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Show , 2 The Magna Times, Thursday, July 26, 1990 !' Y- Editorial OroimnoE Guest Editorial Life in the Utah.S.S.R. : . Wolves in Yellowstone? Dont waste Utah, just Magna! This column is a look at Ufa in Utah, presenting some heavy subjects with light humor and a touch of satire. ' Editorial S-- by T.R. Mader Common Man Institute KIM FOLSOM Magna Times Assistant Editor I; KIM FOLSOM Magna Times Assistant Editor Tide sound familiar? It should. Its the name of the new (sic) report in ConThe state of Utah has a new campaign called Dont Waste Utah. They should lf rhetoric. returned this week from the Utah gress. But as the name, its the same old wrote it. Those with a vested interest in the be applauded for their concern for litter oh our highways and waste across our But whos surprised? l' Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City. One of the plays I saw was Romeo and animal. Those who would study and monitor the animals. Those who have made scenic state. It is a great campaign, but nobody seemed to remember Magna in Z Juliet. For those who dont know the their name studying these efficient killing machines. Talk about job security and the scheme of things. Its okay to waste Magna, or at least near Magna at the preferred Utah State Health Department site for the Portland Cement kiln dust; Zr play, it is about two feuding noble making money with little effort. Health Department, approved by the EPA and sancZ families and a love affair that is doom-e- d Speaking of effort, have you heard of the latest in wolf study? Theyre using approved by the Utah State ' the tioned who never opened their mouths on the subject. We are doomed many by between Romeo, who is a Mon- - computer programs to produce their data. Its the latest rage: Computer Wildlife who those are if supposed to be concerned with our health have their way. agencies Nintendo. What a joke! , tague, and Juliet, who is a Capulet. should ask the We state to change the slogan on their new posters to read Dont But wait. Wouldnt it be fair to ask, Did wolves live and den in Yellowstone No one can remember the particulars inthe early years of park history? I mean, after all, the claim is that wolves Waste Utah, Dump on Magna! If we gained nothing but one thing from our j5 of the petty feud that separated these were native to the region, wouldnt it be fair to check history and see if they fight against the Utah State Health Department and the EPA, it is knowledge. :J two families, but the end of the feud The knowledge that some governmental agencies are out of hand and have no were there? Are they really the missing link, in the ecosystem? is only achieved by the death of Romeo But those wolf bones found in a cave prove the wolf was native to the park. regard for the wishes of the people, at least of this community. They also did and Juliet. not in found You mean those two, thats right, two (1, 2) toe bones pay heed to the wishes of Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City, West Valley Really? 1$ Magna has two councils which are; Yellowstone? Well, if thats sufficient evidence to establish Yellowstone as native City, Tooele, or Carbon County. 5 in many ways like the two families in habitat, then the U.S. Fish and Wildlife better get busy reintroducing crocodiles Remember the dump at election time and remember who helped us and who Romeo and Juliet. Both councils con-- $ to caused us grief because we can still vote and maybe get some changes from the Wyoming. Hey, their bones are there. A lot more than two. toe bones! sist of good community-minde- d down. people But look at park history? No, we cant do that. Or better, We wont! top 7 who have done much for Magna. I Its not because the records arent there for Yellowstone has excellent records have many friends on both sides of the in the early years, even records of predator control. issue", but I feel that the feuding bet- Historically, predators were controlled extensively in the park. Even poison ween the two councils is killing was used years the Army ran the park. Trapping predators during the thirty-plu- s Magnas chances to progress and was a constant job for army scouts who had orders to shoot predators on sight. by Albert D. Hattis develop. lf rhetoric. Then why not look at history? Because it doesnt support C About nine years ago, I wrote a column of advice to the newly elected goverThe problem? Oh, they didnt kill any wolves (in their predator control prot; Recently, I attended a Magna Area in mountain until and but nor the wolves 1914. no of the state where I had moved and was then living and working. I sugof lions, Plenty park. coyotes Council meeting discussing 8400 West. gram) ., that developing a better business climate was important if he wanted to It was not hard to see the resistance to Heres how it. goes. Theres some evidence of sporadic movement of wolves gested encourage healthy economic development, which converts into more jobs and the widening of a proposed section of the region. In 1880, it was reported that wolves were poisoned in the more income. through 8400 West from some council members region. And it makes sense for at that time almost all the buffalo were wiped I said that we had to be competitive when it came to taxes, workmens and just because a member of the other out by market hunters. A few were