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inseparably. Considered separately, each ill in inextinguishable source of service. Only when they are tamed and tljlgether put to use is their full value realized. But the potential valuesi can be developed and main- tained only by vision, application of skill, hl.bor and finance, and intelli- gent, orderly control and management of deyelopments. I , When the Reclamation Law was enact~d in 1902, settlers had already established the practicability of irrigation a~d developed sizeable areas by private initiative and private capital. Oper~ting expenses were usually covered by assessments against the land. ]1)articipation by the federal government had not attained importance. T:he Reclamation Lawcontem- plated federal assistance in reclamation anf irrigation of western lands, but with control and operation of enterprisell to be transferred from the federal government to local associations at [the earlie$t practicable time. The Bureau of Reclamation, under capable fiirection, built up an enviable reputation as a competent construction agerj.cyand served the West well. Until recent years, development was rapid.: By 1951 the Bureau had added 6,000,000 acres to the irrigated area.. As a result of combined efforts of federal and local bodies, the irrigated area in.the 17 western states was 26,000,000 acres in 1952. r Following 1902 there came into being! the Forest Service, Park Service, Grazing Service and Soil conserv~ion ser.vice, each supervis. ing 'segments of federally owned lands. The a ouncedobjectives were mainly to assist. in management and control oflan and water resources of the West in the national interest. As these sel;'vices became established and their personnel multiplied, efforts to assist gradually shifted to activities involving direction and authority. Irritatic>ns increased arid local interests became critical of the increasing power of; government agencies in manage- ment of local affairs. This is not to imply! that federal personnel charged with carrying out duties under directives lack competence or are generally unsympathetic with aims and desires of lo~al interests. Much of thedif- ficulty arises from inflexible requirements of the system under which thelie employees work. But regardless ofiits soundness, criticism of federal agencies has served to emphasize iproblemswhich arise from . federal participation and direction in local! affairs... A few specific problems are: . 1. Direction and managementi of irrigation enterprises slipping from control of l~cal agencies. 2. Growing disregard byfed~ral agencies of state water laws and consequent unce~tainty and confusion as to water rights. II'- .. . ". 3. Rapid increase in use of ground water is producing marked effect on over-alliwater supply. : I 4. Rigid application of requitements respecting re- payment contracts, acrea'ge limitation and feasibil- ity standards, is not in h~rmony with present needs. .] , 5. Necessity exists fordefin;itiort and clarification of the functions of federal, stat~ and local agencies in planning, construction and operatio1l of developmenta. . , -32-