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Show APPENDIX H 305 "Your ambition overwhelms me," said Mr. Ant. He con- trolled his emotion. "You say that recreation benefits of the project are worth 32 million to the people. How do you decide that?" "Recreation is a great thing," said Mr. Straus. "If you can get it," said Mr. Ant. "We get it," said Mr. Straus. "Now, just think. We propose to build a great dam at Bridge Canyon for the Central Arizona Project. Bridge Canyon is one of the most awe-inspiring places on earth, and the most bleak. Nothing but burning desert all around it. A prairie dog wouldn't bury his mother-in-law there." "Fine place for recreation," commented Mr. Ant. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the President vetoed reclamation projects with recreation benefits." "Oh, well, he did," admitted Mr. Straus. "But he doesn't understand these things yet." "Maybe I'm the same as the President, in that respect," said Mr. Ant. "Do you suppose you could explain it to me?" "Do you have to have everything explained?" growled Mr. Straus. "I'm only asking," answered Mr. Ant meekly. "Well," said Mr. Straus as if he were talking to an inferior, "it's like this. Please pay attention. We believe that benefits to the Nation from recreation in this ghastly desert place are as follows: $687,600 for travel value, and . . ." "Horse and buggy?" asked Mr. Ant. "There are no roads there." "Somebody will have to build roads," snapped Mr. Straus. "Travel value is based on our belief that 500,000 people will go to Bridge Canyon each year." "What for?" asked Mr. Ant. "To travel," said Mr. Straus. "And the travel value is what they spend to get there." "Suppose they go some place else," suggested Mr. Ant. "For heaven's sake, stop interrupting," said Mr. Straus. "I'm sorry," said Mr. Ant. "But what is the theory of travel benefit?" "The greater the distance, the greater the benefit," said Mr. |