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Show DIXIE PROJECT, UTAH 7 Utah if it had the basic fundamental soundness which the Dixie project has. I would also like to point out the local efforts which have been made. This is a State like other States in this country that believes in local effort. This county has agreed to levy a 5- inill tax upon the property owners of the county as their local effort. The State of Utah has appropriated over the years something like $ 7 million to the Utah Water & Power Board for the development of small reclamational projects, but this is the type of project which is beyond the scope of the local citizenry and of the State to develop. Without prolonging this, I would like to say that about only 10 percent of this project is supposed to be paid back for fish and wildlife and recreational purposes. Senator Allott, of Colorado, testified before the Senate subcommittee of this project that 20 to 21 percent was normal. Only about 70,000 acre- feet per year will be taken out of the Virgin Eiver for this project, and since there is 10 million acre- feet going annually into Lake Mead, this means that less than one- tenth of 1 percent of the annual flow of the water of Lake Mead would be involved. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, I appreciate this courtesy, this opportunity to add my support which is indicative of the unanimous support of the people of this State, and I am happy to be here and add this statement. Mr. ROGERS. Thank you, Mr. Lloyd. The Chair will now recognize the Honorable Wallace F. Bennett, U. S. Senator from the State of Utah. Senator Bennett. Senator BENNETT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. STATEMENT OF WALLACE F. BENNETT, A U. S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF UTAH Mr. BENNETT. Mr. Chairman, it is indeed a privilege and it gives me great pleasure to be here today in Utah's Dixie to voice my complete and enthusiastic support of the proposed Dixie project. This is the third hearing to be held on the Dixie project. It is also the first by the House of Representatives and as such serves as another vital step in fulfillment of a 100- year- old dream of the residents of this area. / As many times as I have visited this region I continue each time to be newly amazed and awed at the spectacular colors, the rugged formations, and the vastness of the land. Parley P. Pratt, viewing the landscape for the first time as leader of a scouting party sent by Brigham Young for the purpose of determining sites for future towns, stood at the rim of the basin bounding the north, no doubt feeling this same sense of amazement and awe. In the record he described the unique terrain and in one particularly significant passage said: The great Wasatch Range * * * here terminates in several abrupt promontories, the country southward opening to the view for at least 80 miles, and showing no signs of water or fertility ** *. I needn't remind anyone here of the great pioneer history of the settling of Utah's Dixie and the initiation of irrigation to open up the croplands and the fruit orchards that are here today. However, water has always been and continues to be the major factor which has limited development of the full potential of the great southern Utah |