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DIXIE PROJECT, UTAH 41 try to learn more of the Dixie project, and get the feeling of our people for it. You asked me to testify if I am for or against this project. I can say that I am definitely for it. And I feel sure were this question asked those in the audience, they would all speak with one voice and say, " We want the Dixie project," and a similar response would come from our whole county. You men seeing our beautiful lovely valley can understand what this big supply of new water, coming to us in a regular, dependable, uniform flow will do. It will give us flood control, power, new recreation and beauty, new small farms, new homes, new life, new hope, new economic stability and prosperity. New growth that will feed upon itself and multiply until it will look like a new land. For 100 years now, our people have watched, waited, and longed for the day when they could capture and hold this winter and spring runoff, these raging floods which have meant only waste and destruction, and harness them to beneficial use. They have always felt this water was made for them, belonged to them; it came from their own nearby hills, mountains, and fields. Yes, we know others need water, and we want them to have it, but they have other possible sources, but this is our one and only possibility. Take it away, and we are lost. Costwise, in the long long pull, our Government will stand to profit from this investment, for while the direct cost is being repaid, there is a steady return in the way of increased taxes coming back from this newly created wealth. A thrifty Jewish father said to his son, " Spend your money for something you wTill have tomorrow." This project will be something of tomorrow and tomorrow for hundreds of years. Thank you. Mr. ROGERS. Thank you, Mr. Graff. Mr. Earl Hanson, will you come forward and be recognized ? STATEMENT OF EARL A. HANSON, VICE PRESIDENT AND DIVISION MANAGER, CALTFORNIA- PACnTC UTILITIES CO., SOUTHERN UTAH DIVISION Mr. HANSON. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, our company serves electric power to all of Iron and Washington County, serving all of the customers other than those served by municipal systems of St. George and Parowan and the Esclante Valley REA Cooperative. California- Pacific Utilities Co. strongly favors the construction of the Dixie project. The level of economic activity that can be expected in this area is limited by the availability of water. Water to be made available by the project is badly needed for municipal, industrial, and agricultural use. We strongly supported the Upper Colorado project and we would call attention to our cooperation in that program by making our facilities available to the Bureau of Reclamation in transmitting project power to preference customers, thus saving the Bureau from heavy expenses in duplicate transmission lines. We again offer our facilities to the Bureau of Reclamation in wheeling Dixie project power to preference customers to save the Bureau from substantial sums for transmission lines that may be installed for substantially lower costs by our company because we would be utilizing in a large part transmission facilities already installed or to be installed in the near future. |
