Dear TIME-Reader:

LAST week a branch of our Government took an action so very good for the country that the editors of TIME and I like to think that we, along with much of the daily press, can associate ourselves with this progressive step. The House of Representatives passed the bill that authorizes some $750 million for the construction of power and reclamation projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin (see NATIONAL AFFAIRS).

Many of you will remember, I'm sure, our color pictures of this great river (TIME, Aug. 23, 1954), and the map (see cut) and detailed report on the river projects which we published in the Jan. 31 issue last year. People were talking about these Colorado River projects as far back as 50 years ago. The plans almost reached the drawing board stage, but four Congresses in a row passed them by. Now the development of the river basin, an area larger than all of New England, will enrich our whole country. New irrigation and power dams will increase the productivity of some 360,000 acres of land, but even more important it will open up the basin's wealth of lead, gold, silver, zinc, coal, oil and uranium.

After last week's decisive vote in the Congress, we are sure we share with many other, editors and publishers across the nation a sense of gratification that an informed public opinion helped to bring the Upper Colorado River Basin development to the verge of reality.

Cordially yours,

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