The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1943-12-23
ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR SAM G. FORD
TO MONT. RECLAMATION ASSOCIATION
1r. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:

VII. FItSlueut LduleS anu IeHI1eueu
maetins q 81 sf2 the M Rea5n5s R Re hnTs i R"s as5 aa sfio 5ne or 1n adn" "to
saa x s!s%o Ssvs 2op sSHsa anna ua { se%S'S5 4sr the s snt're state ia eAe Of
There is a very definite trend and important pace :sd for a this as,
Of our land and Sd water resources, ii il We = are t to assist ISL IN IN the devsEs
n@1fn app pr sas s Shase pr ROB me on nsa a stat sl id ' ba5 Rs0p's' '"e" We
an S9 ss0t see3i or p 9hef N5 must shs s'5 5e a shG erder y g and r Riile6e2dS eted
develop Ter Of all i, our aty water az and J. land j. resources rces if il we we are ire. to
st num5 tes Of ofS or eitf Ge5ss' 4hs Of s sRs s Watsr J sSHs 70 aos f beard
i IS : i ?; 7 t. It tat s sStc % s%y S sSssf 81 a "a : se s SsRsS, t to- STABILIZE 9ss t. the
PEE Sthzzs 4! 'ns Of f's oar ; 5and ana navy water !! rs Of as eea5 esfp rs e Fl RFsi
f S9}sssiys Of ana q l pss1a amS water or n au thass l pFSgra aaap 5hGqad TO be t ths
R Fs4923 fan g ps a sgSg and of Tf 5eSsibIs popic OF Of our co saf9XsF a gSaz hnEn ea
our lands adEu and fore forests st. a soil CONSERVATION program designed to
l issss feF 0 Ho1s 5@ 2 4 st{ 6s n y use eas zl".ns @Aa ~"
s Gsasez1af;d D1 SoTa t and s haf 'F Fofssar2 2g sns4d; i ts G as tine W comE
mission, the Soil 'conservstion board, and the state Planning
board to carry on this work.
il il, e sas s eeps fest' ma x ma Nate pre eystsDI Ttt for S sss 80 sepaeit wat Of
eeti from tt these 5se'i pr %nsaas is "" s7ai ia5sA3 for "a an s edSa 10 siSs 1860
is Small sHsI projects With storage TO- 1920 as5 5Ia feet >, 1+ns : SSsi
an t tis e sf0 sPps aas a asgG 1s 9 1f Ss1'e d ITs5sf ressF'0irs-aS a tot
s,f Es fully St}!iss = s0%S {: Of the pES Sssa al5 "a s so1 n4aytass 3D. 3D.
"a tsil sss P Bsins s Sq Teseit Wbtb esa 5pf tis 81 Ts s5s a aays Of sit 1sna D Sn
be Sroq S55.s sads5 iI5igatto At = sS;t Of sI5 5dslsS dsstsnsn - r.-
nasEitass i : j y5hst + i and sspp e = q ' supRis5
'asss a a5d"s es Tfain the Ds ssassi we svs szPsSs 70 e Re resume 'n ss"e eonssru ~aen
~: III Board has submitted to to the as. war s1 Food Administration DIN Straits TO for
az az t sstima n1s3s cost h Of over Sssn two s1D %RiGn dollars To date but one
u GICSG OySC Ids &c dPEOFCo
The postwar program embracing some ~ projects, including
those submitted to the War Food Administration, provides for
the reclamation of 216,O00 acres at an estimated cost OF six mil
lion dollars.
Thirty-eight projects involving 100000 acres and expenditures
of $13, 800, 900 have been filed with the Public Works Reserve.
of the most feasible from an economic standpoint, while others
are being studied. Surveys, drilling of dam sites, preparing re-
ports, plans and specification are being carried on as expedi-
tiously as possible with the available funds and personnel,
We are planning a long-range program. With the experience
so far gained to serve as a guide, the development of our water
Stemmhng from the proposal by the Army engineers to raise
the level of Flathead Lake in order to obtain additional water
for the development of power at Bonneville and Grand Coulee. the
Northwest States Development association, composed of the Gov
ernors of the states of Mntana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and
wyoming has been organized, and an advisory COMMITTEES, con-
sisting of two representatives of each state, appointed by the
respective Governors, has been created.
The purpose of this association is to coordinate and correlate
the plans of the member states in so far as they are of a region
al or interstate character, and particularly as they relate to the
west, with emphasis on irrigation power development. flood
control, and other beneficial uses of the waters passing through
the states.
The advisory committee in cooperation with federal agencies
Immediately undertook an investigation and study of the rights
to and use Of the waters Of the Columbia river and its tributar-
This report will be submitted to the Governors at a meeting to
be held in Spokane, Washington, on December IT and 10.
The plans prepared by the advisory committee provide for
emergency and immediate postwar projects. Further studies will
be carried on which will include for future construction suffic-
lent numbers of multiple purpose projects in Montana to a-
equately protect the interests of the state and provide ample
water for irrigation and power development.
The Importance of this action by the Governors cannot be
overemphasized. The states can no longer sit by until the gov
eminent takes action we must assume the initiative and pre-
in close cooperation with federal agencies.