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., Of)2~u~ The purchasing power4llt irrigation projects is well atlte the n~tional average. On federally irrigated projects alone, Imich are only olle-::ourth of the total acreage, crop harvests are running in the nei~lborhood of a billion collars mnually. Now, to project ourselves into the future. The statiaticians tell us our popu- lation will be over 200,000,000 by 1975. That is an increase of nearly 20 percent in the next 20 years. Where are these people going to live, and how will our econoillY support them? There is ample land, water, minerals, timber, fish and wildlife, and other resources to supply the expanding need and still maintain our standard of living. We are continuing to develop new materials, use new minerals, replant our forests, increase the yield of crops by new seeds, fertilizers, and farming methods. We are taking great steps to conserve our soil and its productivity. We are building flood control works and water conservation worxs for irrigation, industrial and domestic uses. However, throughout most of the ',estern States and in other parts of this country, we are today suffer~ng from drought. Farms and homes are being abandoned, crops are withering and dying, livestock herds are being liquidated--because there is not enough water. Cities and to~ros are suffering from inadequate water supplies--industries are curtailed, stream pollution is serious. Yet four hundred million acre-feet of water--good, usable water--is flowing wasted into the ocean each year. In most of the country-and certainly in the 1'estern 3tates--future growth ,dll depend directly on water supply. We can meet the growing demand for water by coordinated effort. But it will take real unity toward a common goal. 2