Letter, Laura Merrill to Editor of Herald Journal, dated July 13, 1944

              Central Utah Project Topaz, Utah July 13, 1944 Laura R. Merrill Librarian Topaz High School Herald Journal Logan, Utah Dear Friends, Greetings from Topaz, the fifth largest city in Utah. Most of you know that I came to this War Relocation Authority center with enthusiasm, grateful to have an opportunity to work with people and books. Since comparatively few have ever visited this city, I thought you might be interested in some of the things that have impressed me. Topaz is located in west central Utah, about 140 miles by rail southwest of Salt Lake City on the Sevier Desert. The elevation near the center is 4561 feet above sea level. The climate is typical of Utah deserts, some times 105 degrees. Plenty of wind that blows the silty loam about that once was the bottom of a lake. When it rains this is turned into a gum-like mixture which has no equal. The project consists of 19,483 acres of level country surrounded by mountains, but they are 15 to 50 miles away. 34 of the 42 blocks of the city are in use as living quarters for the evacuate Japanese. It is only two years old, yet is the fifth largest city of the state. It is located in Millard County, about 16 miles from Delta which is the nearest railroad. The residents here were evacuees from the San Francisco Bay regions, and the Sacramento valley area with additional groups from Hawaii, and other coast points. The majority are urbanites, mostly professional, semi-professional, official, clerical, domestic service, nursery, forestry as well as other skilled and semi-skilled occupations, and five-eights are American citizens. The first volunteers numbering 214 came