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Show 1 6 5 8 7 9 Universal Microfilm Corpl Box 2608 Salt Lake City, Ut, 84101 THURSDAY. DECEMBER 26, 1974 1 HELPER, UTAH VOLUME 68 NUMBER 52 172-567- 10( Helper waiter situation to spur rate hike, engineering study Helper's water system, taken on a purity and constancy of supply basis, is probably the best system in the area. The twenty-odsprings can supply, at the least, most of the needs of the town for years to come. But the goose laying the golden eggs can be a bit crotchety and unpredictable at times. Shortly before completion of the recent $100,000 spring rehabilitation project, some projection predicted that Helper's water problems would be "solved" for a few years. However, that report did not take Mother Nature or McCulloch Oil into account. Mother Nature did her part in two ways; first, she washed out a mile long section of Helper's pipeline as it comes down Price Canyon near Kyune. Second, she got a bit particular about where she was going to drop water laster summer. The result was a summer drought that, while hardly qualifying for the devastation category, did teach those in charge of Helper's water system some hard lessons. Top among these was that water rationing does not work. Helper's water system services between 850 and 900 homes, a handful of businesses and four or five heavy industries. Helper Kerry Nielsen, places the average monthly water useage of each residential hookup at between 25 to 30 thousand gallons. He goes on to place commercial use at approximately 1 million gallons monthly. Some quick arithmetic shows Helper's average monthly summer water use to be in excess of This figure, Nielsen 25 million gallons. A recent study and report issued by Utah Senator Frank Moss stated that the vast mineral and energy resources available in the Colorado Basin area could possibly go largely untouched unless economical means were found to supply these resource rich but water poor areas with a large and stable water supply. The report concluded by urging the government to begin serious efforts now to provide this water supply or face the fact that this potential energy would remain d inac-cessabl- e. Dale Wilson of Spring Glen examines a ducted. The Carbon High junior found the spot in the Price River that served a vital river to be polluted from a number of J Photo part in a conservation project he con- - sources. river; and near his home in Spring H-- Glen. River study sends local Congress To anyone who reads this paper regularly, the name Dale Wilson must seem nearly synonymous with the Club. Not that the modest Carbon Carbon High junior, who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Wilson of Spring Glen, makes a special effort to be associated with the club but, as always, actions speak louder than words. And a young man who can participation into state parlay his honors and a trip to the National Congress in Chicago, without really trying, must be doing something right. Although Dale protests that the project was hardly more than a conroutine exercise, it was a servation experiment that initially caught the state judges' interest. The experiment involved a pollution study of the Price River. In simple terms, Dale's underlying premise for the experiment was that the higher the pollution level in a river, the higher the level will be of microorganisms present in the river. Dale explained that, in the natural ecological cycle of a river, it types of organic pollution are introduced into a river, this naturally leads to a great that live increase of on the pollution by breaking it down and consuming it. So, says Dale, these organisms can be seen as river cleaners, however, he adds, these same organisms are not good for game fish in a stream because they compete for the same oxygen and usually decrease natural fish food present in the stream. Dale conducted his experiment by gathering water and aquatic insect samples out of the Price River, a number of times, at three different spots-nea- r Colton, in the north end of the county; just below Helper where the city's sewer used to dump into the 4-- H 4-- H 4-- H 4-- H micro-organis- of present, the water micro-organis- disolved oxygen in the inevitably goes down while carbon dioxide and alkalinity levels inevitably go up. The aquatic insects served much the same indexing purpose, because certain insects will be present in unpolluted areas while others live on the organisms present in polluted water and so will be found in polluted areas. Results of Dale's experiment showed that water near the Colton site had near normal. amounts of oxygen, carbon dioxide and alkalinity and that youth to 4-- H Dale would take these water samples and test them for disolved oxygen, carbon dioxide and alkalinity present in the water. This was done because, with greater concentrations clear water insects were present. From results here, Dale concluded that little or no pollution was entering the river at or above Colton. However, as