The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1950-01-27
By SENATOR JAMES E. MURRAY

census reports, indicating loss o.
: population and lack of industrial
growth in our State. Possessed as i
is of vast and varied natural resour
ces, and the largest potential of by
droelectric power left in the country
Montana should have witnessed sub.
stantial growth in population and in
dustry during the last several de-
cades. On the contrary, it has grad
ually declined in population and has
made little or no progress toward the
establishment of balanced economy.
Discussing this situation recently
in an editorial, the Lewistown Daily
News said: montana is the only one
of the eight Rocky Mountain States
that shows population loss during the
past 20 years." There must be a
reason for this, and the cause easily
can be determined.
Ever since l came to Washington,
| have been pointing to this situation
and advocating a broad program of
reclamation, hydroeletcric power de-
velopment, rural identification, and
the establishment of industries to
process the raw materials of our
State, both mineral and agricultural.
1t has been an uphill fight to Sc
cure projects to carry out such pro-
gram in our State, but we are making
progress.
The Hungry Horse Dam in north
western Montana now is in course of
construction. AS a result of legis-
lation enacted by Congress last year,
rapid progress is being made on the |
construction of Canyon Ferry Dam
and the completion of vitality impor-
tant transmission facilities which will |
carry Hungry Horse and Bonneville
power into Montana load centers,
where it may be utilized for the de-
velopment of industry.
But we need an overall agency to
carry out program of development
which will really produce results for
the Columbia Valley area. Already in
the Columbia River Basin an extern
sive program of development has
been going forward, involving many
Federal agencies which have juris-
1iction over the various projects con-
cerned, such as flood control, rec
amation, agricultural development,
soil conservation, fish and wildlife
mineral and other re-
sources development.
(See Photographs On Page 81
These activities are being carried
,ut by number of separate, individ- ;
Ial Government bureaus; to-wit, the ;
Army Engineers, the Bureau of Rec :
Department of Agriculture,
Bureau of Mines, Bureau of Fish and
Soil Conservation Service, !
nd other less important agencies.
there are something like +
3 Federal agencies operating in the :
Columbia Basin region. Each of these
apartments or bureaus, in turn, is
equired to go to the Bureau of the
'udget to justify its budget esti-
hates, and is required to appear be-
ore different Congressional commit +
ees to secure approval of its budget :
equirements.
Under such procedure it is i'm !:
ossible for members of the Congress
} have an overall knowledge or I'M !
of the development going !
n in the Columbia Basin. l need not !
we'll at length on the evident waste 1
nd extravaganza involved in such /
ethod of carrying out the proper de- !
elopment of the Columbia River Ba-
n
This wasteful, inefficient, and cost
system finally became so apparent !
lat spontaneous demand arose !
Jer the country to end it and set up
it's place single, unified, compre- /
,nsive program for river valley de- :
,lopment. The Tennessee Valley Au-
ority was pointed to as an example
properly co-ordinated plan of
which in ten years had /
complished remarkable results in /!
at section. Obviously, we must have !
Columbia Valley Administration if
, are to expect well-co-ordinated !
velopment Of the resources of this
ca of our country.
Proof of Need
For eva