I d rather make peace with the place, though heaven knows it s hard. Farmer is putting his own opinion into the essay. Farmer, by putting in his opinion, wants to relate to the reader. Farmer does not know who will be reading this. He wants the reader to know both sides of the story.
Farmer goes on to change the subject back to negativity towards the dam.
Five million cubic yards of concrete choking a river . Farmer is putting the dam into perspective, showing just how big it is, by using words. With the purpose of giving the reader facts. Farmer is saying that this beautiful land has become a money making machine. While Glen Canyon has created the most beautiful lake in the world and has brought millions of dollars into my state and the state of Utah, nevertheless, I think of that river as it was when I was a boy.