300,000 are not
irrigated. Most of it has little rain
fall. To put 100000 acres into pro-
duction, which is the aim of Grand
Coulee plan, is not to provide wheat,
but forage, or timber use, and also
speciality crops such as citrus fruits.
apples, table and wine grapes and
other crops not only needed here, but
In demand in other parts of this coun-
try and in foreign trade.
If an orderly plan is developed. the
surplus crop problem can be avoided,
especially since more and more the
cooperative marketing idea is taking
hold In the West.
(copyright. 1850