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Show if we who live in the Basin didnt but it is good to know this have the Park Service recognize it. And it is a resource we cannot afford not to develop. The Upalco Reservoir on Big Sand Wash wont be a recreational attraction, because irrigation users will empty it each year. But it will provide a badly needed extra foot of water to 9,700 insufficiently irrigated acres of farming land in the area. And it can provide a much needed culinary water supply for Roosevelt, and other Duchesne County communities including Altonah, Altamont, Mt. Emmons, Bluebell, Upalco and Myton, by means of exchange. Good water from Yellowstone River can supply the culinary needs of these communities, and the reservoir can furnish replacement water to the irrigators. All this is in the plan outlined by the Bureau of Reclamation for the initial phase of the Central Utah Project. on Reservoir the Starvation Strawberry River, Hanna Reservoir on the Duchesne River and the Basin's interest in the enlarged Strawberry Reservoir would bring more than 2,200 new acres in the of the Basin under irwest t rigation, with a full supply of three-feeof water a year for each acre.' It is proposed to build a reservoir high up on Currant Creek including a fish hatchery and recreational facilities at a cost of $450,-00- The Central Ufah Project And The Uintah Rosin By Briant H. Strlngham The Central Utah Project would bring tremendous benefits, both immediate and long range, to the Uinta Basin. In fact, it is accurate to say that the' fullest development of the Basins potential both agriculturally and industrially depends on this unit of the over-al- l Colorado River Storage Project. The Central Utah Project is the most expensive yet most feasable of all participating units of the e development. Its cost will be more than $230,000,000 dollars that will be spent to bring new wealth to our area. Funds spent during construction alone will provide a vast economic boost to our part of the country. The benefits that will follow will amaze us all. In addition, our Basin will find a whole new recreation paradise in the offing, as part of the reand . the servoir development, people of the Roosevelt area will benefit vastly from the Upalco Reservoir project and other units. These are the facts, quite aside from the question of whether or not the controversial Echo Park Dam is built. In all the discussions and arguments over the entire Upper Colorado River development, Echo Park has held the spotlight for so much of the time because of the tremendous hulabaloo of proconservationists test the have raised (on a basis of false premises and misunderstandings, we believe) against it that many people have come to think of Echo Park as THE Colorado Profour-stat- ject. The fact is we can start the storage. project and build the initial phase of the Central Utah Project, with or without Echo Park. Here in the Uintah Basin, we will bring water to exactly the same number of irrigated acres, we will bring vital supplemental water to exactly the same number of insufficiently irrigated acres, we will develop the same amount of culinary water for our fastgrowing communities and cheap power to serve our potential and expanding industries if the Central Utah Project is constructed with or without Echo Park in the initial phase of the over-al- l storage project. And our recreational development within the Basin will be the same in either case. All of this does not mean that we have been shouting down a rain barrel, just to hear the sound of our own voices, when we have argued and fought so hard for and we Echo Park. We believe have the facts to back up our belief that Echo Park Dam is a better project than any that can be substituted for it in the plan for the Upper Colorado River develop ment. It is a more ' efficient unit than almost any other in the comprehensive plan of river development. It would store water better, with less loss from evaporation,, and it would produce hydroelectric power more efficiently than any These are available alternative. factors that affect the entire Upper Colorado River Basin, our own Through the courtesy of the Upper Colorado River Grass Roots, Inc., the above engineers drawing of the proposed Central Utah Project, will acquaint the readers of this newspaper with what is proposed for the Uintah Basin if Congress in 1956 approves the Upper Colorado Bill. . . The accompanying article prepared under the direction of Briant A. (Bry) Strlngham, Vernal, gives a very comprehensive story of how the Uintah Basin as well as all of Utah will profit from the great reclamation project. Uintah Basin country included. In addition, we in the Uintah Basin have an added reason for wanting Echo Park Dam. In the final, or ultimate phase of the Central Utah project, which is a quarter of a century or more in the future, the Uintah Basin was scheduled to receive its major supply of water from Echo Park. Echo Park Dam would bring us a mixture of waters from the Green and Yampa rivers. These are, briefly, some of the reasons we have been fighting so hard for Echo Park. We believe the Echo Park development was solemnly promised to us by1 the U. S. Government. We know we are entitled to waters from the Yampa under terms of the Upper Basin Compact of 1948. We are conare vinced the conservationists tragically misled in their stand opposing die construction Echo. But the hard fact remains that a bill including Echo Park Dam just cannot get the approval of the House of Representatives at this time. This is the considered opinion of every member of the Congressional delegations of the four Upper Basin states, both in the Senate and in the House. It is the considered opinion of the committee chairmen who have the primary responsibility of getting the Colorado River Storage Project bill passed by the House. It is the considered opinion of party leaders on both sides of the aisle. Our representation in Congress have worked .hard to'get the rest of the Congress and the rest of the country - to understand the true facts about Echo Park Dam.