WESTERN NEBRASKA UNITED CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. At a regular meeting of the Western Nebraska United Chambers of Commerce held September 10, 1959, in Rushville, Nebr., Doug Borman of Gordon, Nebr., moved that the Western Nebraska United Chambers of Commerce go on record as supporting the Ainsworth project and that it be included in supplimentary appropriations. Seconded by Claude Currey of Valentine and carried. The secretary was instructed to send copies of this motion to Secretary of the Interior Seaton, all Congressmen and all other pertinent officials. W. D. NEWBERRY, President. RESOLUTION No. 7-AINSWORTH UNIT Whereas the Ainsworth unit received its initial appropriation of funds to start the construction of this unit in fiscal year 1959; and Whereas Congress failed to appropriate funds for the continued construction in the fiscal year 1960 and the project is therefore at a standstill causing increased costs resulting in an economic waste: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That we urge the entire Nebraska congressional delegation to seek the appropriation of funds for the immediate construction of the Ainsworth unit and the additional funds for the continued investigation of the other units in the Niobrara Valley. (Passed by the Nebraska Reclamation Association on December 11, 1959.) RESOLUTION No. 21-ADEQUATE APPROPRIATIONS FOR STARTED PROJECTS Whereas Congress has in some instances failed to make needed appropriations for projects theretofore authorized and for which initial appropriations have been made and the project work started; and Whereas the failure to make continued appropriations has resulted in extended delays and added costs: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the National Reclamation Association urges that once a project is started, appropriations be made and sufficient appropriations continue to be made to enable the work to continue with dispatch and without increased costs resulting from time delays. (Passed by the National Reclamation Association on October 30, 1959.) RESOLUTION-RECLAMATION We urge the uninterrupted construction of the Ainsworth irrigation project on the Niobrara River in Nebraska. (Passed by the Mississippi Valley Association in February 1960.) MOTION-SUPPORTING AINSWORTH PROJECT At a regular meeting of the Western Nebraska United Chambers of Commerce held September 10, 1959, In Rushville, Nebr., Doug Borman of Gordon, Nebr., moved that the Western Nebraska United Chambers of Commerce go on record as supporting the Ainsworth project and that it be included in supplementary ap propriations. Seconded by Claude Currey of Valentine and carried. The Secretary was instructed to send copies of this motion to Secretary of the Interior Seaton, all Congressmen and all other pertinent officials. RESOLUTION OF O'NEILL, NEBR., CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Whereas at a regular meeting of the O'Neill, Nebr., Chamber of Commerce the matter of furthering irrigation for stabilizing agriculture in this part of Nebraska was discussed fully; and Whereas we understand that the Ainsworth, Nebr., irrigation project was formed in accordance with all the regulations of our Government, and in good faith, and that many men have worked long and diligently to secure this project for this part of Nebraska; and Whereas a vast amount of engineering and organizing was done to qualify the Ainsworth irrigation project for support from our Federal Government; and Whereas we business and professional men of O'Neill, Nebr., firmly believe that irrigation is the one means of stabilizing agriculture in this part of Nebraska. Now, therefore, we solemnly resolve that we are in full accord and wholeartedly support the furtherance of the Ainsworth irrigation project. And arge you, as our representative in Washington, to get behind this project by proper and lawful means take whatever steps are necessary to secure appropriations required to carry the matter to its early and successful Jed at O'Neill, Nebr., this 15th day of February 1960. O'Neil, Nebr., Chamber of Commerce: By J. E. Stutz, President, A. LA Patton, First Vice President, Dale E. Wilson, Second Vice President, John C. Watson, Treasurer, H. D. Manson, Secretary; Board of Directors: Cauliskes, James Dennis, Harry Petersen, Joseph McCarville, John MacLeith, D. C. Scheaffer, Ray Eby. NEBRASKA RECLAMATION ASSOCIATION, HARKHAN AND MEMBERS APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, 18. Ste Washington, D.C. GIEZEN: We are advised that your committee has scheduled a hearing for feration of appropriations for the Ainsworth irrigation unit in Nebraska. End permit us to call to the attention of the committee the action taken by Vaska Reclamation Association concerning this important project. On Væember 11, 1959, the association assembled in convention at Columbus, Nar, matimously adopted the following resolution : Thereas the Ainsworth unit received its initial appropriation of funds to at the construction of this unit in fiscal year 1959; and Whereas Congress failed to appropriate funds for the continued construction the fiscal year 1960 and the project is therefore at a standstill causing erased costs resulting in an economic waste: Now, therefore, be it mited. That we urge the entire Nebraska congressional delegation to seek he appropriation of funds for the immediate construction of the Ainsworth and the additional funds for the continued investigation of the other units Niobrara Valley." The undersigned is also a member of the board of directors of the National Reclamation Association, which association held its annual convention at Den* Colo, on October 28, 29, and 30, 1959, and at said convention adopted the Mowing resolution: SOLUTION