Los Banos Rotary Club History
Sisk Pledges Full Support Of San Luis, Trinity

B. F. Sisk, the Democratic nominee for Congress for this district, has pledged his 100 per cent support of the proposed Trinity-San Luis project, which would bring a new and abundant supply of irrigation water to Los Banos and the west side of the San Joaquin valley. Speaking before the Rotary and Lions Clubs here Tuesday, Sisk pointed out the economic necessity for the project and emphasized the importance of government power development on the Trinity river to supply the power needed to push the water up from the Delta area into the proposed San Luis reservoir. Governmental development of the power facilities, he said, will insure a source of power at a rate low enough that farmers can economically afford to use the water thus developed.
Citing the economic advantages of the project, Sisk said the present population of the initial service area, extending from Los Banos to Avenal, is 22,552. Conservative estimates indicates that within a few years after the project is in operation the population of the same area will increase to 87,500 persons, or four times the present population. Further, Sisk declared that impending exhaustion of local supply in the proposed 500,000 service area will result in a net farm income for the area of only $8 million a year. If the project is constructed, net farm income each year is estimated at $42 million, or six times as much. Even with the increased population, the net income per family would be one and a half times greater with development of the project.
Sisk emphasized that the project canot be realized without hard work by everyone. "The 100 per cent cooperation and united efforts of you people in Los Banos will go a long way toward accomplishment of this goal," he said, "and all other sections of the valley must have aggressive, enthusiastic representatives in Congress who will work tirelessly in its behalf. As your next Congressman, I pledge my full effort in its behalf.

Speaking to the business men, Sisk pointed out that the proposed project is equally as important to them as to the farmers. "Agriculture and dairying is the essential industry of this valley," he said. "As the farmer goes so goes Fresno, Bakersfield, Merced, Los Banos, every city and every business in the valley. Every one must put their shoulder to the wheel and see this project through to completion."

Sisk also pledged his full support of all agriculture, particularly as it is reflected here in the valley, and solicited the interest of local dairymen to advise him as to their thinking on this, Los Banos' most important industry.

October 1, 1954

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