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<br />-~ <br /> <br />1J,~uj:j( <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />A group of your State officials, representing the California Hater Project <br />Authority, came to my office to ask if the Federal Government would sell the project <br />to California. VIe said--811d I repeat--\Ie \/ill listen attentively to any proposal <br />of California. <br />I have made it clear in the preliminary negotiations, however, that the <br />Federal Government must receive for the project the money it has put into the <br />project, less what is kno~m as the nonreimbursable items. These are the costs <br />normally borne by the Federal Government for such things as flood control, naviga- <br />tion and recreation. <br />The Federal Government lull not expect a profit. Neither will it expect a <br />loss. He do not contemplate a "bareain basement transaction". <br />Here again you have hlo groups in your State--and in some parts of the Nation, <br />too--who are at opposite ends of the poles in their thinking on Central Valley. <br />Some would have it sold to California !It. a very low price. Others want the Federal <br />Government to hold it forever. <br />Between these extremes, I am sure, is an answer which Idll be equitable to <br />both the State of California and to the Feder~ Government. <br />Let me tell you about a conservation project that is close to my heart. It is <br />in my home State of Oregon and it is a project which reflects my thinking. In my <br />term as Governor we set out to reforest 300,000 acres of land on which millions of <br />feet of virgin Douglas fir had been destroyed by fire. <br />The people of Oregon voted :::10,500,000 in bonds to finance this venture. They <br />did not ask the Federal Government for help. They did it on their own. Vie started <br />this job in 1949 and are planting in blocks of 10,000 to 20,000 acres with corridors <br />1,000 and 1,500 yards wide to be used for access roads and fire breaks. <br /> <br />10 <br />