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Show Letters to editor... Dear Sam: I am often moved to write for this column, but seldom follow through. In the past week or so in Utah nearly 20 people (mostly youngsters) have been killed by 18 wheelers. I wonder how many of these were "cleared" to speed by your friendly CBer? "No smokies ahead-go ahead and roll out." or 'That's negatory-no bears for the next 60 miles." In how many cases has "Mr. Nice Guy" aided someone else in breaking the law? I don't (wouldn't) have my rigs chopped up for a CB and I certainly wouldn't help one of those Juggernaut trucks roll out at 80. I may be clearing . him head on to some nice people coming along behind me. Maybe the spending of money mon-ey and great mutual cooperation coopera-tion for the express purpose of helping a total stranger to break the law is symptomatic of problems throughout the country. Maybe we ought to start thinking again. Tell those truckers (and others) that there is a Smoky every mile ahead! Who knows, the life you save might just be your own. Jim Hamilton Sam, Since my personal letter to you was published without authorization, and it was not my intent to publish, it has caused us and others grievous anxiety. I feel some type of clarification is necessary to other people. I must therefore publically apologize. If I have caused anyone distress it was not my intent. In the matter of the medics on the job here presently, pre-sently, they are immenently qualified and have done a fine job when doctors are not available. In other matters I mentioned, mention-ed, these were personal opinions opin-ions which I was relaying to you in a personal letter and now I must eat some of that welfare crow I mentioned and ask the forgiveness of anyone I have unwittingly caused anxiety. Virginia Talbot Ferron, Utah Dear Sam, I do not quite know how to respond to the letters printed in the August 18 issue regarding regar-ding the wilderness issue. I am hoping Tuck Forsythe's letter more accurately evaluates evalu-ates the situation. I am praying pray-ing Mr. Tibbett's letter does not. I am deeply and constantly disturbed that in Utah, where there is natural beauty that is unique and unequaled, "environmentalist" "en-vironmentalist" is a dirty word, and "development" and "profit" are the great ideals to be achieved. I have never been anyplace where certain people were so willing to sell out a priceless natural heritage her-itage for the almighty dollar. When we talk about the "rights" to "our" mountains, perhaps we should include the rights of the wildlife that live there, and the rights of our children and future generations genera-tions to a natural area that has not been irretrievably damaged for profit's sake. I am in favor of multiple use only insofar as conservation and preservation are an integral inte-gral part of the use. Ranchers have been using the land for years; they know as much about conservation as anybody. any-body. The land should always be open for recreation, provided pro-vided people using it respect the land and the rights of others. I fear that the "Big Land Grab" will not come from the federal government, but it will come from private individuals or corporations who would indiscriminately pillage "our mountains" for all those materials (and profits) needed "to relieve human problems." If we were to allow that to happen, our "human problems" would just be beginning. Perhaps we should observe that part of the "tenacious efforts of our forefathers" was a great conservation con-servation ideal, an ability to do more with less. Perhaps we should channel our efforts in this direction rather than tearing down our mountains : to buy a couple more yews superfluous "prosperity." ' I believe, as Mr. Tibbetti does, that the land should nit' ) be locked up. What bother,!! me is his repeated association of "rights" to the land, itf "free enterprise." These vt i public lands, and I believe the rights of each of us asa'i member of the public to enjoy S a clean, unspoiled natural area must supersede the right i " private enterprise to alters 1 spoil the land in any way fori" profit which a relative few of us will share. ''x I hope this will all fc " worked out and that we tan, all coninue to enjoy the beai-13 tiful mountain area. However, I "vow assiduously" that I if4 do whatever I can to prevent1 that land from being scarred1 by a maze of roads, or tho1" cool verdant slopes from be- ing stripped bare by large-' scale logging, or laid open by 1 massive mining operations 1: have rights, too, and I wffl not1"! allow "our mountains" to be: ' irresponsibly overused or developed, de-veloped, to become the per-' ' sonal profit bonanza of "i"-' "privileged few." Thank yoi Sincerely, -JohnGrw3 Box 517 3 MoaT |