NO. 21-ADEQUATE APPROPRIATIONS FOR STARTED PROJECTS "Whereas Congress has in some instances failed to make needed appropriaions for reclamation projects theretofore authorized and for which initial propriations have been made and the project work started; and Whereas the failure to make continued appropriations has resulted in 2ded delays and added costs: Now, therefore, be it ired, That the National Reclamation Association urges that once a ination project is started, appropriations be made and sufficient approns continue to be made to enable the work to continue with dispatch thout increased costs resulting from time delays." respectfully request favorable consideration by your Appropriations Comof an appropriation for this vitally needed project which received its ppropriation 2 years ago. It is imperative that funds be supplied so Construction can go ahead systematically and this project be placed in tion at the earliest possible time. suggest that it is poor economy to permit the halting of a project in the The of construction and that such a course of action is calculated to destroy onfidence of the construction industry as well as the confidence of the ral public in the Federal Government and its agencies. le trust that you will see your way clear to include this letter as a part te record of your hearing. Respectfully yours, C. PETRUS PETERSON, Executive Director, Nebraska Reclamation Association. NIOBRARA RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, DEAR SIRS: AS president of the Niobrara River Basin Development Associa tion, may I urge you to follow the wishes of the President's budget recommendations by appropriating the funds for the continual construction of the Ainsworth irrigation project, for the fiscal year. The Niobrara River Basin development would directly benefit 71,280 people living in Wyoming and Nebraska. At the present time disastrous floods are occurring on the Niobrara River to the east of the Ainsworth project. And again tons of our priceless topsoil are being washed away. The Ainsworth project reservoir would have been of great assistance in alleviating the severity of the downstream floods. Also, as the operator of both a ranch and stock farm a few miles from the Ainsworth irrigation project, I wish to urge the completion of the Ainsworth irrigation project. The project will stabilize the economy of the cattle and stock farming industry of this area which is continuously plagued with recurrent drought and sparse rainfall. The completion of the project will prevent the loss of our foundation herds of cattle which has occurred in past years of drought in this Sandhill area of Nebraska. The Ainsworth project has been endorsed by the Mississippi Valley Association; the National Reclamation Association; the Nebraska State Reclamation Association; the Western Nebraska Chambers of Commerce and other chambers of commerce in the area. In closing, we of the Niobrara River Basins would like to express our deep appreciation of that great friend of reclamation, Congressman Wayne N. Aspinall, of Colorado, who was a member of the committee that passed on the feasibility of our project. May we also express our appreciation to Congressman Phil Weaver of Nebraska for his assistance to us. DEAR SIRS: I understand that the proposed budget for the year beginning July 1, 1960, includes $1,500,000 for further construction on the Ainsworth irrigation project, for which funds to start construction were appropriated 2 years ago. The initial appropriation was made after several years of comprehensive study and research and after lengthy hearings of those favoring the project and of the relatively small group which has opposed it. I feel that only a small group are opposed and that they probably are misinformed and misguided. I hope that the requested appropriation will be granted without further delay. Sincerely, APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE, ALICE T. LITTLE. THE COMMERCIAL NATIONAL BANK, GENTLEMEN: I am a banker in Ainsworth, Nebr., our town joins the Ainsworth irrigation district on the south. We have just suffered another of the many drought years we have in this area. Our ranchers have been short of feed for their livestock and much feed grains have been transported into our community at a high cost. As you might expect our farmers are either broke or near broke as the result of high cost of produc tion with the ultimate of only half crop production. Many of our small farmers ave been eliminated in the last few years. Business in our small community been very poor with many failures and closing of business establishments. Certainly our agriculture economy is one of the weak areas of our great intry's economic life. One of the principal reasons for this weakness is the heost of production at all levels. The only way we can assure any measure conomic stability is to assure our people of crop return on moneys invested hand and overhead in producing these crops. Most certainly the money spent the Ainsworth irrigation would assure this risk. The people that live in this irrigation district and who are the ones who will for it are most willing to assume this debt and repay their Government aney loaned to build this project. If this great country of ours is to proand prosper, we must not break faith with those who are willing to assume er share of its development. We ask you to favorably consider appropriations for the Ainsworth irrigation ject as we know it is an investment in the future of our country. The project feasible and the investment is sound, so we request that you make this investent in better life and better living for our people. Respectfully, LATIONS COMMITTEES, Thington, D.C. ROGER S. THORLEY. AINSWORTH, NEBB., March 30, 1960. Detenen: