It wasn't long ago that our first governor sent people out to the outlying areas of the state to populate and colonize the area to provide for the needs of the entire area. The need for all types of goods and services was the reason for this expansion. In this endeavor, the influence of the early settlers was felt from as far north as Idaho Falls to the border of California in the south.
Now that sphere of influence has been greatly reduced to provide for the needs of the many residents of the Wasatch Front, over the needs of the entire state of Utah. While Salt Lake, Ogden and Provo prepare for the 2002 Winter Olympics and embark on a major highway reconstruction, funds have been all but eliminated to all other areas of the state. The governor and Legislature have seemingly forgotten that there is more to the state of Utah than just the Wasatch Front.Rural Utah is still in need of road repairs, civil services and, most importantly, jobs. Services that are taken for granted are unattainable in remote areas such as Monticello, Beaver, Roosevelt and Snowville. So while the Wasatch Front enjoys unprecedented growth, our small communities that helped to build this state are gradually slipping into oblivion.
I cannot imagine a father that would dress his older and larger offspring in opulence while suffering his smaller children to endure starvation and degradation.
Do the small towns of Utah matter any more, or should we all move to the Wasatch Front to have basic services provided?
John Plant
Duchesne