Letter Explaining Position on Arizona "Water Fight"

Letter: From John J. Rhodes, to Editor, Arizona Republic, August 23, 1963 (thermofax), page 1JOHN J. RHODES 1ST DISTRICT, ARIZONA COMMITTEE APPROPRIATIONS SUDOOMMITTEES INDEPENDENT OFFICES FOREIGN OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ALMA A. ALKIRE SECRETARIES: RITA M. DECENZO MARILYN S. LASSER ELINOR MALANEY DISTRICT OFFICE: 6081 FEDERAL BUILDING PHOENIX 25, ARIZONA BETTY HOUK Congress of the United States House of Representatives Washington, D. C. August 23, 1963 Editor The Arizona Republic P. O. Box 1950 Phoenix, Arizona Dear Sir: Many people have asked me "What has happened to Arizona unity in the water fight? Can't we stand prosperity?" They refer, of course, to the dispute as to the method of diverting water into Central Arizona, which has been aired by editerials and articles in the various newspapers of the State, and (??) by public officials. There are the plain fasts. In a Democratic Administration, and a Democratic Congress, the highest ranking Democratic officials of the State are expected to take the leadership. W(??) we had a Republican Administration in Washington the reverse was the situation, of course. In this Administration and this Congress, our two main sources of power are Senator Carl Hayden and Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall. Both are intelligent, able, capable, and dedicated. However, they do not agree on the proper manner for diverting water to Central Arizona, and show me tendency to compromise their disagreements. Therefore, we are getting much pulling and bouling, and very little leadership. Senator Hayden desires to proceed with the old Central Arizona Project for several reasons. 1. This is a bill which has passed the Senate twice, and upon which the interested states have already indicated their opinions. 2. The Central Arizona Project is almost completely for the benefit of Arizona, and can be presented to the Congress on the basis of saving an existing economy, 3. It is less expensive than a more ambitious regional plan, and would therefore meet with more favor from the more economy minded Members of Congress. On the other hand, Secretary Udall is pushing a Pacific Southwest regional plan with an initial price tag approximately three hundred million dollars higher than the Central Arizona ProjectEpson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 24 bit, 1,965,640 byte