I am appearing here, gentlemen, at the request of the board of directors of our State organization and its membership.

I want to fully indorse the statements which have already been made by the Governor and former Governor of our State and other's who will testify before this committee in behalf of the development of the Missouri River program.

The farmers are anxiously looking forward to the day when the Missouri River development is completed and the many blessings are made available to them.

We are particularly interested in the development of hydroelectric power, Oahe Dam is the key dam in the production of power, and also flood control.

We have, as has been stated before, over 80 percent of the farms in our State are now electrified, and it is through the use of hydroelectric power at low cost that we expect to repay the Government the loans that have been advanced to REA's and it is through saving on this power that we can afford to use in abundance, that will liquidate our REA loans.

Gentlemen, I know that there are many others present here to appear before you, and due to the short time I will conclude.

I want to thank the committee for giving me this opportunity to appear and present to you the wishes and the desires of the membership of the organization that I represent.

Thank you very kindly.

Mr. BERRY. The next witness is Mr. Albert Keffeler, president of the South Dakota Farm Bureau Federation.

Mr. KEFFLER. My name is Albert Keffeler. I am a farmer residing at Sturgis, S. D. I am president of the South Dakota Farm Bureau Federation. I am authorized by action of our State Board of Directors to appear before this committee to urge the provision of funds to permit the continuation of construction of the Oahe Dam project.

Our support of appropriations for this project reflects the viewpoint of the great majority of our membership, as evidenced by resolutions and recommendations received from county farm bureaus and individuals.

The earliest feasible completion of the project is needed by South Dakota farmers to alleviate a growing power shortage in rural areas, to permit the expansion of irrigation systems, to provide flood-control benefits to areas below the dam, and thus to make complete and efficient use of the important river resource.

Mr. DAVIS. Thank you, Mr. Keffeler; we are glad to have had you with us.

Mr. LOVRE. Mr. Chairman, the South Dakota Grange is also on record in support of this program, and at this time I would like to introduce Mr. Ross Cumming, master of the South Dakota Grange.

Mr. CUMMING. Mr. Chairman, I am just going to submit my statement. I want to state that the South Dakota State Grange, along with the majority of the people in the State, are in hopes that this dam and this whole project will be completed as soon as possible.

I want to thank the committee for giving us this time.

(The statement submitted by Mr. Cumming is as follows:)

STATEMENT BY ROSS CUMMING, MASTER, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE GRANGE

Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I am Ross Cumming, master of the South Dakota State Grange.

The grange members of South Dakota as well as most of the people of the State are vitally interested in seeing the whole Missouri Basin project completed as soon as possible. And since Oahe Dam is the key dam, that is what we are principally interested in today.

With about 90 percent of the farms of the State on REA, South Dakota is starving for power. For the last 6 or 8 years the farmers have been gearing their farming operations to electricity. Today our demand for electricity is far greater than supplies, and is increasing rapidly. We have been looking forward to, and with the raising cost of production certainly need, the low-cost hydroelectric power from the dams on the Missouri in our State. This great need simply cannot, wisely, be postponed. We need this increased supply badly today. One of the main principles of our organization is economy, but we don't believe that the stoppage of Oahe at this time is an economy move because with $17 million already spent on Oahe Dam, with transmission and powerlines built and being built by the REA and Bureau of Reclamation, with extensive, costly testing of soil for irrigation completed, plus all the work that has been done in surveying, it is a great waste of public funds to postpone the completion of Oahe Dam.

Scores of families have been dispossessed in land acquisition processes for location of dam sites to be inundated, and plans have been made to move whole towns, and land has been acquired for relocation of railroads and highways in connection with Oahe. All of these sacrifices would be meaningless without the completion of Oahe.

We are certain that it is poor economy to reduce radically the appropriation for Oahe at this time. Since Oahe is the key dam, maybe it should have been built first, but we have gone too far to stop now. We believe that we should go ahead and finish the Oahe project as started so the revenues will start to come in.

Therefore, we urge this Congress to appropriate funds to continue the work on Oahe Dam in South Dakota.

I thank you.

Mr. DAVIS. We are glad you could be here, Mr. Cumming.

Mr. LOVRE. I understand that the National Grange will also be on record in support of the completion of this project, and Dr. J. T. Sanders, of the National Grange, is here.

Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Chairman, I am legislative counsel of the National Grange.

I have made a special study of this particular project that Congressman Lovre is advancing this afternoon. We find that it conforms to the policies of the National Grange.

We believe in economy, and have testified that we were for economy every place, but economy can be carried too far in essentials like this. We believe that the budget appropriation asked for in the case of this Oahe Dam is within sound economy, and we trust that the committee will see fit to approve that and other similar necessary appropriations to keep this full development going, at least, at a reasonable

rate.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I have a statement here for the record.

