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<br />M <br />en <br />N <br /> <br />CHAPTER I <br /> <br />GENERAL DISCUSSIONS <br /> <br />areas and are utilized for summer grazing. Seventy-five percent of all <br />irrigated farm land is devoted to the production of alfalfa, grain, and <br />native hay for livestock feed. Most of the remaining area produces <br />sugar beets and potatoes. Only a small acreage is used for production <br />of fruit and truck crops for local consumption. <br /> <br />Only a small amount of industry has been developed locally for <br />processing agricultural products. Livestock, dairy products, and po~ <br />tatoes are marketed outside the area. Sugar beets are transported to <br />Delta, Colo., for processing. <br /> <br />Mining is important in the region. Coal mines along the Grand <br />Hogback provide ample fuel for all local domestic and industrial needs. <br />Vanadium ore has been mined along East Rifle Creek and along the Grand <br />Hogback. The United States Vanadium Corporation operates a plant at <br />Rifle for extraction of uranium and vanadium from the. vanadium ore <br />and from carnotite ore imported from other western Colorado and eastern <br />Utah deposits. <br /> <br />Oil production has developed rapidly throughout western Colorado <br />in recent years. The Rangely oil field, 90 miles northwest of Rifle, <br />is a major oil-producing area. The Bureau of ~ines operates an ex- <br />perimental plant 6 miles west of Rifle for research in the mining of <br />shale and the extracting and r~fining of synthetic liquid fuels. <br /> <br />Recreation provides the area with a substantial source of income. <br />Health and recreational resorts at Glenwood Springs are famous through- <br />out the Nation. Streams, lakes, and spectacular mountains of Garfield <br />County provide a paradise for seekers of scenic beauty, trout fishing, <br />big game hunting, and winter sports. <br /> <br />Transportation and Other Facilities <br /> <br />Rifle and Silt are both on the Denver and Rio Grande Viestern Rail- <br />road main line which operates east to Denver and Pueblo and west to <br />Salt Lake City. United States Highways Nos. 6 and 24, connecting Denver <br />and Colorado Springs with Salt Lake City, pass through Rifle am Silt. <br />Colorado State Highway No. 13 extends north from Rifle to Meeker and <br />Craig. United and Frontier Air Lines provide air service at Grand <br />Junction, 65 miles west of Rifle. Wire communications are provided by <br />Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company and Western Union Tele- <br />graph Company. The Public Servic e Company of Colorado furnishes <br />electric energy with distribution being made by that company and by <br />the Holy Cross Electric Association, a Rural Electrification Administration <br />sy st em. <br /> <br />5 <br />