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Show 124 DIXIE PROJECT, UTAH If I may, I would like to make one more statement, relative to our 5- mill tax, sir. I was on a committee to go with people to secure signatures. When we go into the areas that had no chance at all of using any of the water, getting any of the direct benefits, they were just as enthusiastic to sign and to commit themselves on this 5- mill tax as were the individuals who came under the project. Mr. JOHNSON. That is very good. I have large areas in my district who are not so happy when they do that. Mr. Burton of California. Mr. BURTON of California. You just mentioned this 5- mill tax. I assume this is the tax levied by the water conservation district? Mr. WILSON. Yes. Mr. BURTON of California. You have such a district formed and operating, and it is a going concern ? • Mr. WILSON. Yes. Mr. BURTON of California. There is no question, then, that is established and can operate ? Mr. WILSON. The conservancy district is formed, recognized, and filed, and the judge has set up the members of the conservancy district. Mr. BURTON of California. There are those who are concerned about the cost of this water, and one of the reasons they are concerned is because there is a feeling that you might not be able to pay it back. Suppose this project offered one or two more waterings a year? What does this mean to you, economically, as a farmer ? What is this going to do for your income ? Mr. WILSON. At a fruit farmer, many times I have had a crop nearly ready to harvest, and then have no water coming into our system. We would be dried up, and I couldn't get a decent crop. I run a fruit- grading machine, and if all of my fruit goes over the 2- inch grade, I about get enough to pay for picking and shipping. Mr. BURTON of California. When you say 2 inches, you mean what? Mr. WILSON. If I can get 2Vi- mch- one good irrigation will make 2^ 4 out of it, and it will give me at least 25 cents more per box, and 25 cents more is profit, where otherwise I am just barely making expenses. Mr. BURTON of California. In other words, with the benefits of this project, you feel that you might have some income that you could spend for something other than water? Mr. WILSON. That is correct. Mr. BURTON of California. I have one other area I would like to explore with you. Do you think that the people down in St. George and Washington County are going to hold together on this thing and cooperate, or will you have some people trying to pull out ? Can you give us some evidence- for instance, the Hurricane Canal, if I can lead my witness here a little bit, indicate the kind of people we have down there. Mr. WILSON. The Hurricane Canal is a very unique canal. It is built on the side of a cliff, coming from the Virgin River. It took them many, many years to build it, and today if we get a heavy cloudburst, it fills the canal up. More than once we have spent from $ 20 to $ 30 per share in a year to get the water back in our system, and get it onto our grounds. We are not going to give up when we have some good, clean water to irrigate with, and know that we have a supply |