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Show tures would be divided among functions. The Twentieth Century Fund estimates are given in detail, and are more comprehensive generally than those of the Engineers. If the Army Engi- neers' figures for flood control and navigation, their particular province, are added to the Twen- tieth Century Fund figures for the other functions, the total amounts to approximately 97 billion dollars. Although this is a very rough estimate, the Commission, believes it will be helpful in indicat- ing the scope of the job to be done, and in afford- ing a basis for public discussion of the Nation's need for water resources investment. As the work of planning basin development progresses, firmer estimates can be substituted for those shown here, and estimates can be made for basin programs as well. Need for a Resources Investment Program A soundly organized resources investment pro- gram is req~uired to make the estimates as firm and realistic as possible. It will compel examina- tion of the component parts to determine the cost of doing wtiat is necessary to maintain our re- sources and to estimate as precisely as possible the benefits -which can be expected. The reasons why such a resources investment program is needed are compelling. Our renew- able resources, besides providing the foundation for our existence, are an asset which abundantly repays caredful management. The growth of population projected over the next two or three generations, and the extent of the migration west- ward, pose serious problems of increasing pro- ductivity and developing new areas to the limit of our ability. Such a program is needed to make sure that the depreciation in the Nation's huge national production plant is arrested and to provide for constant improvement in its productivity. This is the fundamental answer to whether the Nation can afford large annual expenditures for the con- servation an-d development of its basic resources. It cannot afford not to make such expenditures, unless it is willing to resign from its position of leadership in the world, and accept a declining standard of living. The concept of an investment program for re- sources development is simply an implementing of policies which have been recognized as sound for many years. Public expenditures have been made, although by no means consistently, to pre- vent and repair the depreciation of our natural resources, and to assure increasing use of those resources to meet the needs of an expanding economy. These expenditures have supplemented private investment for similar purposes, and have pro- vided the basis for the continuing investment of large sums in related economic expansion. But the sums required for the modern concept of multiple-purpose basin development are so large, and their benefits are of such a public nature, that private funds cannot be depended upon to do the job. The sums discussed here are indeed large, but the returns will also be large, not only from the sale of power and water, but also in the form of increased incomes, more prosperous communities, and the building of the strength and productivity of regions. An increase in the strength and se- curity of the Nation will be the final value attrib- utable to such investment. A renewable resources program and budget procedure, such as that outlined, would for the first time give us the facts upon which to base our decisions in the field of resources policy. It would make clear the status of our resources, and the measures needed to maintain and increase their productivity. It would indicate the relative contribution of investments in one or another type of resources activity, such as watershed manage- ment, navigation, or irrigation. It would pro- vide a means of deciding on the general character of resources development in a particular basin, as for instance, whether cropping should be en- couraged, as opposed to pasturing livestock or keeping the land in timber, whether water should be used for agriculture, industry, or other purposes. 94 |