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Show 262 WAR FOR THE COLORADO RIVER complained that Life had done Arizona serious harm by publishing the Arizona water story. "Yet," remarked Rep. Engle in obvious pleasure, "for several years now many of these same persons have in- formed the Congress that unless the Central Arizona Project was approved the state of Arizona would dry up and blow away, and probably a third of the population would be driven from their homes, farms, and stores - hungry, displaced people with neither food nor pro- tection." The Arizona Republic carried a front page headline which said: 382 "Staters Economy Safe in Drouth, Leaders Say." Another headline on page two said: "Drouth Situation Overemphasized by Life, Cha- grined Phoenicians Say." Leading the attack on the magazine was Walter R. Bimson, president of the Valley National Bank, who had been a star witness in support of the project before congressional committees. At the time he had testified, Bimson had followed the line that Arizona was in danger of major reverses without additional water. Now he completely reversed himself, and raged at Life for telling the story toH by himself and other Arizona witnesses. Said the Arizona Republic: "In a five page letter mailed Tuesday to dozens of insurance companies, banks and bond houses throughout the nation, Bimson wrote: " 'Because of the Life article many of our eastern friends have become alarmed about their investments in Arizona.' " This was a situation the Arizona witnesses had not anticipated. According to the Republic, Bimson declared "there need be no fear that the shortage of water either now or |