The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-03-01
Shot Gun Wedding" Breaking

Off
socaled Pcoan plan for the development OF the missouri
and its BASIN is showing definite signs OF breaking up
Presumably when the divorce action becomes complete the
grounds which made effective Will be ncompatohy
And it will occasion no surprise
Perhaps will for surprise to the Inter
agency Committee which and is supposed to be the CO.
ordinatng advisory board set up presumably to aduocae
differences between the two federal agencies TO be sure
the great love between the reclamation and the army
engineers pubczed extensively following the supposed
amagamaon the plans for the Missouri there appeared
little need for the board Everything rosy and sweet
in the relations the two of engineers one
ceped the widespread publicity factua The work OF CO.
ordnated development of the Missouri go right ahead
need centralized authority to get the JOB
coordnated development under and carried through
the stress of the Importance of this coordnated
DEVELOPMENT the proponents of Missouri Valley Author
y the failure of the Poan plan to provide for many
things which are to development of river region
caused ovebrd the reclamation and engineers
to begin ampcatons of the original PLAN
They suddenly discovered that along with flood control
and irrigation the people Of the region were interested the
development of hydroeectric power and IN suc
sidenes as recreatonal facilities fish and and wild
life generally eforestaon and soil conservation and other
features related coordnated development Moreover the
region began to question the adVsaby OF the
construction only the tremendously large reservoirs on the
main stream and if it would not be more practical to begin mar
Messing controlling the waters nearer their source and by
aseres of smaller reservoirs on the tributaries increase e
ces of handling the waters and the potenua OF
trio power generation 49,
So the reclamation bureau aterthough out with
mucolored map showing number OF small dams on the
tributaries the Missouri which had been absent from the
Pickoan plan and still And the engineers whose
original plans called for no power development suddenly pe
came "power conscious And they talking develop
power connection with their plans for flood
control.
This is all to the good course but stated before the
shotgun wedding honeymoon to have been
reached One of the features which the reclamation and the
army engineers had definitely disagreed prior the shotgun
wedding Since the joining of the plans
of the two agencies required some trading only
natural that some compromises made the Garrison dam
question So the final conclusion that was to be built
but 20 feet higher than originally planned they pointed
with pride to the fine spirit of cooperation that had been de-
veloped by the two agencies
session and they appeared before then and asked to cut
the appropriation down to provide for elimination of the
height of the Garrison dam 1t is reasonable
suspect the will not be too pleased with
this effort of the reclamation chiefs to take sneak punch
at them.
possible that the interagency committee have dis
covered that authority pretty badly needed Credence is
this belief by letter from the of Nebraska
written to Dan MILESTONE the editor of the Cut Bank Pioneer
Press This letter. printed in the February 22d issue of that
paper reads follows:
GOVERNOR OF NEBRASKA ADVOCATES AUTHORITY
FOR INTERAGENCY
Mr. Dan MILESTONE,
Republican National Committeeman,
Cut Bank Montana
Dear Dan:
enioyed very much hearing you the world
is treating you we'll
The only mine relative the Missouri
which might be construed compromise MVA
included in made before the Nebraska recla
In that suggested that the Missouri River
InerAgency committee be made official statutory body
with certain authority whereas at the present time is
tirely unofficial and advisory.
also stated that ultimately when the construction work
finished the water being pretty much used
will be necessary have authoritative body to decided
what be done with the water have series of
dry years When water is plentiful perhaps will bel
but the time will when will be
necessity don't think that is any immediate
problem perhaps 10 II years from now might be
worrying
With kind regards and all best wishes, remain,
Sincerely yours,
DWIGHT GRsWoLD.
is quite clearly evident that the able editor of the Pioneer
noticed yielding the part of
members Interagency Committee other opponents of
"A.
Nebraska governor about it.
The governors requires comment He admits the
desrabty migrating authority is of natural
he wants the neragency Committee which he and 9TH
representatives his state hold positions might how
be remarked that questionable whether committee
up the neragency Committee would be much
efficient than the chiefs of the two competitive government
would be- In the long pull the representatives from
each would be doing everything their power
bring advantages to their respective states utterly dre
garding the welfare of the region whole After ALL is
region No state the region entitled
; % 600 lt