The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1952-02-29

prior to Pick-Sloan). MVA forces every where con-
tnued to demand more power production. This pres
sure brought results. The score now stands at Al
plants completed, under construction, or scheduled.
These will produce 11.5 billion klowatt hours. Bur-
eau of Reclamation in a recent report, lists LAT ad
dtiona plants probably feasible now.
These when built will raise total annual production
208 billion XIV hrs but leave probable shortage of
25.3 billion XIV hrs by 1870 Most of the shortage will
be along the Missouri River from Yankton to its
mouth This be made up by importations of pow
err from other regions by installation of fuel burn
ing power plants or, MVA now suggests, by con-
structon of II low dams which Bureau of Recama-
ton has just spotted along the Lower River. Anyway,
now authorized, under consideration, is total of
1873 plants with 20.8 billion XIV hrs of hydro-eectric
capacity. This is a long step from IT plants with 38
billion XIV hrs, as first proposed
LESS NAVIGATION WATER (+)
MVA has never opposed navigation. 1t will well
come navigation channel up to Wilston, North Da-
kota provided such channel does not rob the upper
two thirds of the valley of water badly needed for
other development In fairness to all concerned, MVA
advocates have long pointed that there is little
nomc justification for navigation yet The present
y authorized channel does not carry sufficient pay
traffic to warrant small fraction of its cost. Cur
rent waste of funds should be suspended but the way
kept open for slack water navigation channel of
kind when actually needed Officially this idea
has not yet taken firm root however, there is admis
sion that slack channel may become necessary
and Army Engineers have recently talked of extension
of navigation to Williston-necessariy slack water
type. Bureau of Reclamaton's recent Power report
shows IT dams and plants spotted along the river
between Yankton and mouth of Usage River Central
Missouri These will average 40 feet head, produce
1912 billion XIV hrs of power and convert the present
channel into slack water type for 720 river miles.
Incidentally this basic change will iron out all
major conflicts between Upper and Lower Missouri
Valley and open the way for full and efficient de-
velopment of all of it. That this idea has received all
the official notice herein noted is long, long step in
the MVA direction.
FLOODS Cd
The MVA idea of effective flood control is and has
been three-way plan: land use program that will
put maximum quantities of water back into the SOIL
many reservoirs all tributaries and the upper main
stream and enough main stream storage, thru the Da
kotas, to delay and equalize flowage that reaches
them. This concept has spread by verbal advocacy;
infinitely more because of two great floods in five
years. Last summer the Chief of Army Engineers
stood the Missouri River bank and said 81 never
felt helpless in my lfe,' while swirng currents
destroyed billion dollars of property in the general
Kansas City region There is vast increase in
sentiment for realistic approach to flood control
on
vast extension of rural identification during the"
past eight years must be credited to REA Co-ops and
thousands of individuals who wanted to gain member
ship MVA organizations and personnel simply gave
such help as they could However, advance toward
MVA vision has been markedly helped. The REA
program has made hundreds of thousands of people
power conscious" and implanted into their thinking
a lot of the MVA vision of full scale peoples de-
fights of its organizations and membership to win
thru, to betterment and justice, constitutes lot of
water on the MVA wheel
PROGRAMS Cd
Large development programs, such afforesta-
ton and reforestation, fish and game propagation,
pollution control and stream sanitation embedded
in the proposed VIVA law. No where else is the idea
tied into valley development, except such piece
meal cooperation come from separate govern
ment departments and their budgeted appropriations
Despite these handicaps accomplishment toward
more fish and game and cleaner, clearer streams has
0een made. The idea that this kind of work should be
lovetalled into multipurpose development has grown
his is a moderate gain for MVA A much greater
gain is needed.
Cd
The idea that Fairgrounds, parks and primitive
treas are needed national facilities is being forced by
public demand. A little accomplishment, such as rec
cation areas around Fl Peck reservoir has become
eality. This is gain, much more is needed