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<br />o023n <br /> <br />i~m;j <br /> <br />,,<-~~!: <br />,,,:{l <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />-6- <br /> <br />Some Soviet irrigation projects have been delayed or deferred because <br />specially developed construction equipment was needed elsewhere. Others have <br />been abandoned or indefinitely postponed when it became apparent that not <br />enough water would be available, under the planned river regimes, to serve the <br />~mbitious irrigation schemes. Though the navigationai and reservoir features <br />of the Vo1ga-Don project were rushed to completion in'three years ending in 1952, <br />the main irrigationa1 canals are not yet completed, and only a small part of the <br />planned area is receiving water. <br /> <br />However, this appears to be due not so much to any under valuation of the <br />irrigation function, as to a desire to fit irrigation development into the <br />,general pattern of agricultural operations and development. Instead of providing <br />1argearnounts of construction equipment on irrigation construction work, the <br />Soviets have much of the work done by farm labor and machinery drawn from surrounding <br />areas during off-peak employment periods. <br /> <br />I will complete this statement On irrigation by offering two more tables. <br />Table VIr shows the extent of Soviet irrigation by main geographic areas. Table <br />VIII is a listing and brief description of some of the principal Soviet irrigation <br />projects recently completed or under construction. <br /> <br />CONCLUSION <br /> <br />Reviewing. these evidences of Soviet water resource development, certain <br />conclusions corne to mind. It is apparent that the Soviets are relying fundamentally <br />upon such development to build up their economic and strategic capabilities and <br />that the build-up of their economic capability is aimed squarely at world-wide <br />economic, competitionwHh'us. However, this does riot necessarilY-mean' that to <br />compete with them economically, we must duplicate tlteir effort in every detail. <br />We must consider our water resource development effort in terms of its part in <br />our own over-all economic strength and capability. Our economic and industrial <br />system is in a different stage of development from theirs, it is growing along <br />different lines, and it dOUbtless has different needs. Our resource programs should <br />be aimed at meeting our own needs. <br /> <br />Nevertheless, we cannot overlook the evidences of Soviet technical capability, <br />Soviet determination, and Soviet productive expansion revealed in their water <br />resource programs. They help us estimate the, scale of the effort which they are <br />throwing into their competition with us. It is vast, and it is acquiring a <br />tremendous momentum. This i~ in my opinion the principal meaning of the facts <br />I have presented to you. <br /> <br />4F1F1f <br />