Apparently the business communities in Utah.and especially in Utah County haven’t heeded the national prophets of economic doom. Two weeks ago it was noted in these columns that Utah ranked first nationally for the third quarter of the current fiscal year in all three of the U.S. Labor Department’s key job placement indicators. Now Utah has heard more good news in the U.S. Department Commerce Census of Manufactures. In 1977, the census states, 74,200 persons were working in Utah manufacturing establishments. The figure represents a 31 percent increase from the comparable 1972 figure of 56,600 persons employed in manufacturing operation. In addition, Utah county ranked second in the state in terms of importance in contributing to that impressive increase. Salt Lake County was first. ‘ Utah, Salt Lake, Weber and Cache counties accounted for 81 percent of the state’s 1977 manufacturing employment. In Utah County, the total number of workers employed in manufacturing operations in 1972 was 8,600 workers. In 1977, that figure had risen 18 percent to 10,200 workers. The dollar amount of value added to raw materials turned into manufactured goods in Utah in 1972 was $1.068 million. By 1977 the statewide figure for dollar value added to raw materials through manufacture was $1.97 million, a whopping 89 percent increase. In Utah County, the value added to raw materials by manufacture went up 36 percent from the 1972 level of $225.7 million to $307.5 million. Things may be tough elsewhere, but so far, conditions in Utah and Utah County appear to be going quite well, thank you. Aufumn’s Big Show Driving “up the canyon” to see nature’s autumn display of colors is almost a family ritual for many here in Central Utah. But the colors seem to be fading faster than usual this year. If you expect to see the kidochrome special you’d better not delay. Reports indicate the colors are well past their peak in spite of reasonably moderate temperatures. In case you’re wondering what causes the coloration in Indian summer, this general explanation comes from a well-known Utah Valley botanist; Various pigments are present in the leaves all the time, but the green of the chlorophyll tends to mask out the presence of the yellow and orange pigments. When fall comes, either through drought, cold, or age of the leaves, the chlorophyll dies and the pigments show through. As for the red coloration, one of the pigments, the water-soluable anthocyanin, comes forth in increased abundance in the fall, bringing out the red tints in the leaves. Trees have affinities for different pigments. For example the maples take to the reds; the l aspens the yellow, etc. Of course you don’t have to understand the process to enjoy the fall display. We’re simply advising here that if you expect to see the autumn colors you’d better hurry before they fade a great deal more.