he moved down the stream flow that story changed. Below, Helper, where, at that time, the sewer emptied into the stream, Dale found a significant jump in the carbon dioxide and alkaline levels as opposed to disolved oxygen. He said he also found very little insect life, leading him to believe that the stream was too polluted at the spot to allow for insect life. Finally, at the test spot near his home, water and insect sampling showd high contents of carbon dioxide and alkalinity but also showed a great number of insects, which he concluded to show as proof that the stream was polluted but not so much as where Helper's sewer entered the system. Dale points out before giving his final conclusions that much of the pollution problem, but not all, was alleviated when Helper joined the sewer system. county-wid- e Dale's conclusions from this experiment showed that the river was indeed polluted, in some spots far above tolerable levels. He conjectured that the chief sources of the pollution was the Helper sewer, animal wastes and crop sprays washing off fields into the river drainage. This project was only one part of a log that each is supposed to keep showing reports on the members' total participation in different projects throughout a year. Largely because of this experiment, Dale received recognition from the state organization as having the best yearly log in the state. The recognition yielded some handsome rewards, top among them being an all expense paid trip to the National Congress, which was held in Chicago at the first of this month. Dale says he is not sure where he will go from here, but, judging from the background he already has, be the choice school or forestry or farming, it's a safe bet that he'll go far. 4-- H 4-- H Nowhere is this basin area is this report more aptly applied than in the Carbon County area, especially in and around Helper. In the next few years, the North Carbon area faces growth on a scale never before experienced, or possibly even dreamed of, in years past. But, this prospective growth is highly can enough dependent on one vital issue water be made available for the new families and industries to take a good long drink. The intent of this article and one to follow is to explore the question of water supplies in Helper, now and in the future. The now of this question is included because it is now that Helper is entering a critical period where decisions made will affect supplies for some years to come. The major problems Helper faces, at present, are: 1. providing enough water to supply all users. 2. generating enough revenue to establish a working fund for emergency repairs and for additions needed to the water system. School superintendent, Dennis Nelson, the board initally asked for plans that could be used by a contractor on a "cost-plus- " basis. However, when the board realized that needed safety renovations, such as an outside ramp, fire retaining walls and doors and other fire safety equipment, would cost in the neighborhood of $25,000 to $40,000, they sent the plans back to the architect with the request that new drawings be made showing greater details in order that the contract may be put out for bids. Nelson said that most all fire regulations had been dream. The PTA has provided a coupon to every student in the schools. By presenting the coupons at the box office when purchasing tickets, the PTA is assured of a 25 Juanita McFarlane, of the PTA council, asks that those persons using the coupons to support the council, please write the number of tickets purchased on the president coupon so the PTA will be reinbursed 25 cents for each one purchased. Anyone each paid admission. Seven Alone will be shown wishing more coupons or at the Price Theatre from information about the Dec. 25 through 31 and in w- can c:!l v,or Dragerton on Dec. 29, 30 project 3080. and 31. cent reimbursement for state Nelson reported this situation had remained unchanged for some time because of some difficulty encountered in obtaining a final report from the state fire marshal's office stating the fire marshal's final conclusions pertaining to the school's overall safety program. Nelson indicated that part of the problem in obtaining this report came from the fact that the Carbon School district is attempting to expedite the state fire marshai. fire marshal's final in- vestigation of the Price Elementary School fire of last spring. He said because of the greater importance of this investigation, the school board was noj pushing the fire marshal too hard on other needed reports. The recent arrest of a California man by the Highway Patrol on charges of car theft and embezzling led last week to some frantic phone calls between the local Highway Patrol and the San Francisco Police more checking, Robb discovered that the car was listed as stolen by the San Francisco Police Department and that the most likely suspect was also wanted by that department for embezzling. and the Department Fernandez said the next eventual