Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-17
Seaton Praises
Gains in Water,
Power Policies
BY GOULD LINCOLN

SECRETARY OF the interior Fred
A. Seaton insisted yesterday
that under the Eisenhower Ad-
ministration big strides were
being made toward solutions OF
the problems of adequate power
and water supplies.
He credited the administra-
ton and its policies with aiding
in huge development of cleo
trio power in the last five years.
He predicted the successful
use of atomic energy to meet
the fast-growing power needs
of the future and said that the
start of this development was
already underway.
He pointed out that the In
terror Department was seeking
to make feasible at a reason
able cost the conversion of salt
and brackish water to potable
. water. and water disable in in
dustry and on the farm.
Increased Power Demands
He insisted that the Eisen-
hover policy of Federal CO.
operation with non-Federal
agencies-public and private
has proved its value and will
set back the demands Of big
Federal power advocates.
Mr.. Seaton pointed out in
an interview that the need for
increased power in this country
during the next score of years
would be tremendous. Just to
keep up with these demands for
power. the Federal Power Com
mission has estimated that the
United States will have to ex-
pend at least 500 billion.
In the light of this estimate,
the Secretary said the argu-
mentS of Federal power advo-
cates-power produced and dis
tributed by the Federal Govern
mentor Federal Govern
ment's development of all
power we're fantastic. He sug-
gested that if the Government
were to find 500 billion for
all the needed projects, the
taxpayers would have real
cause for worry.
While it is expected that adj
vocates of Federal power
among them Senators Morse
and Neuberger of Oregon-will
again raise the power issue in
the next session of Congress
and force it as far as possible |
into the congressional election
campaign next year, Mr.. Seaton |
believes that both in Congress
and in the States, the record |
made in power development
during the Eisenhower admin
istration will cut down the eff
fectiveneSs of the issue.
Bill Died in House Committee
In the last session, the prize |
Federal power bill-for the con-
struction of the Hell's Canyon
Dam on the Snake River
passed the Senate, but was cut |
off in the House Interior and
InSular Affairs Committee,
which declined to report it out.
AS Secretary Seaton pointed
out. the Eisenhower admin
istration's policy is to have the |
Federal Government cooperate
both with public and private
power companies.
1T has been described as a
partnership" said Mr.. Seaton,
but the better word is CO.
operation.
While the emphasis in the
past has been placed particu-l
larly on the development of
hydro-electric power, Mr.. Sea-
ton pointed out that the Fed
eral Power Commission believes
that only 8.5 per cent of the
additional power needs of the
country in the next 20 years
will come from the development .
of new hydro-electric power
sites. This means, he said, that |
the great bulk of new power
will have to come from con-
ventional steam plants, which
burn oil. gas or coal.
I'VE have plenty of these
fuel resources for years to
come" Mr.. Seaton added. But
1t is evident that eventually we
will have to look to a new source
OF power, in addition to steam
and hydro-electric plants-and |
that is atomic energy"
Water Needs Expanding
Along with power, but even
more important, Mr.. Seaton
commented, is the development
OF water supplies. Indeed, he
said, water is fast becoming
the Nations most important
problem. BY 1875, the popula-
ton will need at least $50 bill
lion gallons of water each day,
almost twice the amount we
need now. 1t is possible, by the
construction of dams and reser-
voirS, to gain more than the
needs of 1875, but the distribu-
ton problem will remain.
The only answer is to find
new sources of water supply"
Mr.. Seaton said. That means, 4
for example, turning sea water /
and rackish water into supplies
for farms, industry, and human
consumption at costs that can
be borne"
Here, he said, is where the
Interior Department has been
hard at work for the last five
years, through its Office of I
Saline Water, which has en-
tered into some 40 contracts
with individuals and private
organizations for research and
development.
The lowest estimate of cost
in 1858, when the program was
started. for the cost OF convert
ing saline water was $l.50 per
thousand gallons. he said. To-
day. the expectation is that