through establishment of 160 acres per family maximum, better lands in the project be operated in such large units. But, to provide control in terms of individual units of varying size would require stoppage of project pending enactment of fundamentally different legislation than now governs. Obviously, carrying through of War Food Program precludes such course. We are left, then, where we are on all private land projects, except the Columbia Basin-having to deal with limitation in terms only with maximums necessarily controlled by the poorest units which are to be irrrigated." I concur in the Associate Regional Director's findings with respect to the proper and justifiable maximum limitation of ownership as 160 acres per family. I recommend that you approve as to form the contract herewith resubmitted. In view of the May 29 date for which the district election has already been called, I urge that your approval be given at the earliest possible moment. Approved May 26, 1945. (Signed) H. W. BASHORE, Commissioner. (Signed) MICHAEL W. STRAUS, HAYSTACK RESERVOIR An act to approve an amendatory repayment contract negotiated with the North Unit irrigation district, to authorize construction of Haystack Reservoir on the Deschutes Federal reclamation project, and for other purposes. (Act of August 10, 1954, 68 Stat. 679, Public Law 573, 83d Cong., 2 sess.) Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the contract with the North Unit irrigation district in form substantially similar to that approved by the district directors on July 31, 1953, which has been negotiated by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to section 7, subsection (a), of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (53 Stat. 1187, 1192; 43 U. S. C., 1946 edition, sec. 485), is approved and the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to execute it on behalf of the United States. SEC. 2. The Secretary is authorized to construct the Haystack Dam and equalizing reservoir and related works as a feature of the Deschutes Federal reclamation project at a cost not in excess of an amount which, together with other project costs reimbursable and returnable to the United States pursuant to the terms and provisions of the contract approved by section 1 of this Act, does not exceed the maximum construction charge obligation of the North Unit irrigation district. * Excluded from this publication. EDEN PROJECT WYOMING Construction of the Eden project was recommended by the Secretary on August 7, 1940, and approved by the President September 18, 1940, under the terms of the act of May 10, 1939 (53 Stat. 685, 719). Construction was terminated by order of the War Production Board in December 1942. The act of June 28, 1949 (Public Law 132, 81st Cong.), authorized the Secretary to complete construction of the project.1 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, THE PRESIDENT, The White House, (Through the Bureau of the Budget). MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: The Interior Department Appropriation Act, 1940, contains an appropriation of $5,000,000, from which allocations may be made by you: For construction, in addition to labor and materials to be supplied by the Works Progress Administration, of water conservation and utilization projects, *** in the Great Plains and arid and semi-arid areas of the United States, * * All expenditures from the appropriation, and as much of the expenditures from the Work Projects Administration funds as you determine, are to be considered reimbursable. Hereinafter the appropriation item will be termed the "1940 Water Conservation Appropriation." The Eden irrigation project in Sweetwater County in southwestern Wyoming, near the town of Eden, is the type of project that is contemplated to be constructed under the provisions of this item. This project was originally constructed to irrigate about 30,000 acres and was settled in 1910. Due in part to improper 1 See Colorado River Storage project. construction of irrigation works there are now only 9,000 acres in cultivation. It is proposed to construct storage works, build a drainage system, and rehabilitate the distribution system to serve 20,000 acres. The Farm Security Administration has found that there are opportunities to settle many distressed farm families on the project. The Work Projects Administration has reported that more than 400 workers who are living within two hundred miles of the project could be made available, provided suitable camp and transportation facilities were furnished. However, it is believed that construction will be more efficient if a part of the work is accomplished by forces from the Civilian Conservation Corps. Consequently, plans are being made to obtain the services of two CCC camps. The lands to be irrigated are situated along both sides of Little and Big Sandy Creeks at and above their confluence. The soils of the project are predominantly sandy loams and under irrigation are capable of furnishing good yields of alfalfa, sweet clover, grains, and similar crops. The surrounding country contains some excellent range land. The principal industry of the present project is dairying, a ready market for the products of which is found at Rock Springs, Wyoming. The Eden project is not situated on a railroad but a new Federal highway passes through the project area, connecting it with the city of Rock Springs. The existing irrigation facilities comprise the Eden reservoir of 12,300 acre-feet capacity, four small reservoirs at the headwaters of Big Sandy Creek of 2,500 acre-feet aggregate capacity, the Eden Canal of twenty miles length and a comprehensive system of laterals. The plan of development includes the construction of a new reservoir on Big Sandy Creek, as the investigations indicate that this will be more economical than the rehabilitation of the existing dam. It will be necessary to construct a four-mile outlet canal, to rehabilitate the present canal and distribution system, and to construct a drainage system for the entire 20,000 acres. The development program will also include the necessary rough land leveling. The estimated cost of construction and land development, including the building of all irrigation structures, rough leveling and resettlement costs is $2,445,000. The Department of Agriculture has made a survey of the project, and states its belief that the water users will be able to repay $1,200,000 of this amount over a period of forty years and, in addition, to carry the annual costs for operation and maintenance. This reimbursable sum should