r w "ijruji 'nyr'$'wnf hi hihifthp jyif yipi f "j m'Tt rr"T",rw'V ig'ili,Mmi' """if i WEEKLY REFLEX DAVIS NEWS JOURNAL, rf 'MW'r'4i1 yu r" nmr V " m 'W MARCH 8, 1979 Editorial Antelope Island Is Strong On Solitude By GARY R. BLODGETT Speaker of the House James V. Hansen, of Farming-ton- , hit the nail right on the head when he told fellow legislators that they are making a big mistake by voting to rescind a $3.2 million appropriation to purchase Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake. REPRESENTATIVE Merrill THE DAVIS County Clipper, Kaysville Reflex, Journal and Sunset News took a firm stand supporting the purchase of the privately owned island for future development of a state park. Now we are saddened that the state: legislature at least the House of Representatives has taken a dim view of development of this great historical site as a park and recreation attraction. - BUT THE island could and should be developed over a long period of time, slowly as to not detract from the primitive, natural state of the island. Antelope Island would not have to be developed in its entirety as a state park. In fact, it would be wise to leave e much of the island in a natural state with only a paved road passing through the undeveloped area. BUT THE island could be developed on both the north and south ends, benefiting both Salt Lake and Davis counties as well as the state. If the island attracted more than 1.S million tourists last year with only limited park and recreation facilities, think of what the tourist trade would be like if the island was developed and had a loop road as previously considered and approved by the governor to attract tourism. - AT THE present cost of gasoline and promises that it will increase steadily to nearly $1 per gallon local residents are going to have to have a local recreation site to spend a leisurely day or weekend. Already the mountain parks are crowded and in some cases overcrowded. There is no more space available in most northern Utah canyons for additional campgrounds or even picnic sites. - ONE PARK and recreation official said that tourism in innorthern Utah would increase tenfold in one year stead of 1.5 million, there would be 10 to 15 million. Farfetched? We dont think so. - of Representative Harward maintains that its not right and lt Lake City) Representative John Hollingshaus said the land owners (Anschutz Corporation of Denver) has the capacity and desire to develop the island as a " recreation spot if the state will just let them do it. (R-Sa- Legislature sticks by its guns and disapproves the purchase of the island so that it can be developed as a state park. Antelope Island, whether developed or not, is not only for tourism. There are thousands of Utahns, including a great number of Davis County residents, who enjoy a brief visit to the island. WE CAN only hope that they will not follow in the . footsteps of the majority of their colleagues across the hall . developing the island would afford a chance at solitude ; who voted to kill the island funding and subsequently and communion with nature and allow persons to see kill nearly all chance.of developing what could be the as opposed to things most unique state park in all of America. things as - e. Elder and maintain the project. One very important matter was prevalent, i.e., before the Bureau of Reclamation could begin construction of the WED HAVE to take a long, hard look at that proposal. As of this writing, it's up to the State Senate to determine the fate of Antelope Island. AS REPRESENTATIVE Stephen Holbrook, formerly of Bountiful, (D-Sa- lt Lake City) told the Legislature: Box THE WEBER Basin Water Conservancy District became the contracting entity with the U.S. Government to repay the debt within 60 years, operate to take the island from the private landowners BUT THERE will be no way of knowing if the State Summit and counties to repay $81,656,000 for the construction costs of the project and $5.5 million in bonds to build treatment plants and facilities to deliver water to the 31 entities on the Wasatch Front from North Ogden RTNorth Salt Lake had to be determined. WE DON'T think those state legislators thought much into the future when they voted to rescind funds that had already been earmarked for purchase of the island. - man-mad- the first 28 years of my life and recall vividly the time when our wells ceased to flow and we commenced pumping them. Many had to be lowered to intercept water from another aquifer. IT BECAME more and more evident that growth in the South Davis area would cease if water were not obtained from some other source. The Weber Basin project was the result. Many people worked unceasingly and many years went by before the Bureau of Reclamation and the United States Congress could be convinced to build the Weber Basin project. The financial ability of the water users (that is really all of us), the properties of Morgan, Davis, Weber and parts WHERE DO northern Utah residents go for a long weekend or vacation? To Bear Lake to the north, or more probably to Lake Powell and the state parks in southern Utah. But how long can we afford this? two-lan- e, well. I lived in West Bountiful for - - God-mad- ITIS sad for me to have this happen and I feel the true story has yet to be told to you, the citizens, who really own the Weber Basin project and its $85,000,000 plus debt as THIS WOULD be true only if the island did not attract tourism to pay its way. We think proper development of the island would more than pay its way it would be a boom to Utahs sagging tourism economy! Utah has always had trouble keeping the tourist trade, even overnight. In southern Utah, especially, the tourists slip over to Las Vegas where they spend (or gamble away) what should rightfully be Utah tourist