Evening star., 1954-09-23
President Defines Sharp Limits Federal Power Aid at cory Dam Dedication

The tert of President Eisen-
hower's address at the dedica-
ton OF McNary Dam on the
Columbia RiUer tolloUs:
Fellow citizens: To join you in
so important a ceremony-here
in the heart of the Pacific
Northwest-is indeed a privilege.
I am delighted to be here with
you on this historic spot.
Our nation was but Is years
old when, from a point near
here, two Americans of great
courage Lewis and Clark -
pushed off and f1oated to the
mouth of this great river.
A little over a century ago, a
man named Mckay struggled
over primitive paths in this area.
A, hundred and nine years ago, a
: frontiersman named McNary.
with his family, reached this al
most virgin land to establish his
shome.
Both of these men had famous
descendants - men who have
contributed much to the extraor-
dinary growth of the Northwest.
From the Mckay family came
an able Governor and a dedi-
Gated Secretary of the Interior
douglas Mckay.
From the McNaryS came the
great American whose name for
evermore will distinguish this
monumental work. Senator Nc
Nary, a native son of the North
west. believed deeply in the fu-
ture of this country. He had the
grit and determination to help
build that future. In this en-
deavor, he worked side by side
with those men of vision OF this
region who, before the turn OF
the century. sought to open to
navigation the upper reaches OF
the Columbia River. With that
drive for an open river for water
traffic came the natural develop
ment of hydro-electric power.
Ten years ago, death denied
Senator McNary the privilege OF
seeing his dream come true. But
the will to build this dam lived
after him.
Senator Gordon Praised.
That it survived-and that to-
day this dam is built-is due to
the spirit of distinguished citi-
zens of the region. Especially is
it due to an Oregonian who car
ried on Senator McNary's work
and for the past 10 years has
labored tirelessly to complete this
proiect-my good friend, Sen
ator Guy Gordon.
I am mindful as well OF the
sustained effort Of Representa-
tive Hal Holmes, and many OF his
congressional colleagues from
this region, in behalf of this and
other great projects here in the
great Northwest.
This massive dam, my friends,
means more than the steel and
concrete, more than the genius
and effort that went into its
building. It means more than
the benefits and progress-how-
ever great-that it will bring to
this fortunate region.
This structure symboliZes the
purpose of using. for the benefit
of all our people. the tremendous
natural legacy with which The
Almighty so abundantly endowed
our land. Wisely and providently
we must use and develop these
resources, SO that each succeeding
generation of Americans may
share in their benefits. 1t is for
us to see that they shall not be
wasted or neglected and denied
to generations yet to come.
Among these treasures of our
land is water-fast becoming our
most valuable, most priced, most
critical resource. A blessing
when properly iused-but it can
bring devastation and ruin when
left uncontrolled.
It is, therefore, essential that
every drop of water. from the
moment that it falls upon our
land, be turned to the service of
our people. Thus we will save
our soil and make it more pro-
ductive.
Water Policy Needed.
Thus we will develop power,
prevent floods, improve naviga-
ton and supply our tremendous
and growing domestic and indus
trial needs in water. So crucial
to our future has water become,
that I have assigned appropriate
surveys and plans concerning it |
to a special subcommittee of my
Cabinet, and to the Hoover Com
mission as we'll. These studies. !
when subjected to Congressional
action, will undoubtedly result in |
the comprehensive water policy |
that this country has needed
since it's very beginning. |