The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1948-03-12

concocted by the Army Engineers That these same
men should express the conviction complete develop
of resources could only through some
plan similar to that successfully operation
in the Tennessee valley, didn't exactly a
prise I've been hearing reports for months
that high-ranking P1ck-Soan advocates here in Mon
would like nothing Join forces with
the MVA movement, if only way could be found for
them to save face.
I very interested to learn that there seemed
to be general disgust among many practical people in
attendance the confusion and the duplication O
effort land expense) rampant among the many
bureaus which trying to coordinate their efforts
through Standardization popularity known as the
Inter-Agency committee. For long time
of have wondering just how it be possible
for couple of dozen bureaus, all directed and
entwined i'm Washington redtape efficiently
development job. 1t just doesn't make sense And
further, it can never make sense as long many
semi-autonomous agencies involved, and are all
Juggling and tawng to get the upper hand regardless
of the best interests of the valley and its people.
Seeing the Army Engineers attempting to grab off
the lions share of our water and have it all sewed
up in the bag within to years while the Bureau
of Reclamation hopes to have it's end of the job done in
80 yearsif there's any water left floating
the Engineers pork barrel" channel kind of reminds
of that pair of donkeys at the top of this column
except the donkey representing the Bureau of Rec
lamaton isn't likely to partake of much of the hay
if the two finally evolve modicum of co-opera-
ton History of the Engineers graphically portrays
they're always willing to compromise providing all the
compromising is done their terms.
You further pointed out the report noted from the
Colorado compact group that Boulder dam filling
with silt a rate FIVE TIMES AS FAST as had been
estimated by the engineers before the built
This interesting and seemingly would bear out the
contention of State Agricultural Commits
soner Al Kruse that if mutiple-purpose dams are to
result in lasting benefit to the people, the first
most important step is to catch that drop water
when hits the ground and to keep that kernel of top
soil from being eroded away by excessive run-off The
admission by Rawlings, assistant bureau of recla-
nation director for region g. that his could
only control silt erosion Interior department lands
no authority in connection with other holdings
public private, to indicates the for having
some form of a coordnated recamation-soil conserva
ton program not dissimar to that practced by IVA
In Wednesday mornings paper I also noted Dick
Fabrick the State Water Conservation Board had in
effect said that although the Pick-Sloan program was
'the best could get' without indefinitely delaying
progress, that this program definitely put the cart
before the horse in placing priority % flood control
~ irrigation and finally CD soil conservation That's
sensible conclusion from very practical well as
experienced water conservatonst is very much in
line with Al Kruses thinking After ALL the Ten
nessee valley they've simply reversed the procedure by
giving precedence to % soil conservaton-saving that
raindrop when it hits the ground, (2) irrigation and
90 flood control Be efficiently developing the first
and levee construction since there's very little water
eft with which to floods. Not only have IVA
engineers and the IVA public effectively harnessed
hat rain drop and brought soil erosion to a dead STOP
ou they've saved much greater amount of water for
irrigation in proportion to what the "piecemeal Pick
Sloan plan possibly proVide-even If by some rare