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<br /> <br />Federal Power Commission <br /> <br />the world's largest known deposits of natl1r~1 soda ash. <br />phate rock are in northeastern utah, s01.1the~stern Idaho, <br />Wyoming. <br /> <br />Mountains of phos- <br />and southwestern <br /> <br />The region's large proven reserves of oil and natural gas are being <br />constantly extended. The oil-bearing Shales in the Upper Basin are esti- <br />mated to contain ten times as much oil as has been used in the world to <br />date. <br /> <br />Water is one of the region's most 'l'al~able resouroes. Because of the <br />arid climate, water for irrigation use is the lifeblood of the region's . <br />important agricultural economy. Its mount~in streams provide opportunities <br />for recreational activities, and form the ~asis for a large tourist induStry. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Economic ActiVities <br />Agriculture, mining, and the processing of agricultural and mineral <br />products are the region's basic aotivitiesJ The region produces some of <br />theworldls finest crops of celery, melons) peaches, cherries, wheat, <br />alfalfa, sugar beets, lettuce, and citrus fruits. Livestock production, <br />dairying, and poultry raising are importan~ in the region's economy. <br /> <br />Over 71 percent of the nation's coppet production comes from Arizona <br />and Utah; and substantial percentages of tqe national production of gold, <br />silver, lead, and zinc are produced in the:region. The region also is an <br />important factor in the nation's steel mar\<:et, with modern steel plants at <br />Geneva, Utah, and Pueblo, Colorado. Coal is produced in all states of the <br />region except Arizona and Nevada. production and refining of petroleUlll <br />products are increasing in importance. Th~ manufacture of eleotronic de- <br />vices and the production of missiles are ejtPanding rapidly. The atomic <br />energy progrSlll of the Federal Government h~s had a tremendously stimulating <br />effect on the regionls economy -- particul<lrly in New Mexico. . <br /> <br />The beauty and variety of the region I ,5 mountains, forests, and rivers, <br />and an invigorating climate have made the ;region a popular vaoation land. <br />As a result, a significant part of the reglion's economy is based on service <br />aotivities directly assooiated with the to~rist trade. <br />, <br />I <br />The increased industrialization of th~ west, as a whole, Should result <br />in providing locally a greater share of th.e nation I a manufaotured goods, <br />and afford more jobs, larger inoomes, andhigner living standards for the <br />growing population of the region. ' <br /> <br />, <br />Labor Foroe and PopUlation i <br />In 1950, about 1,348,000 persons we~ in the region's labor force, or <br />3, peroent of i t8 population in oomparison with 39 percent for the nation. <br />By 1980 it is .estimated that the labor fo:rce will increase to 2,987,100 . <br /> <br />- iv - <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br />