The people's voice., 1950-03-10

World over, all life is baslcally dependent on II
14-nch crust of topsoil By natures slow process
during of time, this has built up and been enrich
ed through the agency of air. water, plant life and
countless living organisms, of many kinds Today
there is about two of human impregnated top
soil out of which sustenance must come for each mem
Der of the worlds human family. The margin of
safety is still somewhat wider in America than in most
other sections of the globe However the rapidty with
which this margin is disappearing is also greater here
than elsewhere.
phenomenal and accelerated increase in popula-
ton plus mechanical agriculture plus pressure for
cheap and abundant food, has brought exploitve min
ing of the soil. With it denudation of forests,
grazing of lands, and surrender of millions of
acres from primitive conditions to expanding civil
hzation has caused unbaance of nature and built
up an erosve process the extent of which of
do not, as yet fully comprehend. While we content
edly stand, and serenely gaze many wonderful
works. that look like progress life giving top soil is
going out from under feet at shocking rate. This
is not here and there patchwork process. To
greater or less degree 1t is nearly universal
Agriculture has only begun to master the arts of
maintaining fertility and keeping soil in its place.
Still less have stockmen mastered the art of grass
land perpetuaton or lumbermen the art OF forest
management In these lines there must come the
measure of progress has developed in mass produc
ton industry The task cannot be successfully done
on peceameal basis since nature is not collection
of fragments, but unity in equilibrium. Whole river
valleys the best units for effective attack, because
make peace with nature only in natures units
and by applying natures healing ways. Basicay the
job is largely that of putting water back into the soil
and of increasing vegetation This is natures way of
building and preserving top soil. 1t is this thin
crust that stands between life and extinction. Man
must either conquer soil erosion, soil erosion will
exterminate
1 humby submit that gigantic task of complete
and efficient development will be accomplished in
valley by unco-ordnated multiplicity of govern
mental agencies These defeated before they start
by three factors largely beyond their control.
(1) Each must function under separate and often
srictve grant of authority (2) There is incentive
tO and To
the largest possible place in the picture 3 These
era agencies must go to dozen Congressional SUBJ
committees to get funds and authorizations. As
suit Congress gets composite picture of what
is being done, or how.
On smaller scale, similar situation last
fall up in the Yellowstone National Park The
Park Service announced that it would kill 5000 head
of elk because of insufficient winter range. Stock
who wanted to Craze their herds what has long
been winter elk range outside the Park, applauded.
Sportsmen from Montana and elsewhere
masse. These wanted to preserve the elk and get
them transplanted. Now, the National Park Service,
Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management several
Grazing Districts, Game Commissions,
some Chambers of Commerce, and at least Gov
have been for months in what looks like free
forall. My sympathy is with the condemned elk, but
if there has been settlement of the problem have
not heard of it.
1 believe 1 echo the sentiment of large and grow
ing body of public opinion, that begin to make
effective all the essentials of real valley develop
ment when can induce Congress to authorize other
Twas. Tennessee Valley has set the pattern and all
who have visited there know it has worked. 1t is
simple pattern, after ALL centralized general plan
ming agency that lives in the region and must coop
crate with the people, This agency have suffi-
cent control of the purse strings it induce
other governmental agencies, federal state and local.
to work to harmonious and efficient end 1t needs /
authority and facilities explore workout and test
new methods and processes
The idea of multi-purpose development of whole Il
valleys is very, very large and still somewhat new. i
AS result mistakes in setting up such programs
have been made. In time these will be rectified and
have every confidence that the generation will
participate in the fruits of series Of Valley Authority
equal in material and social benefits
the industrial revolution of the past generation In
this process vast increase in wild life must have
part.