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<br />AN ADDRESS BY COMMISSIONER WIlllUR A. DE:XHEIMER, BUREAU OF RECIullI.ATION,TO BE
<br />DEf.IWRED INHARLINGENi TEXAS, g:OO P.N., CST, MARCH lO, 1954, AT THE LON C. HIlL
<br />AUDITORIUM " ,
<br />
<br />For Release ,Upon Delivery
<br />
<br />THE "VALLEY", ,PRESENT AND FUTURE
<br />
<br />It is a' goodfeelirig to visit "the Valley".! had the good fortune to be
<br />asso'ciated' with the design and construction of Falcon Dam from 1947 to the dedica-
<br />tion by President Eisenhower and President Ruiz Cortines last fall. The pleasure
<br />of my return here embraces the renewing of old acquaintances and, as a reclamation
<br />engineer, the pleasure of traversing level, fertile land, crisscrossed with
<br />water-laden canals, which you have built. "
<br />
<br />I have been asked to express our views as to problems of the Valley, the con-
<br />ditions that would guide a joint effort between us, should you invite our, help in
<br />'solutiori of some 'of your more' pressing problems, end finally, our opinions as to
<br />the future of this area. Accept my sincere hope that our discussion tonight will
<br />lead, tp more profitable use of your land and water.
<br />
<br />, ','; 'Before discus,sing the present and future, perhaps we should brief:Ly consider
<br />"the' "S1; " ", , ' , y
<br />, ,pa .r,'
<br />
<br />" ;(ouand your fath:ei's accomplished afd;rinidable task. You converted a bleak
<br />expanse of chapar~alint6 a'pI'oduc\ive,populousarea. 'You saw the opportUnity
<br />afforded by the river and the fertile plaih:8nd blended the twoi.nto a garden spot,
<br />, now se'cohc.'J.to none. This isi.n the 'best traditione of pioneering and private enter-
<br />prise. The Valley of today iseloquerittestimony to your efforts.
<br />
<br />In ,thie 'sametr'adition,' hoWever, others sought~ and still seek, the same
<br />'opportunity..' Theyseeklt on almost identical" lands adjlteent to your own and also
<br />" w'aterfrOl1\the sam.esoUI'ce,the Rio Grande. Ae developnerttiriClreas~s, your
<br />'priinary resource-ws:ter-becomes spread beyond a point of good return, unless you
<br />take further correot! ve measures. " " ' , " ,
<br />
<br />, This was to be expected. Long before'yourriverhad ceased to be dependable
<br />: for: yOur expandirigrteeds, those of you skilled in resource ,evaluation had. studied
<br />" i,te potential, 'and had :fixed the limits of prudentdevelopnent. Early leaders rec-
<br />ognized the-villidity of those studies. They sought to bring reality to aplail that
<br />'would be fair to all, a plan that would~ardotf the chaos of unresolved water
<br />righte, unrestricted developnent,' and inevitably, short water supplies. '
<br />
<br />", On thEi interriatiOnaJ.level,your studi'El,s bore splendid fruit. The results of
<br />those- efforts stand as an enduring monument 'to the traditional friendship of our
<br />country and Mexico., OUr (;ood neighbors are now using their shere of river 'water.
<br />
<br />I wiSh..-and I'm sure you do~-that more harmonyexieted on our side Of the '
<br />river. There has not been a reasoned apportionment of our Ameriean share of water,
<br />nor means establiehed to insure that apportionment. c,~ ~. G," .1
<br />
<br />You may believe that FalcOn Rese:rvoir insures a river of plenty ready for
<br />diversion to your lands, at your will. I wish this were true. If, in the perform-
<br />ance of its functions, it could insure all needed diversions bet.reen the dem and
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