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<br />W. M, GLASGOW, JR.
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<br />As public desire shifted to education, homes, clean air and control of the pollution of waterways,
<br />money became the crying need.
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<br />Although wages and salaries increased with the rising economy, personal costs also increased
<br />along with the costs of city, county, state and federal government,
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<br />Government at all levels, long geared to normal agricultural and industrial needs, has suddenly
<br />found it necessary to fund costs of urban renewal, education of the disadvantaged and find solutions
<br />to air and water pollution, Budgets have been stretched, overhauled, stretched agai(1 and then revised
<br />to provide a system of priorities.
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<br />Now, bond issues and various forms of taxes i provide the wherewith all. ~ut today, higher
<br />taxes and increased bond issues are not fashionable. The public pressure is to resist tax increases and
<br />to permit the individual to use more of his financial resources in a manner of his own choosing.
<br />Simultaneously, it is public desire that government provide more services, preserve more natural
<br />resources, develop more new techniques to prevent pollution of air and water and; at the same time
<br />meet the social problems of a growing Nation.
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<br />What does this mean to the Corps of Engineers( Many things, because one way or another we
<br />seem to be involved, '
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<br />We have, for example, the President's recent posmon that directed a 75% reduction in new
<br />Fiscal Year 1970 Civil Works construction obligations. In the South Pacific Division, it will have the
<br />net effect of reducing previously scheduled contract obligations by 24% and previously scheduled
<br />contractor earnings by 13%.
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<br />Actually, it will delay completion of five projects-only one of which is in the Colorado River
<br />Basin-beyond an additional storm season. These projects are clearing and snagging on Gunnison
<br />River in Colorado and four California projects, including Martis Creek Dam, bank protection on a
<br />stretch of the Sacramento River from Chico Landing to Red Bluff, a clearing and snagging job on
<br />San Joaquin River, and recreation facilities at the completed New Hogan Reservoir.
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<br />Of the remaining 34 previously scheduled contract awards, eight will be awarded on schedule
<br />and 26 will be awarded for periods of from one to, four months later than scheduled. These con-
<br />tracts-none are in the Colorado River Basin-are for relatively slllall amounts and are of short
<br />duration, Therefore, the delay will have no significantieffect.
<br />
<br />Is this a new approach? Not really, when you place this new restnctlon in its proper per-
<br />spective. In retrospect, during World War II and even during the Korean War, construction on civil
<br />works projects not directly related to the war efforts came to an almost abrupt halt. Today, after
<br />years of war in Vietnam, domestic programs generally, and water resources development programs
<br />specifically, have been only partially reduced or delayed.
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<br />From my observations of the attitude of the Administration and of the Congress, I would say
<br />that they would like to move ahead with water resourFes development programs as soon as, and to the
<br />extent that the overall national situation will permit. :1 don't know of any trends in the ,Government's
<br />resources management policies that would advocate retrenchments in those programs on their merit.
<br />
<br />Now, let's look at the Corps of Engineers' programs for 1970. ,We have under General Investiga'
<br />tion a study on the Salt River from the site of Onne Dam to the confluence of the Salt and Gila
<br />Rivers, The study will consider flood control storag~ in the Bureau of Reclamation's proposed Orme
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