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" ',' (l"J'i "'J' . , '" '- ' . many major reclamation projects which are now in successful operation vould not have been feasible and could not have bssn built. The Upper Colorado Stol~ge Project, predicated on all these major principles, is before Congress now vith the emphatic endorsement of President Eisenhover. Also endorsed qy the Administration and before Congress for action is a similar project vhich would divert vater through the Continental Divide and make total use of its drop from the high crest of the Rockies to its ultimate destina- tion on irrigated acres along the Arkansas River. On a smaller scale, authorization has also been urged for an irrigation project below the Chief Joseph Dam, on the Columbia River in 1:1ashiogton. A portion of the costs of this irrigation development would be financed by revenue from the hydroeleotric plant at this Army dam. I am citing these examples for you to make two major points. One is the clear indication that the reclamation program is going forward in an orderly manner and will continue to raise the ceiling on the agricultural and economic gro~~h of the Hest. The other is that the principle of assistance from power revenue for irriga- tion costs which are beyond the ability of the water user to repay has been reaffirmed in a most positive manner in order to make possible this continued growth. Now then, how does this affect you here in Idaho and Oregon, particularly in this most westerly end of the great valley of the Snake River? Yours is the last chance in Idaho and eastern Oregon to put this river and its tributaries to con- sumptive use before it plunges into the deep canyon from vhich it emerges at Lewiston. As President Eisenhower indicated, water is unquestionably the most valuable resource of the Nation. This applies to southern Idaho, and no possibility must be overlooked to put the Snake and its tributaries to work. 4