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Show 120 ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF WATER DEVELOPMENT quickly that which in ordinary course could not have been expected for many years. The necessities of war have brought about an acceleration of growth in population and an influx of industry far beyond anything that could have been foreseen. But that additional population could not be supported in security, nor would that influx of industry have been possible without the assurance of the early completion of most of the works and facilities of the Provo River Project and the early accrual of the greater part of the water supply which they have and will make available to beneficial uses in Salt Lake and Utah counties. A bare enumeration of a few of the recent developments is impressive and is convincing of the validity of these conclusions: An alunite plant, to cost approximately $ 5,000,000 and to employ about 300 wrorkers, is now under construction just outside the City limits. The Utah Ordnance plant, costing approximately $ 35,000,000 and now employing about 8,000 men, has been completed and now is being operated by the Remington Arms Company, Inc., under a federal contract. Construction of a $ 250,000 radio tube factory has been commenced, which will probably bring into this area about 4500 persons. Columbia Steel plant, between Provo and Salt Lake City, which will cost about $ 150,000,000 and emplov at least 3.000 workers, is now building. Salt Lake City has become headquarters of the Ninth Corps Area of the Army. This will increase our population by about 3,000. These are merely typical of a number of other industries and activities which will tax our water resources to the limit. Some of them have been directly and obviously dependent upon the early accrual of the Provo River Project water supply. Without that they must have been established elsewhere. That was a fact plainly discernible as to some of them, and, though not so clearly apparent, true as to most of them. The War has directed attention to the natural resources of Utah and toward their development has afforded opportunities which otherwise must have awaited the passing of many years. It has been a gratifying fact to the directors of the Metropolitan Water District that, as to the Salt Lake valley and vicinity, the ultimate result was foreseen and planned for, and that their judgment has so soon been vindicated, and that they have been able, not only to make such a large contribution to the prosperity of their own immediate community, but to the security of the nation as well. In the meantime, it may be hoped that industrial expansion and concentrations of population will not be at the sacrifice of agriculture, but rather that, in providing markets for farm products, they will be in aid of the ancient ideal of the permanent and self- sufficient home owner with his roots in the soil of the land. |