| OCR Text |
Show DIXIE PROJECT, UTAH 23 Bureau of Reclamation made to the Secretary of the Interior. I am sure if you are not now familiar with the report that you will become familiar with it and other information as this project is considered. Tonight you will get only a representative sampling of how the people of this area feel about the project. I can say conscientiously that I do not know of anyone in this area who is opposed to the project. The feeling is unanimous as nearly as I can interpret it, that the project is vital and necessary to our growth, and that we are willing to do all that has been asked of us and all that will be asked of us to make it a reality. We are greatly heartened by the fact that the Governor of the State of Utah, who is a water expert in his own right, our entire congressional delegation, our State engineer, the Utah Water & Power Board, and other men and agencies are united and unanimous in their support of this project. We appreciate the fact that the Bureau of Reclamation and the Secretary of the Interior consider the project feasible and desirable. But we have gotten the project to the point where we can go no further without the favorable action of your committee. So far as we are aware, there is no valid reason why this project cannot take its place along with other reclamation projects in the Nation and be a part of the program which has so profusely demonstrated its worth. I feel confident that these witnesses tonight and what you will see tomorrow will create a favorable impression on you. Most of you may be familiar with the fact that when Brigham Young led his people into the Salt Lake Valley in 1847 he gazed out from his sickbed and said, " This is the place." We feel that he was not talking just about Salt Lake Valley, but of this whole area. He and the men he sent to colonize this valley felt that this was the place, also, however desolate and forbidding it must have been. We descendants of those stalwart pioneers feel the same way. We feel that this is the choice land and that it can make unique contributions to the welfare and well- being of our Nation. We feel there is a great destiny in store for this beautiful, cut up, arid land. But we cannot realize that destiny without water. In the " Book of Proverbs" we read, " Where there is no vision, the people perish." We vision many great and wonderful things which can be accomplished only by carrying on this Dixie project. We most sincerely believe that the time has come when something must be done about it, and that here, tonight, is the best opportunity we have ever had to convince you to take the next vital step toward completion of the project. So, let me say again we greatly appreciate the courtesy you have extended to us, and we are most thankful to have you here. Mr. ROGERS. Thank you, Senator. Our next witness will be Mr. Loren Squire, State representative. Mr. Squire, will you come forward and be recognized by the Chair? STATEMENT OF LOREN SQUIRE, STATE REPRESENTATIVE Mr. SQUIRE. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, it is indeed a pleasure to have you here. We are glad to have Congressman Burton on your committee as we feel he has a personal interest in this project and we hope a lot of influence on you. |
