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Show Explanation Given As To How Cut Was Made Possible In Canal Line Since the publication of last week's story of opening of the new cut along the .St. George-Washington George-Washington Canal line, a number of the farmers have asked that explanations be made as to how this project was put over, realizing realiz-ing that it has been made possible at this time only through the cooperation co-operation of the present Government Govern-ment program which includes the Soil Conservation, Farm Security administration and equipment in the Engineering and Financing of the project along with CCC labor. Had it not been for these avenues of aid, it would not have been possible to launch the improvement im-provement at this time, states John H. Schmutz, president of the present canal board of directors and one of the group of farmers who will benefit. The completion of such a project proj-ect is not only a material aid to the farmers but marks one more evidence of the interest of Governmental Gov-ernmental facilities in making for agricultural and economic improvement im-provement arjd security, and of utilizing the forces available in this accomplishment. Quite as interested as the farmers farm-ers themselves in the project, and present to witness the first surge of water through the new cut were representatives connected with putting it over, including Alfred Al-fred H. Bateman, district conservationist conserv-ationist of the Lower Rio Virgin projects; J. J. Turner, area conservationist, con-servationist, and Fred G. Howard, head of operations. They were interested in-terested likewise to note by the address of Charles W. Seegmiller Sr., how much of the past difficult diffi-cult labor and expense has been spared the farmers through the cooperation of their restw. fields of Governmental assist in soil conservation and wat cilities. w fa- Straighten Canal The construction or this M eliminates at least three-W1 of a mile of headline canal t stead of the former circuL route, the canal runs now T straight line, moved in all th ' , from 75 feet to 300 feet fZ old cut, and missing several iw r holes and danger spaces Th8 cite also the use of modern chanical equipment which dm possible this improvement ta? ' ing the bull dozer carry-all ca pillar tractor. For these he equipment pieces the farmers obliged to furnish the neceJ? " fueling. The CCC labor is Set-up under direction of , w local board of 'supervisors whSi T includes Wayne C. Gardner X man, Wallace Iverson wksw r ton, Edward R. Frei, Santa Cllf' 'v F. J. Bowler, Gunlock Gardner, Pine Valley, the m covers 2400 linear feet ot 'Z " line, with one timber and co (I1 crete bridge. Required in its "' .k struction is the district's set-im I 3,500 man hours in engine in service and CCC labor; 550 tral Ca tor hours, 350 bull dozer hou 300 carry-all hours, and 50 hZ with the ripper. These are aW ing figures, but divided amoncthp et forces used pushed the work t sid completion within a few week 19 whereas if the farmers had beai iakl obliged to put the project' over !S' on their own available man he L and with such equipment as the ' , have available, would have quired season after season, if thev ? were ever able at all to cope with the expense. And this means also koi they would have faced the possible a annual expense of repairs to hin ! Mr der their progress. These facts the farmers are able to appreci. ate in the irrigation of the 37fl acres included in their 170 small farms. mi Along with putting over such a El project the farmers individually enter into contracts for the fol- Addr, lowing of what are today termed good land use practices. These includes the installation of turn- " out structures for irrigating lat- fl erals, the construction of soil sav- ,11 ing dykes, proper rotation of y crops, fertilization of land, stream w bank protection, draining whert 'm needed, conservative irrigatioi ie and other practices which haw proved highly beneficial in labor 'r and crop profit to the farmers. 3 The actual workout of thes xa soil conservation and water fact t3i ties projects will be further dis- t cussed in later articles. |