Letter of Transmittal WASHINGTON, D. C., 13 January 1949. DEAR SIRS: In accordance with Public Law 162, approved July 7, 1947, the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government has undertaken an examination into the operation and organization of the executive functions and activities. In this examination, it has had the assistance of various task forces which have made studies of particular segments of the Government. Herewith, it submits to the Congress a study prepared for the Commission's consideration on certain aspects of power, irrigation, and flood control projects. The study of each task force naturally is made from its own particular angle. The Commission, in working out a pattern for the Executive Branch as a whole, has not accepted all the recommendations of the task forces. Furthermore, the Commission, in its own series of reports, has not discussed all the recommendations of an administrative order although they may be of importance to the officials concerned. The Commission's own report in this particular field is submitted to the Congress separately. The Commission wishes to express its appreciation to Col. A. B. Roberts for preparation of this study. I. The Size and Scope of Federal Power, Flood Control, and Irrigation Projects Page vii ix 2. Past and Present Expenditures for Construction of Multiple- 3 5 3. Projected Expenditures for Construction of Projects 4. Projected Physical Increases in Federally Owned Electrical 5. Confusion in Multiple-Purpose Projects. c. Lack of Uniformity in Principles of Flood Regula 3. Allocation of Construction Costs to Various Features . B. The Present Concept of Economic Justification and the Cost-Benefit Relationship 15 16 17 1. General . 2. Current Procedures Followed by Construction Agencies 3. Average Annual Benefits 21 19 20 20 4. Average Annual Costs. 5. Present Method of Computing Economic Justification 6. Lack of Flexibility in Cost-Benefit Ratio Due to Changes in 7. An Example of the Justification of a Project 8. Criticisms of Present Procedures. C. Possible Criteria in Determining Economic Justification 1. General Suggestions 2. Nonallocations . 3. Revenue Bonds as a Criterion of Feasibility 4. Conclusion III. Hydrology, Soil Conservation, and National Defense A. Hydrology 1. River Flows and the Lack of Firm Power 3. Effects of Silting B. Soil Conservation 1. General 2. Advantages of Soil Conservation Practices 3. Conclusions. C.- National Defense IV. Certain Aspects of the Relationship Between Public and Private Power 2. Overlapping Between Features of a Single Project 5. Summary VI. Future Trends in Expenditures on Multiple-Purpose Projects 55 57 58 60 61 62 VI. Bibliography ILLUSTRATIONS Tables: I. Appropriations for Multiple-Purpose Projects (Fiscal year, 1939) III. Estimated Ultimate Expenditures Under Presently Contemplated Multiple-Purpose Projects and Related Activities IV. Electrical Generating Capacity of Federal Projects on June 30, |