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Show Letters From Our Readers . . . Dear Sir: Recently one evening while on the way to a visit to Warner Campground, our car and tent camper skidded off the edge of an unmarked hairpin turn on the loop road up from Castle Valley. The switchback was quite sharp and totally unmarked un-marked - no warning sign, no reflectors, no rail - nothing. We were not traveling fast (especially uphill with a trailer) and yet if it had not been for a small group of trees to stop our car we might not be around to write this letter. Incidently, your story about this incident incorrectly noted that my wife was cited for driving too fast. At the time of the accident she had just shifted from first gear and certainly was not given any ticket. My family and I found ourselves on a rocky ledge at night with a mangled car and trailer far from visible help. Fortunately help was not far away in the form of an unselfish and genuinely kind family named Carter. George and his wife took us in that night and helped us to get things together again. It only cost us several hundred dollars but the next person around those curves (especially at night) might not be so lucky. We believe those curves, without some warning signs, are highly dangerous. My wife and I are experienced drivers in mountain terrain but I fail to remember a paved road with less warning of potentially lethal curves. No one would expect or want a four lane arrow-straight freeway free-way into the Manti La Sal mountains but surely a small warning sign of an upcoming curve or a little night reflector wouldn't despoil any scenery and might well save some lives. So the purpose of this letter is two-fold. Number one, to thank the Carters publicly for their warmth and generosity towards a family of stranded city-folk and secondly, to plead for a little better (any!) road markings on the Castle Valley loop road. Ronald S. Rankin, M.D Dear Editor, The youth is concerned about a bill being voted on in Congress. This bill would deprive the people of America of their freedom to go out and have fun by camping out or even having a picnic without having to sign a permit telling the BLM the time and place where we will be. They will hire 20,000, more or less, with guns to watch over us. If you were to get caught taking historical artifacts away from any area owned by the government and refuse to put them back, if they so desire, they may shoot you. The bill says they can use any means. We, the youth, believe they will be destroying our right to study our resources and to go where we please. Concerned, Youths of America Dear Sam: This letter is in reference to the hearing held by the BLM last week regarding the Land Use Plan involving most of Grand County territory. The BLM is attempting to regulate our lands through the device of Land Use Plans despite the fact that Utahns rejected Land Use Plans in the last election. Objections to the control and regulation of our land by the BLM were adamently voiced at the meeting last week, but, at the end of the meeting, we were told that our input would not be used in the Land Use Plan. Obviously, the BLM feels that they own this land and can do as they please with it. Cattlemen were told that their permits will be reduced to 60 of their present allocations and that fencing and water development would be requirements in the future. These new BLM regulations represent the greatest threat to the cattle business that has ever existed in this area. Isn't it ironic that a family like the Taylors who have been in the cattle business here since 1874 and have survived everything from rustling, blizzards, droughts, depressions, etc., are now in danger of being driven out of business by a government agency that is supposed to be helping them! ? Cattlemen are the true experts on range conditions, yet they have very little say in the management of their own range. Apparently, non-elected bureaus like the BLM feel that they can regulate entire businesses out of existence because the BLM roots of power are in distant places. Wouldn't it be great if we could obtain the assistance and cooperation of the BLM rather than their regulations and controls. Joe Stocks Dear Sam: I couldn't really tell from your September 16 "Community "Commun-ity Comments" whether you are an optimist or a pessimist. I can see your point-if I had witnessed the planning efforts here that you have over the past 12 years, I would wonder too. However, all that I have heard from our local and State elected officials this past year is that they want the public to have some influence in the decisions . that are made concerning the future of the Parks and 1 agree with them, as I am sure you do, and I wish there were some way other than the unending and interminable inter-minable public meetings and hearings that most, if not all, public agencies are now holding. If you are a little sick of the effort, what about those of us on the other end who hold all the meetings. We are trying something different in our meetings which we think will be more satisfying for those who care enough to attend and actively participate. The need for planning is sometimes used as a justification justifica-tion to avoid making decisions. That isn't the case here. I do want to hear from a good cross section of the public, not only here in Moab but also from those in the urban areas such as Salt Lake and Phoenix who use, enjoy, and support the Parks with their tax dollars. I'm convinced that the National Park Service and other agencies can and will make better decisions as a result of involving the public. Sincerely yours, Peter L. Parry Superintendent |
