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<br />CD <br />O? <br />N <br /> <br />CHAPTER I <br /> <br />GENERAL DISCUSSIONS <br /> <br />Undeveloped Resources <br /> <br />Undeveloped resources of thE region include timber in the National <br />forest reserves, vast shale deposits from which synthetic liquid fuels <br />could be produced, coal and other minerals, and arable lands. The <br />Forest Service has contracted for the sale of about 4.5 million cords <br />of pulp timber from National forests surrounding the project area. A <br />paper pulp mill with a dsily capacity of at least 200 tons is planned <br />for early construction in the vicinity. A total of 7,300 acres of <br />land would be brought to full productivity by construction of the Rifle <br />Gap Reservoir and other features of the Silt project. Recreational <br />resources, except those of the Glenwood Springs area, have been only <br />superficially developed when considered in the light of their pot- <br />entialities. <br /> <br />Economic Conditions <br /> <br />General <br /> <br />Economic standards are lower in the project area than in most of <br />economically sound Garfield County, Agricultural conditions directly <br />influence economic conditions. The limited supply of irrigation water <br />has forced production of semi-dry farming crops and resulted in generally <br />poor living standards. The thriftiness of the local people, however, <br />has kept the area essentially free from debt. liiany loans in the past <br />have been short term for iromedia te and seasonal farming needs. Long- <br />term loans have been greatly reduced during the recent years of favor- <br />able agricultural conditions. <br /> <br />Relief Problems <br /> <br />Independence and personal sacrifice of people in tre project area <br />have held relief to a minimum. The Garfield County Department of Public <br />Welfare reports that only l2 cases within the district received assist- <br />ance during the entire period 1938 through 1940. <br /> <br />Annual expenditures from all government funds for unemployment and <br />general relief in Garfield County from 1937 to 1943 averaged $2.67 per <br />capita. vielfare expenditures in Garfield County are about average com- <br />pared with those in neighboring counties but are below average for the <br />State of Colorado. <br /> <br />Railroading, mining, and related industries provide stable employ- <br />ment for many people of the area. Industries related to agriculture <br />provide seasonal employment. Unemployment usually increases after <br />harvest and reaches a peak in midwinter. <br /> <br />8 <br />