Mr. DAVIS. That will be included in the record. (The matter referred to is as follows:)

STATEMENT OF J. T. SANDERS, LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL, THE NATIONAL GRANGE

1. The National Grange has a firm stand favoring reduction of Federal expenditures at the earliest possible date to effect a balancing of the budget. At our last annual session last November, we stated that:

"The Grange is in favor of strict economy in all Government spending. We recognize that the defense program is essential and that it requires vast expenditures, but we maintain that even a defense program should be carried out without unnecessary waste.

"Nonessential activities and nonessential spending should be eliminated by the Federal, State, and local governments during the period when defense expenditures are at a high level."

Any effort to acocmplish this reduction is bound to bring danger; and, in order to avoid great damage to necessary functions, requires great care in bringing about reduced appropriation. We believe, in the case of the complete elimination of the appropriation for the Oahe Reservoir, that serious damage has been done. This is a case of eliminating necessary expenditures although the entire Truman budget item for the dam may not be all a necessary expenditure.

2. The formal policy of the National Grange on the development of such multiple-purpose dams as the Oahe, is as follows:

"We reiterate our previous stand that all natural power sites should be retained in public ownership; that the power resources of such sites be developed under Federal appropriations; and that such power development should be fully coordinated with the best and soundest practical use of the water for power. irrigation, industrial, navigational and other uses, and with the most effective and sound flood-damage prevention on the entire drainage area.

"We will support, when justified by fiscal feasibility, adequate Federal appropriations for the building of all economically sound facilities for power generation; for the transmission of publicly generated power to load centers of the region at a uniform rate which will encourage the widest possible use, with preference to be given to cooperatives and public bodies; also we will support adequate appropriations to develop sound-irrigation and flood-control measures; to assist in soil-conservation work through public funds; and to provide for other works and facilities that are an essential part of a coordinated development of a drainage basin. We are opposed to building any privately owned powerplant on a dam owned by the Federal Government."

3. Since a great deal of work has been done on Oahe, and since it is an integral portion of, and essential to, the economical operation of the other main-stem works at Garrison Reservoir, Fort Randall Reservoir, and their auxiliary facilities, it is false economy to think that the stoppage of construction of the Oahe, at this time, can be justified on the basis of public economy. Quite the contrary is the case. It would not only be a wastage of the public funds that have already been invested in the Oahe and its auxiliary investments, but would greatly impair the aggregate service that the system of works can render. This is certainly a case where we can be pennywise and pound foolish, which we sincerely hope the committee will avoid by reinstating the needed funds for sound and expeditious completion of the three dams and their necessary auxiliary facilities, which reinstatement we support.

Mr. LOVRE. Mr. Chairman, our next witness is one of the most highly respected farmers in South Dakota. Not only is he engaged in actual farming, but he is also a member of the Legislature of the State of South Dakota and during the past session of the legislature he was chairman of the house agricultural committee, and he also represents the Tri-County Irrigation District, Mr. Harry Martens. Mr. MARTENS. Honorable Chairman and members of the committee, due to the shortage of time I will merely identify myself and submit my statement.

I am a farmer from Beadle County, and am actively engaged in farming. I have lived in Beadle County since 1909, and I have been a member of the South Dakota Legislature for the past five sessions. I served as chairman of the house committee on agriculture during the last session. I am also chairman of the Beadle County Soil Conservation District and district member of the South Dakota Reclamation Association.

I am also authorized to speak for the Tri-County Irrigation District, which is Beadle, Hand, and Spink Counties.

I would like to file this with your committee, and also a statement by the county agent of Hand County.

(The matter referred to follows:)

STATEMENT OF HARRY MARTENS

My name is Harry Martens, of Wessington, S. Dak. Merely to identify myself as a spokesman may I say that: I am a farmer from Beadle County, actively engaged in farming, diversified grain and cattle. I have lived in Beadle County since 1909 and have been a member of the State legislature the past five sessions. The session just completed I served as chairman of the agriculture committee in the house of representatives. I am also chairman of the Beadle County Soil Conservation District, since 1942, and a district member of the South Dakota Reclamation Association.

We in South Dakota are very much in favor of the Oahe Dam at Pierre. Since the Bureau of the Budget has graciously reviewed the dam and issued a supplementary report recommending $8,250,000 this year for its continued construction, its future looks promising. It is the key dam in the whole Missouri River.

I have seen wet and dry years as a farmer. The dry ones in the 1930's are years we shall not forget for a long time. On the other hand, people living in the lowlands bordering the Missouri River will not soon forget the disastrous flood in 1952.

These two extremes illustrate that we are dealing with a natural resource that we have too much of sometimes and not enough of at others. Harnessing the Missouri River will stabilize the flow, give us flood control, give us low-cost hydroelectric power, provide water for irrigation at reasonable cost to the farmers, insure abundant water for industrial and household use, afford opportunity for navigation, give us more recreation, and help wildlife conservation. It costs money, but floods take millions of dollars in damage, priceless human lives, and irreplaceable soil.

