Evening star., 1945-09-06

materials to spare for projects to
prevent the ravages of floods which
constantly despoil our land. We had
neither the men nor the facilities
to continue a large-scale program
Of retaining land and of bringing
new land into cultivation.
With a few exceptions, we were
forced to suspend the program tc
which this Nation is committed OF
harnessing the waters of our great
rivers so that they may become
vehicles Of commerce, beneflcent
producers of cheap electric power
and servants of the Nation instead
OF instruments Of destruction.
In brief, although during this wal
this Nation has reached the apex
OF Its power-a peak of greatness
and might which the world had
never seen-our national capital ac-
count has greatly suffered. We must
proceed with all possible diligence
not merely to restore these depleted
resources to their prewar stand
ards, but to make them greater and
richer than ever before.
We must make a diligent effort
to discover new deposits of the
precious and indispensable minerals
upon which our national life is
founded.
We must develop for the use of
industry new technologies so that
the vast deposits of low-grade ores
that have not heretofore been con-
sidered usable may be put to work
for the good of all of us.
Should Improve Roads.
We should build and improve
our roads-the arteries of COM
merce; We must harness our streams
for the general welfare; we must
rebuild and reclaim our land. we
must protect and restore our forests
This is not only to provide men
and women with work, it is to assure
to the Nation the very basis of its
LIE. 1t Is to play the part of a
good businessman who insists care
fully on maintaining and rebuilding
his plant and machinery.
We know that by the investment
OF Federal funds we can, within
the limits OF our own Nation, pro.
vide for our citizens new frontiers
new territories for the development
OF industry, agriculture and COM
merce.
We have before us the example
OF the Tennessee Valley Authority,
which has inspired regional resource
development throughout the entire
world.
We know that we have programs
carefully considered and extensively
debated, for regional DEVELOPMENT
OF the Columbia River in the great
Northwest, the Missouri River. the
Central Valley of California and
the Arkansas River.
In the Columbia Valley the first
major step has been completed for
the reclamation of barren land and
the production of enormous GUAM
titles OF power The waters of the
Missouri and the Arkansas and the
rivers of California can be put to
work to serve the national interest
IN a similar fashion.
Only Ourselves to Blame.
If these rivers remain scoufees of
our Nation it is only because we
do not have the prudence to harness
them for the benefit of our people.
II there are among us for any period
OF time farmers who do not farm
because there is no suitable land
available to them; workers who do
not work because there is no labor
Tor their hands, we have only our
selves to blame so long as we fail
to make available to them the op-
portunities before our very eyes.
l hope that the Congress will
proceed as rapidly as possible to
authorize regional development of
the natural resources of our great
river valleys.
1t should be unnecessary to say
That the conservation and develop
ment OF the national plant must
proceed according to an intelligent
and co-ordinated design. The
watersheds Of this Nation are not
utterly independent, one of the
other; our irreplaceable wealth of
minerals. land and timber is not
composed of segments which can
effectively be dealt with separately.
Any program of public works must
have as its unifying purpose the
greatest possible contribution to the
wealth of the Nation and to the
wealth-producing capability of the
Nation.
1t is necessary that we proceed
as speedily as possible to set up ma
chinery to make an inventory of
our national wealth and our basic
resources, and to test the suitability
OF plans and proposals for public
works in light Of this purpose. An
agency Of this sort could provide us
with consistent direction toward the
goal Of rehabilitation and improve
ment Of our basic national resources.
Private Projects First.
Shortages Of materials and man
power made it necessary in the in
terests Of the war effort to suspend
many public works which might
otherwise have been undertaken.
Now that materials and nooppou,ar