The people's voice., 1959-01-30

keep Montanans in Congress on the
go as the seth Congress gets under
way.
Senator Murray presided at a meet
ing of 10 Democratic senators from
the IL western states and Alaska.
They met to talk over natural re-
source development, appropriations
and legislation for the region.
Earlier, Senator Murray, Senator
Mansfield, Congressman Metcalf and
Anderson had met informally with
more than 80 Montana Farmers Un-
ion members, the first of several bus
loads to visit Washington this winter.
Meanwhile, staff members from the
four offices sat down with Howard
Jones, of the Forest Services Missoula
regional office, and Clyde Sullivan,
head of the transportation section of
the Forest Service Division of Engi-
neering, to discuss forest roads. They
also met with the Reclamation Bu-
reau's Billings regional director,
Frank Clinton, and George Tomlin-
son, assistant director of project de-
velopment for the bureau.
Reclamation Bureau officials had
this to say on:
Flooding caused by ice jams near
Townsend. The field office has COM
pleted a report which recommends a
system of levees, extent and cost of
which are not yet available to the
delegation. Among questions to be
answered are: Who is to do the job,
the Bureau or the Army Engineers?
Montanans in Congress are asking
both agencies for their recommenda-
tions and plan to seek authorization
and money for the work.
The proposal to close the Billings
office. Two separate survey teams
have been in Billings to investigate
no indication of when they will make
their reports, or what they will con-
tain.
Yellowstone Basin Investigations.
Land classification crews worked over
the area last year-found the only
large blocks 100000 acres and up)
of irrigable land far above and dis
tant from the river. In addition, the
tight subsurface means questionable
drainage. Conclusion of this part of
the investigation may we'll be that
there is no need for additional stor-
age for irrigation on the Yellowstone.
The study will continue, moving on
to flood control and hydroelectric
power needs.
Three Forks Investigations. The
bureau has submitted "a factual re-
port" on the Madison and Gallatin
Rivers. This report is the subject of
current meetings in Montana with
sportsmen and water users. The bu-
reau has not scheduled any work on
,hese two streams, will not seek to do
so unless local landowners and water
Users come forward. The study of the |
Jefferson will continue.
FOREST RESOURCES
Guest at another delegation meet
ng was Regional Forester Charles
rebbe, in Washington to discuss a
'equest by the delegation that the
Forest Services Missoula regional
'ffice blueprint a program designed
% "fully develop Montana's forest
'esources for the longtime benefit
# the state and nation.
When they asked for the study,
Senator's Murray and Mansfield, Con-
,ressmen Metcalf and Anderson said
he "preeminence of national forests
n Montana makes it sound and
wise for the Forest Service to exer-
Use leadership in developing state
vide action program in concert with
Interested state and private organiza-
ions".
Among points to be considered, the
elegation said, were type and loca-
ion of plants; opportunities to eX-
and a secondary manufacturing;
narket potential within and beyond
fontana; supply problems that may
fleet existing plants; shifts in plant
ocations that may occur with forest
hanges; transportation, including
reight rates; new wood products, in
luding specialized machinery needed
or their production; forest roads; re-
and timber sales.
They said special consideration
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