ii1Iti A 1,,lie_g-id44,1 OIA Texas makes supercollider presentation Decision due by January Cox News Service WASHINGTON — Texas offi- cials submitted their final proposal to build a $6 billion supercollider to the Department of Energy on Tuesday. The 53-mile tunnel would pro- vide the winning state with 4,500 construction jobs, 2,500 permanent positions and a $275 million annual operating budget, along with the academic prestige of having the world's largest and most expensive scientific research tool, the depart- ment has predicted. The Texans presenting the state's plan included Gov. Bill Clements, Republican U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm, Democratic House Speaker Jim Wright and Republi- can U.S. Rep. Joe Barton. They cited Texas' geology, construction capabilities and a support from Texans as key points in favor of awarding the contract to Texas. "It's in the Texas character to continually reach for greater heights, to set higher and higher goals," Clements said. "And just as the Reagan administration is dedi- cated to preparing America for a new era of progress in high energy physics, so is Texas committed to helping the nation reach that goal." The supercollider, an under- ground ring of 10,000 supercooled magnets capable of accelerating atomic particles to nearly the speed of light, will dwarf existing colliders and enable scientists to study sub- atomic particles. Texas faces stiff competition from six other states — Arizona, North Carolina, Colorado, Michi- gan, Illinois and Tennessee — making their final proposals before the department this week. But Barton said the Texas plan "has more grass-roots support than any other state's proposal." "Texas has the most attractive cost-sharing package at over $1 bil- lion, the strongest bipartisan polit- AP Sen. Phil Gramm and Gov. Bill Clements argue for the super- collider in Texas. ical support with 27 congressmen, two U.S. senators and numerous private sector leaders influential in both parties and the most enthusi- astic local citizen support of any of the seven national finalists," he said. In 1987, Texas voters approved a $500 million bond issue to help pay for the supercollider. In addition, the Texas National Research Lab- oratory Commission has been au- thorized to issue an additional $500 million in revenue bonds. Texas' plan proposes building the supercollider around the town of Waxahachie, about 25 miles south of Dallas in Ellis County. The department is expected to make its recommendation to the president after the November elec- tions. The final decision is Presi- dent Reagan's, in what is expected to be one of his last presidential ac- tions before he leaves office in January.
