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Show Ingenuity, Cooperation Bring Power to Remote Garfield Area Dr. Robert G. Weaver, right, operates switch box at Shifting Sands Ranch in Wayne County while wife, Dot- Us, along with one of couple's Arabian horses, wait for results, Some old-fashioned ingenuity combined with cooperation from private and government organizations has now provided one of Utah's most remote areas with electric power and opened the way for additional electricity use in Garfield County. An 11-mile 12,400 volt power line from Notom to Shifting Sands Ranch east of Capitol Reef National Park was completed earlier this month and energized by Garkane Power Association, providing electric power to the area for the first time. Dr. Robert G. Weaver, a retired Salt Lake City physician, who resides with his wife, Dottie, on the ranch, initiated talks with Garkane officials in July, 1980, to see what would be required to bring power to the area. For many years, the Weavers only source of electricity was from a diesel generating plant. But as the cost of fuel increased, it becamed obvious that another method would have to be found. Dr. Weaver employed Landell Services, a construction advisory firm in Torrey, Wayne County, to provide a financially feasible construction plan to complete the project of bringing electric power the 11 miles from the power lines at Notom to Shifting Sands Ranch. In addition to financing and materials, an eight mile easement from Bureau of Land Management was required by the Weavers before the project could start. Complications were worked out, including that of a small portion of the land which was in a wilderness study area, and standards for environmental protection were established through Larry Sipp of the BLM office in Hanksville. To reduce costs of providing equipment neeaeo. to string the lines, an adbandoned power line in the Escalante area was obtained and found to be salvageable. Boyd Black and Jack King, Wayne County residents were hired and were responsible for the installation fo the 150 poles and crossarms used to meet Rural Electrification Administration standards. Line crews from Garkane installed the lines and hookups were made. At 2:40 p.m. on Nov. 4, the dream of electric power from an outside source, became a reality. With electric power now available at the ranch, an expansion of the agricultural and domestic uses will be possible. The Weavers raise purebred Arabain horses and will now be able to operate pumps to provide water to raise the alfalfa needed in this operation, Dr. Weaver, came to the Wayne County-Sandy Ranch area in 1939 and became the Wayne County physician. After two years, he left, but never forgot the beauty of the Capitol Reef-Henry Mountains area. A few years later, Dr. Weaver purchased land from Dr. William Christensen, owner of Sandy Ranch. The Weaver's property, which adjoins Sandy Ranch received water rights when the Weavers installed a diesel operated pump into a well which liad Since then, the Weavers built a new house and have resided at the area, raising their horses and farming a portion of their acreage. The Weavers will now give Garkane Power the 11 mile electric line which will be maintained and utilized as part of the Garkane system and from which other expansion will be possible. Glen Willardson, manager of Garkane stated tha the proejet is an excellent example of what can be done through the cooperation of a private party, a utility and a government agency when all parties work together to provide for the needs of individuals trying to operate their property. Darwin Jackson, chief engineer for Garkane, also worked closely with the Weavers and their project over the nearly year and a half period of time involved. |