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Show 56 WAR FOR THE COLORADO RIVER be derived from the project, such as bathing, boating, hunting and fishing. Downey sought to find out from Larson how much the project would cost per acre. Downey: "The total cost of the irrigation end of this (the project) is about $300,000,000?" Larson: "That is right." Downey: "You will have a benefit equivalent to the irrigation of 150,000 acres?" Larson: "There would be a benefit to the entire acre- age, but 152,000 acres would go out of production if the project is not constructed." Downey: "How much is 150,000 divided into $300,000,000?" Larson: "About $2,000." Downey: "Two thousand dollars an acre; and what is that land worth? Do you know, irrigated? . . . Is it worth about $300 an acre, land that has water and being cultivated?" Larson: That is about right." Downey: "Now, are you, a member of the Bureau, recommending that this project should be constructed at a cost of $2,000 an acre, to provide water for that 152,000 acres?" Larson: "At this time the Bureau has not made a recommendation." The backbone of the Reclamation Bureau's new pro- gram was completely exposed for the first time when Engineer Larson testified on the costs and repayment plan of the project. Given specific meaning were two words which were to ring throughout every skirmish over S. 1175 and its successors in Congresses to come. The words were: "Interest component." |