money. d. - Harward come for more park sites in the north, the State Legislature wants to kill that chance. Supporters of the recent bill argue that it will cost the state $100 million just to improve and maintain our present parks system and that the development of Antelope Island would be prohibitive. WE FEEL that those 39 Aiembers of the House that voted to kill any appropriation for Antelope Island were indeed There is no guarantee, not even a promise, that the island if purchased by the state would be developed overnight. Thats not even realistic. - and efforts to clarify the water situation as it concerns West Bountiful and Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, go on and on. THAT'S RIGHT, southern Utah has an abundance of parks. Northern Utah has a lot less in developed parks than does southern Utah and now that the chance has AT THIS writing, the bill for rescinding the state funds ($3.2 million) earmarked for purchase of the island has still not gone before the State Senate for final adoption. Theres a chance that the Senate will take a different view of the potential that Antelope Island has to offer. We certainly hope so. short-sighte- W. It is with reluctance that I write this letter, but the continual news articles of this newspaper, despite our letter City), sponsor of the bill to kill funding for purchase of the island, said, the purchase of the remaining 23,000 acres of Antelope Island would increase the state's parks system by 30 percent. What he didnt say, however, is that the vast majority of the states 37,000 acres of existing parks are located south of the Mason-Dixo- n line. - - Clearing The Water We think Representative Holbrook phrased it well. There is no better place in northern Utah to get away from it all than a jaunt to Antelope Island. And there are no more beautiful sunsets in all the world than the setting sun across the Great Salt Lake as seen from Antelope Island. project nineteen thousand, of municipal and dustrial water had to be under in-- acre-fe-et ,. , firm contract. ONE CITY , . , . contracted for a.f. (8,500 treated, 1500 untreated). This water had to be paid for each year whether or not it was delivered and the 10,000 contract was for 40 years. Our agreement with the U.S. Government is to the effect that no water would be delivered unless it was under firm contract. Now, to the problem at disclaimer needed by our district in allowing their (Bountiful) police depart- blown so much out of proportion. for a training area. It became about 40,000 a.f. of water an-- . nually to South Davis County.' The bulk of this water comes ment to use district grounds apparent to me that West Bountiful planned to use water from Bountiful for the remainder of the year and I inquired of two Bountiful city councilmen if Bountiful really intended to go into the wholesale water business. hand. This district has supplied all of West Bountifuls culinary water since 1964. The district also supplied, for a fee, temporary reservoir storage since that time. This we have not done, nor would we be able to do, IT BECAME more apparent for many of our customers. 'then that the majority of the West Bountiful started with, Bountiful City Council did not an initial allotment of 200 understand that the request acre-feof water. for the connection was for any more than to repair a line or ON FIVE separate ocfor use in an emergency as casions, due to use and need over and above the initial requested. Consequently, on Nov. 22, 1978 (Bountiful city contract. West Bountiful used and contracted permanently minutes). West Bountifuls for 40 years, as all other entimayor, two councilmen and ties do, a total of 91 acre-fecity administrator met with Bountiful citys mayor and of additional water. In 1976 an over-us- e of 40 acre-fewas city councilmen. Bountiful Citys Council paid for. The contract issued voted not to furnish water to to West Bountiful was never West Bountiful in other than returned to the district, an was emergency situation. however, payment received in 1976, 1977 and There were many accusat1978. ions, meetings held and disIn November 1978 West cussions, but primarily these are the basic facts. Now you Bountifuls city administrator have the story and I hope it first indicated by telephone and later confirmed by letter puts to rest this incident West Bountiful's willingness to pay for and contract permanently for any water used over and above their contracted amount. The district delivered 84 acre-fee- t (plus) over and above the 291 acre-feunder contract. West Mrs. Donna PurneiM asks Bountiful has paid for the what has happened to our water delivered but to this freedom? I ask freedom for date they have refused to sign whom? the contract for additional DOES MRS. Purnell really water, as agreed. want to take away freedom of CONTRARY TO reports choice? Our rights as infrom this newspaper, Weber dividuals to choose what we Basin not only did not cut off any water from Bountiful to as taxpayers also, wish to read? Does she really mean West Bountiful. We could not that she wants anyone that do this! On Oct. 4, 1978 does not agree with her to be (Bountiful City Council replaced? West Bountifuls minutes) She does not seem to realize councilman in charge of that first it is books, next it water met with the Bountiful might be her right to write City Council to ask permisletters to editors. sion, to tie into the Bountiful et et et culinary somewhere below system 500 West while West Bountiful repairs their .water line on 500 South. This request carried unanimously. I received minutes of this meeting inadvertently from Bountiful citys chief of police, who verified to us a Freedom Of Expression Necessary For Library NOR DOES she realize that there is now a movement in the U.S. A. to curtail the right . of a free press. . . The dissidents of communist countries are in prisons, being tortured and dying because they have The League of Women Voters of Utah supports SB 212 - Auto Emissions Inspection and Maintenance, now before the legislature. We urge everyone to contact his or her legislator to get this worthy bill passed. , most appropriate to say what he wants to say. book furor raging in Davis County that has brought a lot of bookworms out of the woodwork to read a obscene book. THE BOOK is in question "Americana," a contemporary novel by Don DeLillo. It concerns a television network executive in his late 20s, relating much of his present and past life. Also recounted is a trip he takes with two friends across much of the United States in a camper. His life was an active one - he went through a divorce but continued his love for the opposite sex, for instance. And he engaged in a little eating, drinking and merry making. -- DAVID BELL was raised in a small town near New York City. But mixed in with that was prep school at an Episcopal school in New Hampshire, college at a modernistic California school, upbringing by a father who was a successful advertising executive, and a mother who was sick much of the time. I don't think the furor is over the story itself. With some changes, it could be the life story, more or less, of many others. What has made the book obscene is some of the language used, especially a section towards the end. ADMITTEDLY, the activity described in that last section, particularly, is not something youd talk about in Sunday School or probably anywhere else, for that matter. And read out of context, it could lead the reader to think the author is a sex freak, immoral and sensationalistic. But looking at those passages in light of the story, the characters, their life styles and their value systems, it makes sense. In fact, if I dare to say such a thing, the words used by that author may be the I AM NOT condoning their life style as one to be propagated for everyone to follow. Nor do I profess to follow it in my own private life. What I am saying, and this is the whole reason for this column, is if Mr. DeLillo chooses to write such a novel, and do it in a er written books of the barbaric regimes of communist coun- tries making free peoples aware of the perils of munist dictators. com- WE HAVE lost the freedom of prayer in our schools, which we enjoyed in our youth. They are now asking for the removal of In God We Trust from coins, etc. ARE WE so concerned about a book that we do not have to read that we are willing, to lose one more freedom? That should be our choice as individuals in a free country to read what we choose. . , . THAT IS freedom a freedom of choice. Mrs. Ann Mason literarily acceptable fashion, more power to him. THE BOOK IS not, in my estimation, one that you pick up and cant put down d or consuming. In because it is fast-pace- fact the first 30 pages were a struggle for me to read because they seemed boring more than anything. It is not an easy novel to read. That point alone will probably turn most people off. It takes some concentration and thought to get through.it and make sense out of it. OF people in Davis County probably would want the book removed,-bu- t there are other residents who want that book, and others like it, with literary merit, kept on the shelves. A case in point is in the Letters to the Editor" column in today's newspaper. It is from that letter I borrowed the phrase, "dirty book furor." IN ANOTHER article in todays paper, the book selection policy at the Davis County Library is explained, hopefully satisfactorily. Headed up by Librarian Jeanne Layton, (a veteran of 20 years at the library, nine of them as director) the book review team consists of profesA LOT sionally trained staffers with varied backgrounds. Some are natives of Davis County, others have moved into the county from out of state. Half of them are members of the predominant religion in this area, the others are of varied faiths. BUT WHATEVER their personal beliefs or background, it is their job to judge a book on more than their own feelings. Miss Layton has said she wouldnt want a book such as Americana on the shelves of her personal library. But she doesnt enlarge that statement to ban it from the PUBLIC library. library-t- he Because just as that review board is made up of people with varying backgrounds and beliefs, so is this county. There are descendants of the Mormon Pioneers who carry on in that faith through and through. By the same token, there are families here from Europe, Asia and New York City associated with Hill Air Force Base who come from completely different backgrounds. ALL OF THEM are entitled to use the public library. They should have the right to expect a broad, quality selection of reading material. To quote from the library book selection policy as adopted by the library board, official agents in library policy: The prime responsibility library is to meet the needs of individual readers, organizations and institutions within Davis County. With the rapid expansion in both population and information, together with greater demands on the library, it is evident that the scope of the library collection needs to be broadened. The need of materials to carry on effective service and the requests of readers are the prime bases for selection. . Since freedom of speech and freedom of the press are rights guaranteed by the Constitution, it follows that the library must provide free access to all points of view on public questions. of the THE PUBLIC library which serves many varied groups cannot, to satisfy the, interests and beliefs of one group, sacrifice the interests of others. And that is the point of my column. I dont care if you read Americana. Certainly, in my opinion, it doesn't rate, with such all time greats as War and Peace or For Whom the Bell Tolls, to name two examples that come to mind. BUT IT SEEMS to me to be well written, and does try to convey a point; a different way of life than many in this area are used to. But then isnt that one wonderful thing about books in the first place? How can we all experience everything, even everything we each consider good and satisfying, in our busy lives? To again quote It enables the public to Miss Layton: read things that are not in their realm. 