- - Not only our fine men from Utah, but most of those from our - sister states have devoted long hours of effort, have tried every reasonable and honorable compromise, have, in many cases made substantial sacrifices in the cause of Echo. Some others have worked equally hard. No one is quitting or giving up easily. But the fact remains that those who" are most experienced in the ways of Congress and best able to read the Congressional mind are convinced that getting House approval of Echo Dam is an outright impossibility now. In the face of this fact, we in the Uintah Basin have two alternatives. . realto We can blind ourselves ity, continue the fight for Echo Park Dam now and refuse to sup-- port a project without Echo. This way we would get almost certainly nothing at all It might satisfy the bulldog in us, but It would be a little life cutting off. our nose to spite our face. Or we can work as hard as we know how and we have shown for we can work pretty hard the best Colorado Storage Project we can get, one that might not include Echo Park Dam at this time but that would include the Central Utah Project. We would Immediately begin receiving the benefits we need for the full development of the Basins potential. Flaming Gorge Dam on the Green Rivet, which is included in the initial phase. Is second only to Echo Park Reservoir so far as benefits to the Basin are concerned, for it is proposed to run a .gird from Glenn Canyon Reservoir to Flaming Gorge, thus making cheap power available to this area for development of the vast phosphate beds arid other potential industries, not forgetting that the farmer will benefit greatly by this cheap power. Let us take a look at some more of these benefits, in detail. In the Initial phase of the Central Utah Project, on which construction would start very shortly after the project was fully authorized and approved, six new reservoirs are scheduled for construction in the Uintah Basin. In addition, the Basin would share in the benefits from enlargement of the existing Strawberry Reservoir. All together, these developments 0 would develop more than acre - feet of new water for use in the Basin each year. Nearly 7.000 acres of new land would be brought under irrigation for the first time, and vital supplemental 0 water would b& provided for acres Of land now in cultivation but insufficiently litigated. On this land, the added water will make the difference between a marginal operation and a thoroughly profitable one. In addition, 4,500 acre-feof water a year will be developed for municipal use, .to provide for the needs of our fasN growing communities. The Stanaker Reservoir would be constructed about three miles above Vernal, with a capacity of of which 24,400 37.000 acre-fee- t, acre-fewould be active storage. It would provide an average of .98 feet of water a year for almost 25.000 acres of land, some to be brought under irrigation for the first time and some to receive supplemental water. In addition, it would enable the city of Vernal to culobtah) additional much-neede- d inary water by exchange. Vernal would get its culinary water from the springs near Ashley Creek and the irrigator who have been using the spring water would get exchange water from the reservoir in Stanaker Draw. In addition to these direct water benefits, Stanaker Reservoir would provide substantial new recreational benefits, both Tor citizens of Vernal and' the surrounding countryside and also for the steadily increasing stream of tourists who 50,-00- -- 34,-49- et et 0. These new reservoirs would proare coming into our area. A re- vide the best of recreational opport of the National Park Service, portunities, and the Park Service appended to the Reclamation Bur- has recommended developing them eaus report on the Central Utah fully. It is planned to spend Project, indicates there would be at Starvation and $48,000 at $52,-00- 0 excellent boating, swimming,- picnicking and fishing around Stanaker Reservoir, as well as good cabin sites. And its recommends the spending of $84,850 in federal, funds for development of the' recreation potential. all of it, the .irrigaDoes that tion,' the municipal water supply, and the recreation facilities sound like a good thing for developing fills area? Over Jensen way, the Tyzack Reservoir will do a similar job on a smaller scale. The reservoir will have 8,000 acre-fecapacity, and will provide an average of 1.19 feet of water a year for 4,460 acres of land, The' National Park Service has recommended spending $45,400 in fedetat, funds to develop the recreational potential of Tyzack. The Park Service report notes, too, that the great recreational attractions of the Uinta. Mountains are drawing