BOARD00196

• Board Meeting Date: 11/29/1955
• Description: Minutes
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

b
-s.:Jl

- ......

Hon. J, Bracken Lee
Governor Of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

,1

Dea-r Governor Lee:

Ever since the Governor-Senator Conference in
Denver November 1st, in which the Development of
the Upper Colorado River Basin was discussed, I
have intended writing to you.

I appreciated the opportunity of stating
Colorado's position respecting the development
of our basin and regret that my heart condition
made it impossible for me to remain during the
whole session. Had that been possible, I might
have been able to straighten out some misconceptions
respecting the Colorado position. However, I think
definite progress was made toward an understanding
of the equities necessary to create unity among the
.4 Upper States.

I regret that anyone felt that I was issuing
an ultimatum. I was merely pleading with all my
heart for simple justice for Colorado -- nothing
more and nothing less. I was asked to state
Colorado's position and I presented it as frankly
and honestly as time permitted. It was and is my
understanding that all four States desire to make
progress toward the development of Colorado River
water, But all of us must recognize that before
there can be progress, there must be unity among
us, and before there can be unity, there must be
equity.

I

The Glen Canyon Project is the keystone to the
development of the Upper Basin. And I offer no
apology for presenting it as the primary project of
the Upper Colorado River Basin. Of course it should
be built first. There is not a single project in
Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico or Colorado that can be
declared feasible without applying some of Glen
Canyon's Anticipated Power Profit as repayment
credits towards construction costs. That fact
cannot be refuted or ignored and therefore Glen
Canyon is the master project insofar as the
development of our four States is concerned.