The advent of rural electricity has brought the farmers conveniences undreamed of 10 years ago in my State. The supply of power must be insured and increased through Federal dams.

Irrigation stemming from Oahe is a great potential. I have seen irrigation in Nebraska and have seen how it stabilizes farm income. I know that farmers would welcome irrigation in South Dakota. While there are a few who may be indifferent or dissident, a large majority favors the development of both underground water for irrigation and the use of Missouri River water along the lines which have been started.

I have been authorized to speak for 115 farmers of the Tri-County Irrigation Committee (Beadle, Hand, and Spink Counties) who are pursuing vigorously the potentiality, in hand with the Bureau of Reclamation, of a large supply of underground water that could be utilized by pump irrigation from shallow wells as is down in Nebraska and Kansas.

As an ardent soil conservationist, I believe that more conservation work can help conserve both soil and moisture, but I also am convinced that the construction of a large dam such as Oahe is essential to the full development of the State's greatest potential resource—water.

Soil-conservation practices work hand in hand with the function of the large dams, and cannot take their place.

I wish to express my appreciation of the opportunity to express my views in support of the Oahe Dam and hope that they receive the sympathetic consideration of the committee toward the end of approving the $8,250,000 appropriation. MILLER, S. DAK., May 8, 1953.

GENTLEMEN: Much has been said about the benefits that might be derived from the Oahe unit in central South Dakota. Among the benefits to be expected are electricity, irrigation, recreation, and many more, but because I am an agriculturalist, the one that stands out most in my mind is irrigation. Irrigation would definitely have a stabilizing effect on the agricultural economics of central South Dakota, whether or not you were inside or outside an irrigation district. In adverse times such as we experienced in the thirties, people living in the irrigation areas would have a dependable supply of feed for outside stockmen and ranchers.

Because of the dry summer we experienced last year, much desire has been shown in well irrigation until Oahe water is available. It will be after 1960 before any Missouri River water can be expected, even if the engineers get all the construction money they request. Some 115 farmers in the 3-county area have expressed a desire to irrigate from wells. If the dry weather continues, there will be an increase in demand for well irrigation.

Although well irrigation from the aquifer seems to be a sound venture, it is thought to be too high a risk for the individual. In this light the interested farmers approached the Bureau of Reclamation asking them to dig wells and guarantee quantity and quality of water. This way the Bureau could sink a limited number of wells each year and collect valuable research data such as quality of water draw down of the water in acquifer, as well as other problems. This would provide an orderly, well-managed system of well irrigation, rather than a misled group exploiting the underground water.

For this the farmer would repay for the cost of the well to Bureau of Reclamation. This project seemed to be meeting with favor and would help to initiate the larger irrigation project in the area later on.

People are thinking more seriously about irrigation in central South Dakota as time goes on.

Sincerely yours,

HARLAN J. DIRKS,
Hand County Agent.

Mr. MARTENS. Thank you for your time, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee.

Mr. DAVIS. Thank you, Mr. Martens.

Mr. LOVRE. Perhaps one city hit hardest in the flood of 1952 was the capital city of South Dakota, Pierre, and we will recognize Mayor Griffin for 1 minute.

Mr. GRIFFIN. That is not very long.

Mr. Chairman, my name is John Griffin. I am mayor of the city of Pierre. During the minute at my disposal I would like to say to you that the city of Pierre has obligated itself to quite an extent financially in anticipation of this dam and that we did go through one very big flood a year ago and now we are just cleaning up from it.

My statement here will show what the city has obligated itself to, and it also carries something from the school board.

I should like to submit a statement from Ed Mullally. He is sick and could not be here today, and he asked me to leave these statements here for him. He is president of the South Dakota Reclamation Association, and he is chairman of our Missouri River Committee of the Pierre Chamber of Commerce.

So, I will leave these statements for the record. (The statements referred to follow:)

My name is John B. Griffin. mayor of the city of Pierre, S. Dak., having held that position for the past 13 years.

At the close of World War II, the city of Pierre set about to repair existing utilities facilities and prepare for a normal increase in the use of these facilities. An example of this preparation is the purchase of a diesel generating unit for the municipal powerplant, during the year 1946, for the sum of $128,000. Additions and improvements were also made in the electric distribution and water systems. These additions to our utilities systems were considered, at that time, adequate for a normal increase in the demands on those facilities for a city of Pierre's size.

As a result of work being started on the Oahe Dam, and the resultant ranid expansion of this community, the aforementioned improvements proved inadequate and it was necessary to expend large sums of money to further increase the capacities of our facilities to satisfy the increased demand caused by the influx of new residents, some of which new residents have been those residing in the Oahe housing area, in the northwestern section of the city.

Naturally, our operating costs have also greatly increased, as well as the increases in our capital investments. It was necessary to enlarge the size of