thousands from miles away in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and beyond. The many lakes and streams and forest camps, although an hour or so beyond the Tyzack, site,, will be the first choice of those coming to this region. As . et Hanna on recreational , developments. The plan calls for a large construction camp at Duchesne City. The Bureau of Reclamation has made a thorough study of crop values and potential values in the parts .of the Basin that will be affected by Central Utah. . In the Vetnal area, .that comes under the Stanaker project; arceage crop 'Values are $16.85 an acre. With the additional water, they are expected to be' $34.13 an acre. Thata an increase of ,$7.28 an or in acre for 24,970 apt es creased crop values of riore than $180,000 a year. In "tap Jensen area, the increase will be $9.07 an acre. In the Duche&e River area, 2,254 acres now idl$ will be producing at an average f $19.34 an addition an acre $44,000 crop for the Bajln, aside from the additional value received from land&Jdiak.riljl TKyive supplemental water. These are some of the benefits the Uintah Basin will receive from the initial phase of Central Utah with construction due to start in a short time after Congress approves it At the Basins present and anti- -- -- UINTAH BASIN RECORD Thursday, December 22, 1955 cipated rate of growth and development, with our vast, virtually untapped mineral resources and the surface of our industrial potential barely scratched, we need the additional water and all that it brings with it There is the second phase of Central Utah to look forward to, also. The Basin will get 387,700 acre-fe- et of water a year at that time, and by then we are going to need every bit of it. Lets be sure of getting it! As for the question of just where that water will be taken from the Colorado River system well, the ultimate phase of Central Utah is still a good many years off, and a lot can happen in the meantime. We can cross that bridge when we come to it. How Silent Night Came Into Being The time, the day before Christmas Eve, 1818; the place, a tiny mountain village in Austria. The organ of St. Nickolas church was broken, and the organist, Franz Gruber, could' not repair it in time for the midnight mass, for which he had planned a musical program. He went to the young parish priest, Joseph Mohr, in distriess. Father Mohr agreed to write words for a simple melody if Gruber would compose one which could be sung to the accompaniment of a guitar, which the organist played. Walking home that cold, clear night, after having administered the last rites to a dying woman, the priest gazed upon the heavenly canopy of stars, and the inspiration for the verses came to him. Next day, Gruber set them to music, and Silent Night, Holy Night! was given to the world. WINDSHIELD CLEAR the basic rules for safe winter driving is Keep your windshield clear. The Utah Safety Council stresses that danger must be seen to be' avoided. The windshield and all windows must be kept clear, inside and out. Windshield wiper blades should not smear or streak. They must be responsive to the drivers need for good vision ahead. And the heater aad defroster should be working properly, for use when needed. One of BASIC RULE One of the basic rules for safe winter driving is accept your responsibility. The Utah Safety Council joins with the National Safety Council in urging all drivers winterize your car, yourself, and make sure your driving is always at its best. in Sditox 4 at (PvU&fcieiA Have you moved through the seasonal serenity of streets our and felt the exulation in the air? Have you let childrens laughter quicken your hearts, and have you carols? Have you visited your friends sung the age-ol- d and let their gaily colored trees instill in you a vivid Christmas magic? We have done those things. We will do them again and again, for there is no age, no staleness in this kind of truth nor in the words we use to express it each year. Thus, as the Christmas bells voice their own glorious message, we humbly think that it is time to offer ours. Our message is a quiet one just, that we would like to touch you with the warm sense of Christmas peace which we have tried to impart to every line of this holiday edition, Yet, whether or not you find that message anywhere else in these pages, let us say here, in the fine and direct simplicity of the old way, that we wish everyone a very merry and joyous Christmas. THE STAFF Editor and Publisher' Society Reporter John B. Gale Robert Jensen Kent Memmott Phil Pack Orlie Rachele Dillard Broderick Janice Burgener Elva Broderick Mrs. Rachel Bates, Duchesne Mrs. Goldie Wilcken,, Duchesne Clifton N. Memmott, Midge Memmott, Peggy O. Wright Var NEWS REPORTERS Ethel Beebe, Altonah - Ellen Bracken, Ballard Garda Seeley, Bluebell - Cleo Pappas, Gusher Violet Gentry, Ioka - Bertha Angus, Ioka Fern Houston, Bennett - Grace Dalgleish, Myton Lecta Horrocks, Neola - Viola Jensen, Randlett Loma McKee, Tridell Mable Jenkins, Lapolnt Mae Mower, Montwel Mrs. Shelby Lisonbee, Bridgeland - Dixie Williams, Upalco Merle Ross, Arcadia - Eva Bentley, Altamont Hazel Wardle, Leota - Norma Denver, Ft. Duchesne Norma Robb, Utahn- - Rita Lott, Strawberry Gail H. Anderson, Talmage - Thelma Nye, Tablona Crystal Wilcken, Hanna Madeena Smith, Whiterocks B. Rosenbaum, Manager ftr&j tXi Start ot Utah Slnet 1SC5 (CoMmemal Bap HtfSl I KSn MTA r amV, |