be obtained from the 1940 Water Conservation appropriation. The remaining amount of $1,245,000 required to construct the project is expected to be provided by the Work Projects Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps. A tabulation is attached in which is shown a tentative breakdown of expenditures from the three funds. The estimate of expenditures from Work Projects Administration funds is based on the experience of the Bureau of Reclamation on construction with relief forces under the legislative provisions in effect prior to the fiscal year 1940. The efficiency is unknown with which the work can be constructed under the present regulations and those that may be placed in effect before the work is done. Therefore, the estimate of Work Projects Administration funds required may need revision at some later date. I recommend that the Bureau of Reclamation undertake the construction of the Eden Project; that appropriate bureaus of the Department of Agriculture conduct the land development program and the arrangements for settlement, repayment, and project operations; and that the National Resources Planning Board assist in the planning and coordinating field. I recommend that the allocation of $1,200,000 from the 1940 Water Conservation Appropriation be made to the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, and that the Work Projects Administration be requested to give earnest consideration to the project applications which will be filed by the Bureau of Reclamation to obtain assistance in the construction of the Eden project. The Bureau of Reclamation will reimburse the Department of Agriculture and the National Resources Planning Board for all services provided by these two agencies in connection with the construction of the project through transfers or advances from the funds made available to the Bureau of Reclamation. The Acting Secretary of the Department of Agriculture has recommended, and I am in accord with his recommendations, that the following conditions as to excess and tenant operated lands should apply to this project: 1. No Water for Excess Lands. Water will not be delivered for use upon lands under one ownership in excess of an adequate sized unit to be determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. Excess lands to be eligible for the delivery of water must be sold at not to exceed the Government appraised price. In the event that the owner of lands in excess of an adequate sized unit has a water right which partially satisfies his needs for an adequate sized unit, he will be delivered only sufficient additional water to fully satisfy his needs upon his specifically designated adequate sized unit. 2. Water Delivery for Lands in Tenant-Operator Status. Water for an adequate sized unit will be permitted for use on land operated by tenants, only when the Secretary of Agriculture has approved the tenure arrangements, adequacy and condition of home and farmstead buildings and other structures, and the condition and ability of the land to meet rent and debt payments and provide a decent living for the tenant families. He estimates that the Department of Agriculture will require approximately $200,000 for its participation, in addition to a Work Projects Administration contribution of about $225,000. This later sum is $25,000 in excess of estimates made of funds required from the Work Projects Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps allocations, as shown on the attached 2 tabulation entitled "Estimate of Expenditures." However, it is believed that the additional work indicated by the increase can be readily accomplished either by Work Projects Administration or Civilian Conservation Corps forces after the completion of the work proposed in this letter. * Excluded from this publication. It is contemplated that actual construction will not be undertaken until the Department of Agriculture has made sufficient progress in an effort to obtain control of the large holdings at prices which do not exceed appraised valuations to insure the successful operation of the project. The time required for the construction of the project will depend largely on the availability of Civilian Conservation Corps camps and relief labor and may extend to three or four years. Sincerely yours, (Signed) HAROLD L. ICKES, Secretary of the Interior. Approved September 18, 1940. (Signed) FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, President. An act to authorize completion of construction and development of the Eden project, Wyoming. (Act of June 28, 1949, 63 Stat. 277, Public Law 132, 81st Cong., 1st sess.) Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to complete the construction, including any necessary preconstruction surveys and investigations, of the irrigation features of the Eden project, Wyoming, as approved by the President on September 18, 1940 (Senate Document Numbered 18, Seventy-seventh Congress, first session (1941), page 29), with such modification in physical features as the Secretary of the Interior may find will result in greater engineering and economic feasibility: Provided, That of the construction costs of the irrigation features of the project not less than $1,500,000 for the project of twenty thousand irrigable acres, or a proportionate part thereof based on the actual irrigable area as determined and announced by the Secretary of the Interior upon completion of the project, shall be reimbursable by the water users in not to exceed sixty years, and provision for the recovery thereof and for payment of the operation and maintenance costs of the irrigation features of the project shall be made by a contract or contracts satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior: Provided further, That construction costs of the irrigation features of the project which are not hereby made reimbursable by the water users shall be set aside in a special account against which net revenues derived from the sale of power generated at the hydroelectric plants of the Colorado River storage project in the Upper Basin shall be charged when such plants are constructed. SEC. 2. That the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to complete the land development and settlement features of the project in accordance with the general plan approved by the President on September 18, 1940, including the acquisition of such lands, or interests in lands, as may be necessary, and the extension of technical advice and assistance to settlers in matters of farm practice, soil conservation, and efficient land use: Provided, however, |