release of the night (Saturday), a local suspect. tow truck operator drove According to Highway into the Peerless Checking Patrol Trooper Dennis Station where he was on Fernandez, the arrest took duty and inquired about the place on the evening of whereabouts of the stolen Saturday, Dec. 14. Ferauto. Fernandez questioned nandez said Highway Patrol the man about his interest Trooper Eugene Robb had in the car and was answered spotted an abandoned that the two men who were model station foreign sitting outside in the tow wagon, with California truck owned the car. license plates, the night before and after a short Fernandez called for help surveillance period had from Helper Police Officer decided to have that auto William Voll and motioned towed into Price. After the two suspects into the ZaJt I' -. L. 14 construction Mine Monday, Dec. 16 as local members of the UMWA, whose contract negotiations with the Association of Bituminous Contractors (ABC) were snarled in bargaining, showed their strength by shutting down The Oregon Trail in pursuit of a High some to be Californian arrested, released last week workers struck the Carbon Fuel Mine with pickets before the afternoon shift throughout The Carbon County PTA Council is sponsoring the movie, Seven Alone, as a fund raising project during the next two weeks. The movie is the story of the Henry Sager family. In 1843, 13 year old John Sager set off with his brothers and sisters, one an infant, on one of the most incredible journeys in American history. The movie is a true account of their hazardous 2,000 mile trek along the met at the Helper Jr. School but added that small items still had worked out with the operation the country. production (See WATER, Page 2) Wanted for theft, embezzling Pickets idle Carbon Fuel mining Carbon PTA sponsors 'Seven Alone' water-maste- r, Bids open soon on Ann Self renovations Initial plans, along with a request for more detailed drawings, were sent back to architects in charge of renovations at the Ann Self Training Center, in action made last week by the Carbon School Board. According to Carbon . estimates, did not reduce during Helper's last rationing try. In fact, he and several other knowledgeable people on Helper's water situation, believe that average residential usage went up while the rationing program was in effect. Nielsen attributes this to the fact that the establishment of a rationing program actually served as a reminder to the average user that water was short so he'd better be sure to get his "fair" share. Nielsen tells of more than one instance where he found certain individuals standing outside in full rain gear during a summer storm, watering their lawns. Yet, if one is to go by straight facts and statistics, Helper still should not have felt the water pinch so acutely last summer. For, while daily water use was hovering somewhere around 1 million gallons, the Helper water sources were producing far in excess of 1 million daily. Yet, during the summer months, Helper's reserve water supply often reached dangerously low levels and never recovered to full level until the end of the peak water season. Obviously, as Frank Scavo, city councilman in charge of the water department, has so often said, "The figures don't add up." What is being done? First, a complete water system study to determine bottle necks and production is in the offing. This, says Scavo, will give the city the true facts regarding the water system. . checking station. After Voll arrived the two were placed under arrest. The main suspects' companion was subsequently released when it was learned that he could have noting to do with the initial crime. Upon informing the SFPD that they had their suspect, the local Highway Patrol began getting some evasive answers and were finally told that the SFPD did not wish to press charges. As things turned out, the true owner of the car was an of the arrested Californian. Appearantly when confronted with the chance to prosecute her the woman decided that her car and stolen credit cards were not that important. Tt M ' .... V 4 i '"' n I . 1, ' vm i t i n riinr-iff- n imr i halt continued locally until the graveyard shift Tuesday morning as the construction workers voted at a hastily called meeting Monday evening to abandon the picket lines and allow other UMWA miners to continue production. The Carbon Fuel Mine in Martin was the only local mine to work the Monday day shift as pickets from local 2011 began appearing early Sunday at some Emery County mines and spread slowly northward until all mining operations (See STRIKE, Page 2) Largest and Last The largest and second to the last house to be moved from the Castle Gate was the annex of the old Castle Gate Hotel, shown here as it passes the Peerless Checking Station last Friday. This was the 60th 5 - 7- house to be moved in the project that has now spanned five months. The last house was removed Monday as Trico and Braztah now begin preparations to clear all remaining buildings from the site. |