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Show Letters from Our Readers . . . Dear Sam: During December 1974, you printed an article with the caption "Nuclear Power Producing Electricity Elec-tricity for 40 Less Cost Than Fossil Fuels". The article was based on a survey taken by the Atomic Ato-mic Industrial Forum, and for the nation as a whole appears to be accurate. ac-curate. However, there are some circumstances applying ap-plying to Utah which would alter the conclusions reached rea-ched in the AIF survey and you might appreciate having the following for comparison. (1) In Utah the cost of electrical generation from coal is less than it would be from nuclear plants because of the close proximity of the coal to the power plants. According to the Federal Power Commission, Utah residential and farm users us-ers using 750 kilowatt-hours kilowatt-hours per month paid less in 1973 for their electric service than their counterparts coun-terparts in 44 of the 50 states. Over 90 of Utah Pow- er & Light Company's electric generation is from coal and all new generating stations are being planned for location loca-tion near coal mines. As a comparison, the majority ma-jority of the nation's power po-wer plants as shown by the AIF study burn high-cost high-cost fuel oil or coal which must be transported long distances from the mines to the plants. (2) Since it is expected that nuclear and fossil fueled electrical generating gener-ating costs will be competitive com-petitive on our svstem sometime in the 1980 's or 1990's, Utah Power & Light Company continues to support and conduct nuclear studies as part of an overall program to assess all alternatives for generating electricity. electri-city. (3)Our company makes continuing economic studies stu-dies of fossil versus nuclear nu-clear power so that we will be informed when the price of coal and the cost of nuclear power begin to converge. In the meantime, mean-time, we also study nuclear nu-clear training and staffing staff-ing programs and analyze all facets of nuclear versus ver-sus fossil fuel economics. I suspect nuclear plants will be added to our system sys-tem when it becomes prudent pru-dent and economical, probably pro-bably in the 1990's. The foregoing is not intended in-tended as a criticism of the December article; rather, ra-ther, to inform Utahns of the situation as it applies ap-plies locally. Cordially yours, J. L. Shoemaker Public Affairs Manager Utah Power & Light Co. Dear Mr. Taylor, On the evenings of Feb. 28, March 1 and March 2 the Moab Community Theatre presented for the first time anywhere a pro duction of "The Moon-view," Moon-view," an award-winning two act drama, written by Professor Max Go-lightly Go-lightly of the English Department De-partment at BYU. This was the seventh theatrical theatri-cal endeavor by our group of volunteer actors, a body dedicated no less to the community's edification edifica-tion than to its own pleasure plea-sure and merriment. "The Moonview" production produc-tion was advertised on radio, television, in the newspapers, by means of posters and handouts, signs and word of mouth. This publicity campaign was intended to reach all members of the Moab community, to inform them that not only is theater the-ater alive and well in this geographically isolated town but that what is being brought to them, with no small effort and expense, is worthy of recognition if not necessarily of admiration. ad-miration. Our group believed be-lieved that we would at last receive some genuine support from our friends and neighbors. "The Moonview" is over now. Our three-night combined box office report re-port indicated that approximately appro-ximately 235 individuals attended the performance. perform-ance. That is to say, one person in twenty in Moab could muster the time, energy, enthusiasm and the meager $1.50 admission admis-sion charge to expose him or herself to live theater as presented by members of his or her community. We feel that something is wrong here!! Why the small turn-out? Why the lack of support? Surely, with three evenings to choose from anyone could be expected to work in an appearance atStar Hall sometime during the weekend! Surely the admission ad-mission charge was not too high ($.75 for students and senior citizens admitted ad-mitted free)! Surely people peo-ple heard about the production, pro-duction, knew that it was a world premier, and were aware that it was an innovation and a challenge chal-lenge to any theater group! Surely, we feel, a group of semi-skilled actors ac-tors and actresses, set designers and lighting technicians, young and not-so-young enthusiasts of the dramatic arts deserves de-serves better than what it got! The problem - if there is one - might be expressed expres-sed in the following way: what is the Moab Community Com-munity Theatre doing wrong? Is there any aspect as-pect of "The Moonview" and of our previous productions pro-ductions which has in some way lost us our potential po-tential community support? sup-port? Are our plays too funny, too sad, too long, too short, too elaborate or simple, too risque or . . . too truthful and thought-provoking? What we need is some feedback feed-back from our audiences and from those who might become members of our audiences. What would Moab like to see in terms of drama? What can we do differently? What can we emphasize, de-emphasize, change and improve upon? Where can we go from here? Do people, in fact, care at all? We want to know, one way or another. ine Moao uommunny Theatre needs the Moab community's help. . . and not just in terms of dollars dol-lars and cents at the box office. For those unaware, un-aware, a dramatic presentation pre-sentation relies in the final fi-nal analysis not just on actors and lights, on sets and costumes, but more importantly on the magic and the energy which bind the performer and the viewer into one time out-of-place experience. Wc believe in this experience -- does Moab? We invite your comments and reflections re-flections either through the newspaper medium or by direct contact with us. Box 44, Moab. Yours most sincerely, . Moab Community Theatre |