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Show S.E. Utah in the Spotlight, University Official Says "The eyes of the entire Rocky Mountain region are focused on southeastern Utah," said Dr. Thayne Robson from the University of Utah Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Dr. Rob-son Rob-son was speaking to the Moab Chamber of Commerce at their regular weekly luncheon. His figures revealed that Utah has 45 to 55 percent of the nation's recoverable coal, but last year processed only a Mule over 6 million tons or 12 percent of the nation's coal production. He estimated that by 1985, Utah coal production would multiply 5 to 6 times, as high as 30 to 35 million tons per year. Robson said that the nation is now experiencing a relatively relative-ly steady growth path since the recession bottomed out last May. "Economic indicators now are pointing upward steadily through 1976 for the U.S. economy as a whole. This trend should continue through 1977 and well into mid 1978," he said. Historicly, the Rocky Mountain Moun-tain region, with its sparse population, has grown more slowly, but Robson said that trend reversed in the 1970s. The region has been increasing increas-ing 2.5 percent in population compared to the national average of .8 percent. "This has been a fast growing area, behind only Florida and Alaska," he stated. Robson raised the question of what is going to happen within the next few years. Southeastern Utah now has a population of 30,000, according accord-ing to his figures. Compiled computer data from his research re-search department indicate that this same area will triple that population by 1990. "The computer usually tends to underestimate," said Robson, "because unforseeable events usually occur which boost the actual population growth." "Do we really want graowth?" he asked. "If so, what kind? How much-so it does not do irreparable damage dam-age to our environment?" He felt that because of our economic system of free enterprise, growth is inevitable inevit-able and we must try to "maintain high quality growth." grow-th." He suggested that needed need-ed environmental controls be adopted as Utah Policy, not to stop growth, but to require quality. |