| OCR Text |
Show Nucla Grows; Housing Worst Of Problems NUCLA Ai In many other (owns and cities on the Colorado Plateau which have not yet caught up with effects of the U-boom, hucla Is having Its difficulties but meets them bravely. Perhaps the most serious of all f Its troubles Is Nucla's Inability to cope with a housing shortage. Hay or J. F. Walisky, who is also chief engineer of the town's efforts to grow with the boom, feels that if long-term financing for housing can be arranged, plus an adequate power supply, "we'll really go to town." Nucla's story Is similar to that f several other communities in Montrose county's West End district. It is a story of sudden population growth. In 1950 there were Just 250 people In Nucla. Today there are more than 800. In 1952 there were Just 100 water users, s compared with 225 now, Too. power consumption has doubled very year since 1951, and the town's assessed valuation increased by 100 per cent over 1951. t Nucla is expanding, recently extending the town limits to Include 100 acres. Twelve new houses were completed late last year but they were taken before they were com- leted. The over-flow of people live i trailers, tents, any other accommodations available. Within the past 18 months a new postoffice, mercantile store, motel, trailer park, confectionery, cafe, and two churches were built. The new $55,-000 water system is in use now, and the big problem presently being tackled Is waste disposal. Schools are crowded, trailer nous- rent for as much as $90 a month; it would take at least 100 ew homes to meet current needs, according to Mayor Walisky, and that would not take care of any ew people moving Into the town. Relief of the power shortage may be forthcoming soon, thanks to efforts of four southwestern Colorado REA Co-op groups, which have made application for a loan to build a power plant and to extend present transmission lines. , Nucla may be the site of the gen eration plant and there are strong Indications the Installation would be helpful to the local mining Industry by providing a saving of as much as ten per cent on operating costs. Mayor Walisky points with much pride to the new high school now under construction, costing $590.-000 and planned to accommodate 400 students by 19C0. Although classrooms in the present high school are crowded, relief will come In September when the new building Is opened. Students from Paradox, Uravan and Naturita are taught in the Nucla high school, ne of three in Montrose county. Nucla does have its problems associated with sudden growth but its citizens are working hard to solve them, one by one. LVnH' tjr 'aBBaHaUBHBMalaalBB MAIN STREET, NUCLA. COLO. One of the busiest little town on Colorado's Western Slope Is Nucla, once a farming community. Bursting at the seams with new residents, Nucla town officials have worked to provide facilities for the new population. |
