Topaz

%

`compass,

LOCATION--Topaz borders on the edge of

the Sevier Desert, 140 miles south of

salt Lake City, The nearest . town is

Delta, 15 miles to the east, and the

whole Project includes 17,500 acres of

Willard County.

TOPOGRAPHY~-At 4700 feet above sea level,

the terrain is flat as the bottom of the

lake it once used to he, From constant

sedimentation the soil is alluvial and

rich in alkalin salts which stimulate

the growth of stunted greasewoods and a

few tolerant trees like Chinese elms,

cottonwoods, and willows The general

appearance is that of a wnat wasteland,

CLIMATE--The weather is generally mild;

with warm days and cool nights, The ex-

tremes of temperature range from 106 de-

grees in summer to 30 degrees below in

winter, The rainfall averares 8 inches,

The wind blows from all points of the

so much so that whirlwinds

swoop by with their funnels of dust,

Both wind and rain have evil effect on

the soil: the water, instead of soaking

into the earth, forms a sticky layer of

mud that elings to shoes; the winds vick

uo pulverized dirt in clouds of dust

that seeps through houses and settles on

everything,

PECPLE~-The residents are evacuees from

the San Francisco Bay region with an ad-

ditional group from Hawaii. The maximum

population was 8,778, making `Topaz the

fifth largest community in Utah, TPive-

eighths of them are American citizens,

HOUSING~~Each family was assigned to an

empty room complete with one ceiling

light, coal stove, and closet, There are

six rooms to a barrack, 12 barracks to a

block, and 36 residential blocks,

Every OLock has its own dining

laundry, showers, and toilets,

FO0D-+The allowanee for food is now SL

conts a day per person, and the staples

are rice, bread, and spaghetti. To pro-

vide enough meat and fresh vegetables,

the agriculture division has bought cat-

hali.,

tle, hogs, raises chickens and turkeys,

and is experimenting with erowing a

cain wv2

variety of vegetables in the least alka-

line parts of the Project.

WORK--The rates of pay are 12, 16, and

19 dollars a month with an additional

allowance of $3.75 for clothing, There

are approximately 4000 workers of which

more than half work in the dining halls.

The center offers employment for most

trades, skills, and vrofessions,

EDUCATION--Three pre-school nurseries,

two elementary schools named Desert View

and Mountain View, a High School, and an

adult education program comprise the

educational system of Topaz, Important

to community life are the schools of art,

music, and sewing, and classes in Ameri-

canization,

HEALTH--The hospital has 128 beds in its

various wards and has a dental and eye

clinic in its out-patientst wing. The

hospital is staffed by resident doctors,

nurses, pharmacists, and nurses aides,

With the ereetion of the 500,900 gal-

lon storaze tanks, the water supply,

which comes from 3 wells, is plentiful

at all times, |

RECREATION--Basketball and baseball are

popular outdoor games, and recreation

halls are provided for tournament bridge

shogi, goh, and ping-pong. Hunting arrow

heads, constructing rock gardens, making .

artificial flowers, and wood carving are

favorite pastimes, The movies attract

crowds every night, The Public Library

has both an English and Japanese section

which invites browsing, Also offers a

record _Sanate F once a week,

CO-OP STORE--The Topaz Consumer Co-oper-

ative aera tds three stores selling ero-

ceries, drugs, cigarettes, soft drinks,

ice cream, magazines, newspapers, and

dry goods, It alse provides 2 barber

sheps, @ beauty parlor, shoe and radio

repair, laundry, banking, and mail order

services,

RELOCATION~-Whether for patriotism, need

for euro eSCADE, or self-preservation, during

the last six months about 600 have left

Tovaz to return to self-sufficiency: the

army, college, or wartime jobs,

ae

MOVING

i, ai@uce

nd.

AP PomT es ;

gh ERSONNEL RES. 3 ef

Mourrain viaw

ELEMENTARY

SC HO dy

RAO

-= SEWER swamp poundmirce

fi ( hie

RARY

Me: LLL LIL LOL? 33

=. YACAnT 46 "9

A

FAR LY

WELFARE oy

DINING HALL nae ek.

oo

ree.

: BO geet 9

* Hovgeng @

CLOT Kin and

BLOCK PLAN