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<br />..' <br /> <br />-- <br /> <br />0.... ";"','" <br />lJ /.., "'" c.. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. But how many people outside of Reclamation areas :mow these facts? We of the <br /> <br />West knOIV that conservation and beneficial use of our water is essential to our <br /> <br />very existence. Water for our cities, industries, farms and stock is critically <br /> <br />short. Congressional consideration of a major Reclamation development last ses- <br />sion was smothered under a barrage of misleading and misgu~dec propaganda. It <br /> <br />left a cloud of uncertainty over the true accomplishments and objectives of <br /> <br />Reclamation. It was a major contributing factor in delaying congressional action, <br /> <br />even though the project had the unqualified endorsement of the President. <br /> <br />This uncertainty and inaction may well develop into a stalemate in which we <br /> <br />will fall behind in the race against our ever increasing demands for water. Keep <br /> <br />in mind that p:oojects Vie talk about tcday are the projects which will not be in <br /> <br />operation for 15, 25, or 30 years, even under the most optimistic of schedules. <br /> <br />Faced as we are today with water crises and extended drought in ma~T parts of the <br /> <br />Nation, it is obvious that the situation will become even more critical in future <br /> <br />years unless an orcerly rate of water resources conservation and development is <br /> <br />maintained. <br /> <br />After our recent trip with the President over Reclamation projects in five <br /> <br />states about which your olm Mr. Peterson has already reported, I am convinced, as <br /> <br />I believe Mr. Peterson is, that President Eisenhower understands the value of <br /> <br />reclamation development and will support any reasonable plan for Federal partie i- <br /> <br />pation. As I have mentioned, the Congress has all'lays shO\m a disposition to go <br /> <br />along with the Western States on any development which we can all support. <br /> <br />Thus, it appears to me that Reclamation's future is pretty much up to the <br /> <br />West itself. We are at a crossroads, and the:oe are very obvious signposts to tell <br /> <br />us where the highways lead. <br /> <br />One road, which we may title "disunity", leads to a virtual stalemate. The <br /> <br />other road, obviously marked "unity", bas a lot of obstacles in it, but it leads <br /> <br />to a much more worthwhile goal of water utilization. <br />10 <br />