Evening star., 1954-09-23

The wise control Of our water
resources obviously requires the
most skillful and comprehensive
planning. This dam, for exam
pie, is designed to operate in CO.
ordination with similar structures
upstream and down. It is part
of a plan to assure the full use
of the water resources of this
entire river system. McNary
Dam is therefore representative
of this coordination of effort
which must mark the develop
ment of all of our river systems
It is, moreover, an example OF
national responsibility properly
assumed by the Federal Govern
ment.
Just a mile-and-a-falf down
river Is another structure-the
bridge at Umatilla. And I am
sure that you who live here are
just as proud of that bridge as
you are of this tremendous dam
You have every right to be. That
bridge at Umatilla is an exam
pie of local responsibility prop
erly assumed.
Federal Aid Given.
A major difference between the
two undertakings is in size. All
OF you know that when construc-
tion was started on McNary Dam
no local enterprise-public or
private-could have financed it
So, realizing that the dam was
necessary. the Federal Govern
ment lent its support.
The bridge at Umatilla was a
much smaller effort. Local en-
terprise-in this case the county
government-Was able to shoul-
der the SIS million loan that
made that construction possible.
And so, local enterprise did that
job. .&
These two structures illustrate
an idea we have been applying
in Washington for some 10
It is not a new concept.
A century ago Abraham Lincoln
put it better than anyone else
has done.
'The legitimate object of gov
ernment," he said, "is to do for
a community of people whatever
they need to have done, but
do at all, or cannot so
well do for themselves-in their
separate and individual capaci-
ties"
In keeping with Lincoln's
standard the Federal Govern
ment has certain vital RESPONSE
oilities in such fields relating to
the control and use Of water as
food control, improvement of
navigation and reclamation and
development of land. When in
the course Of assuming these
responsibilities dams are built,
the hydro-electric power is often
developed, of great value to the
surrounding regions and to the
Nation.
Libby Dam Project.
I hope that we shall soon have
another example Of Federal re-
'ponsibility in the generation of
power. refer to the Libby Dam,
Uhich-like this great McNary
DAMS a project requiring the
of the Federal Govern
nent. From its strategic loca-
ion on the Canadian border, on
. tributary of this mighty Co.
Iumbia River. it will powerfully
aid the control of floods, and
produce a new means Of generat-
Ing power, all the way to the sea.
I have recently acted to re-
move obstacles to the construc-
ton of that dam. A new site
has been selected. A distin-
guished Northwesterner, Gov.
Jordan of Idaho. has been named
chairman of the international
Joint Commission. His intimate
knowledge of this area and sound
judgment will surely go far to
speed fulflllment of our aims,
and those of our Canadian neigh
oors. to bring this project into
I shall continue to
Federal construction
If such beneficial projects. New
ones will be started.
Such activities as these, my
friends, are obviously, as Lincoln
said, "the legitimate object of
Government" but here let us
draw our line as he himself did,
when he went on to say this: I'm
Ill that the people can individ-
tally do for themselves, Govern
nent ought not to interfere"
Warns of Deadly Cycle"
It is not properly a Federal
to try to supply all
he power needs of our people.
The Federal Government should
10 more attempt to do so than
t should assume responsibility
or supplying all their drinking