The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-04-23
extend PUBLIC POWER
By JEROME G. LOCKE. Helena
Part XI of a Seriesl

part xI of seres)
Come July and will be years since u S. Reclamation
Service became going Few people will remember
that the service initiated its field work Montana real
lie what impact this has had here and in seventeen western
states Three four other potential projects had prem
mary investigation but Milk River Valley east of Chi
projects of several before
these fully constructed.
Despite the tremendous volume wealth that u S.
Reclamation Service called Bureau of Recamaton has
added to the nation the of productive land hydroec
power domestic water supply fish and game facilities
recreation potentals we'll diminished flood damages it
always been popular department been it's
life and tenure In the time of President Coolidge there
tremendous" national debt, following War AS
call about oneeghth the size of the debt Any
heavy flock of conservative gentlemen in and around
Washington could of paying that debt the
such frivolous and unnecessary expenditures
Western Land Reclamation Backed by all the the
West could reclamation did survive but there
any assurance, for about year, that it would
Washington is again filled with economy minded and po
lcaly conservative gentlemen So, Western reclamation is
again taking drubbing There many
grounds for complaint this time The nation already pro-
ducing too much food stuff Water is vau
power along the Missouri than for irrigation
higher others Farmers who live of the line of 25
inches annual rainfall why should
used subsidize irrigation. Then ardent gationss
why their land should be taxed all 1t VIII stand Tor
this improvement while those protected from floods by the
DAMS pay practically nothing for such protection
careful who will look only the greatest
good for the largest number work all these conflicting
dons into pattern of equity and efficiency for the whole de-
veopmen hs has never been done nor can II be done ny
compacts treaties political controls subject to the pulls
and haus of individuals or vested interests or groups or To-
caies. What takes centralized control with authority
do equity, balanced with efficiency IVA did it.
Now there another element in the situation that increases
complications It'll powerful busy element Pri
power companies greatly concerned about rrga
on such They concerned in two other % That
producing public be increased to the extent
furnishes competition privately produced
that Public Power be turned to private
resale, constitute competition In this
Power Boys don't mind how high percent
project cost aocated to irrigation flood CONTROL do
nestle supply benefits other than power.
Out of this conflicting tumble it is hard to tell what will
happen the competent staff it
century training This force has been cut in
it's have been shifted to other
different localities Some projects under construction
cancelled while appropriations for practically all
been heavily reduced No funds have been made
available for the start of new projects
In Central Valley California the Bureau of Reclamation
apparently being crowded out by Corps of Engineers flood
AS result Corporation farmers in that area
may get irrigation with little payment The 16O
appears have been forgotten and there other
SPECTATORS Decision to who build DAM
the Federal Pow
Commission and the days of comprehensive river basin plan
ming appears be for the time being at least Many tn
friends Reclamation bright