1 e fiction helps you underthink stand the motives and value systems of others and other cultures." TO WANT TO learn about something through reading doesnt mean you want to emulate it in your life. But perhaps just knowing about it can help you either avoid making what you consider a blunder in your own life or, just on the other hand, help you follow a path you wouldnt have otherwise thought of. Or it just helps make your life that much more interesting and full. Without a doubt there are some words that are objectionable for youngsters to read. They aren't your Walt Disney fare. But children aren't allowed to check this book out of the library, normally, anyway, as is explained in the article on book selection. BUT PLEASE let the public library be public. No, lets not fill it with smut. That obviously isnt the intention of the library board or staff. But let's fill those shelves with the best literature the world has to offer. Give everyone a chance to let his imagination wander, his mind expand, his funnybone get jarred. And let each do it in his own way. For isnt that part of what America is all about? well-don- u4 A Wasatch Front is dirtier than many other areas. We can no longer use Kennecott as a whipping boy for our air problems. THE PROBLEM is us! If we do not begin to meet EPA standards, we will be denied highway funds and sewage-treatnefunds. That could be expensive in the long run. This emissions inspection is simple to perform, for law officers or service station attendants. It's time we all buckled down and bit the bullet" for our own good. Pass SB 212! Mrs. Nancy Ketcham, pres. nt WE REALIZE that it would cost each auto owner five or ten dollars a year for this inspection. But, look at what having cleaner air would save us! Better health, increased work efficiency, and longer lasting materials will accrue from better air quality. The National Wildlife magazine Theres a dirty Secretary-Manag- Weber Basin Water Conservancy District League Supports Test Of Emissions Opinion By TOM BUSSELBERG from Wanship Reservoir, a' distance of approximately 60 miles, most of it irrigation . water which is subsidized" significantly. This new water into South Davis has been the, reason for the return of the underground to a productive state. We have consistently tried to furnish the water needs in your area and will continue to do so to the best of our ability and under the same rules and regulations we require of every valued customer. IT REALLY doesnt take a great intellect to know that in , the second driest state in the union, 40 year contracts could be a great asset instead of a detriment. I value my friendship with many people in West Bountiful and hope this explanation gives you a little better look at our side of the picture. Wayne M. Winegar, Take Away Books, Then What Is Next? ' city WEBER BASIN conveys' estimates air Bountiful League of Women Voters quality across the country at 36, on a scale of 100. And the Emissions Controls Mark Book Dangerous To Health? A recent Common Carrier article by Dr. Billings Brown, regard to the dirty book furor involving our tax supIn ported citizens public libraries in Davis County, I have a brilliant idea. Why not appoint someone to read all the contemporary novels and put labels on them reading, Caution! This book could be dangerous to your mental health or P.G., G.R., or X as they do in the movies? I AM presently employed as a nurse at a local hospital and if I didnt love my job, might even consider doing it myself. However, Id probably not be objective enough because Ive already read many of these books and do not consider myself contaminated! I just skim over the "sexy" parts with a jaundiced eye and thoroughly enjoy the fascinating and well researched portrayals written by some of our truly great modern authors. I dont believe in living in the past. After all, Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and on the other hand, so is obscenity! NOTE TO concerned mother: There is a wonderful section In the library for younger children and they dont have to wade through any garbage to get there, and if there are older children,' hopefully they can think for themselves! Joyce S. Wilson industrial technical aide, expressed many concerns relating to a bill requiring-separaemission control inspection. The inspection-woul- d te require a station to install special equipment. THIS OPERATION would open the door wide for unethical people to flam-boozthe many unsuspecting motorists. In many instances motorists would be charged, as under the safety inspection, for unessential parts and le labor. This might be overlooked if the end product was a more healthy environment. But according to available informa- tion the problem is not as simple as certain groups would have us believe. I HOPE the legislators can alleviate the many more pressing problems. The EPA and tal groups should look at the overall picture and study a cure for unexplained high levels of pollutants. Dont blame the automobiles and refineries for the whole ball of wax. DR. BROWN points out that a majority of hydrocarbons is emitted from vegetation. Let's remove all the trees and vegetation from the Wasatch Front and start over with the ozone and hydrocarbon problem. Halley Thomas'