I am making this statement on behalf of appropriations for the ing year for the Ainsworth irrigation project. My wife and I own 288 acres igable land in the Ainsworth Irrigation District, and as I have mentioned previous statements, we tried to put in wells, but were unable to get any that would be adequate. We were really in need of water this last year. We had only about one-half of our normal crop due to the lack of moisture, and many of our friends and neighb suffered an even greater crop loss. Expenses have risen to the high now that a farmer cannot afford to miss even one crop. Unless we can get a regular equate water supply, it will be impossible for anyone in this area to stay in ess. When the farmers lose their income, the businesses in the towns will to lose. Certainly the prosperity of communities such as ours affects the Insperity of surrounding areas, of the State and eventually of the Nation. One or two large farmers do not help the community-the business men will all you that they stay in business by serving the small farmers. Naturally, with so Litle rainfall as we have in our area, it is necessary to farm a larger acreage in order to produce enough to make any kind of living. It is not a good siga bose the number of farm families decreasing while the acreage of individual farms increases. There are many of us who want to keep our farmsWe don't want to see dried up and burned up crops we don't want to be forced ut and move to the already crowded cities, while we watch more acreage prolure less and less. We are willing to work and work hard to farm our land, produce good crops on dest sized acreage, and provide a good living for our families. We have the We need the water. Our project has been started and we want it conIf your committees will grant our appropriation for this coming year, we can go ahead with this vital project to assure our future and that of ildren. Let us prosper, let our community prosper, and thereby enhance sperity of the Nation. pectfully submitted. CONGRESS, hington, D.C. WILLIAM W. HUGHES. BROWN & LITTLE, INC., Valentine, Nebr., March 30, 1960. GENTLEMEN: Two years ago an appropriation was made to begin construction the Merritt Dam project, also known as the Ainsworth irrigation project. fore this appropriation was made, the Bureau of Reclamation had, over a End of several years, engaged in comprehensive study and research. Cononal committees had also conducted hearings and had considered testimony Lose favoring and of those opposing the project. We are inclined to believe that this project has been thoroughly and carefully studied and evaluated. The data to which we have had access would seem to conclusively indicate that it not only is a good and a worthwhile project, but also that it is more meritorious than many others which are pointed to with pride. We are convinced that the opposition group is comprised of a very small, special-interest group. It is quite apparent to us that the overwhelming majority of farmers, ranchers, businessmen, and private citizens in this area are convinced of the soundness and of the desirability of the project. We earnestly request that the $1,500,000 appropriation for further construction, during the next fiscal year, be granted without further delay. Sincerely, ROGER M. LITTLE, President. JOHNSTOWN, NEBR., March 31, 1960. APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, GENTLEMEN: In regard to the irrigation district at Ainsworth: In the farm area we have a near complete drought about every third year and in my 23 years of operating an 11,000-acre cattle ranch directly south of the district, there has been 1 year, 1952, that we would not have needed irrigation at some time during the growing season. We like to believe that we still live in a country that will give justice where it is needed. We do not feel that a few ranchers that have money should be able to stop a project that would give so many farmers an opportunity to stabilize their business so that they do not have to depend on our nonconsistent rainfall. Irrigation would create a prosperous community so that our young people would be able to stay home and not have to find their business somewhere else. All ranchers in this area are very much in favor of the Ainsworth irrigation project and sincerely hope they will continue this project. Yours respectfully, LYLE E. WILLIAMS. AINSWORTH, NEBR., March 24, 1960. APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIRS: I believe the Ainsworth irrigation project would really be wonderful for this part of the country. It would help build our town and make more and better work for our young people. It would raise our standard of living. I farm about 480 acres of land near Ainsworth. I irrigate about 300 acres of land with four wells. The water I receive from those wells is not enough to do a good job of irrigating. With the Ainsworth irrigation project, I would have more water and cheaper water than I get now. I could raise other crops besides corn. I do not have a big enough head of water for alfalfa, etc. I sincerely hope that all concerned will help bring this project to us at an early date. Very truly yours, WARREN L. WALZ. AINSWORTH, NEBR., March 29, 1960. THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, GENTLEMEN: Concerning appropriation of funds for the Ainsworth Irrigation project, your continuing effort and help toward such appropriation will be greatly appreciated by many of us. Having lived in Ainsworth for 46 years, working closely with the agricultural trade in this area as a grain dealer and feed manufacturer, may I make this comment. In these years I have not known income from farming to be large enough for any of our fine farm youngsters to go on and secure college degrees. I |