in the Yellowstone wolves Obviously region. unemployment compensation insurance, and the general business environment. council owned a sizeable bit of property would follow their natural prey base, into the mountains. meant effectively controlling government induced costs. This on the section the state wants to The rest of the evidence is circumstantial at best. Sightings, howls, and tracks academic freedom, a univerThe response I received in a climate of complete. are it. to was about Dont sity, cutting taxes or governmental keep quiet. say anything At the border hearing on the Magna I watched others advocating higher spending, more taxes, and bonds for costs. In 1885, H.A. Pearson came to the park, hunted for two months, and bagged Area Council proposal, a community construction projects. Bonds are just future taxes waiting to be charged out. three grizzlies, two black bears, and a mountain lion, but no wolves in spite council member showed their opposiMy then home state had high tax levels for income and real estate. Workmens of a desire to do so. tion to the proposal, but I wonder rates were higher than any of our neighboring states and Just h'ow little evidence of wolves in Yellowstone is there? Well, from 1836 compensation insurance whether the opposition was based on the United States. most of to 1913, there are 27 references to wolves and all of those (except 1880) are a concern for Kearns welfare or rather Many of our governmental employees, including teachers, were being paid from wounds of old battles between the only probably. and benefits that regularly went up, regardless of whether governments Did you know an animal census (of Yellowstone) in 1912 listed gray wolves wages ' councils. afford increases. Programs kept being added and growing. No one seemcould as none? ed to realize that as the cost of living and operating in this statement up, in Seems the wolves didnt live and den in Yellowstone. Government Studies showSome council members have been a competitive world, we were cutting our own throats. able to work jointly with members from ed wolf dens down in the foothills below the park. Right where people live today. Then-sominteresting things happened. A large food processing company closDid wolves show up in the park? Yes, in the teens Of this century, the federal the other council to help Magnas ed down a factory with one third of the employees in one of our cities. In my museum, on Copper Days, on the fight and state governments (when they used to serve the people) joined local rana chers and homesteaders in wolf control on the lower elevations. With agriculture hometown, number of businesses have closed up. An effort by the state to against the Portland Cement dump. new business with up to $2 billion in short and long term concessions attract a the primary source to make a living and to live, the wolf and other predators failed to a state that offered nothing. , But, in general, the wounds are still had to be controlled. Such pressure moved the animal to the high country of I will never forget a conversation with a departing manager who pointed out there and opposition arises more on Yellowstone. who is for or against an issue rather his , personal experience. He licensed his three vehicles for less than the cost of From 19.14 to 1926, there are 141 references to wolves. Some are circumstanone license in our state. On the same salary, he netted $300 of additional cash than the issue itself. tial, but many substantial such as wolves killed, wolves trapped, wolf dens found, each month because of lower income taxes. His house real estate tax, on a comanimals killed by wolves, and photos by wolves. None of which are in the previous it Will take the death of Magna parable home, was about half. '' before certain 11 years. people ever learn and the When we started talking about business climate, workmens compensation, whole community can start working The annual report of 1915 stated wolves were a decided menace to wildlife and other factors, it was obvious that this man was no booster for our state. He there. Fortunately, the Park Service had the good sense to control the wolves remembered a well publicized labor riot, known as occurring weeks before it together? j instead of making the park a breeding ground. happened, where die police stood by and watched hundreds of dollars in damag' I have friends on both councils and One wonders if wolves hadnt been controlled in those early years whether ed property. ' allegiance to neither, but as an outsider there would have been Just ask yourself one question: with all of these facts available, how could any wildlife to see and enjoy. ' I can see this is one of Magnas big-geAfter all, wolves havent been controlled in Denali National Park for years you recommend starting or operating a business that had to compete with other problems in securing its future. and now only one percent of the once immense caribou herd live in the park. states or nations? Studies by objective researchers demonstrated the truth. Thats right! Of the 250,000 to 300,000 caribou that were estimated in the park Many years ago, as a consultant, I had to prepare a report recommending a in 1940, only 2,700 to 3,000 are there now. factory site. For one location, I developed all of the plant operating costs, exis well in Denali. Same old amined freight charges, and got whatever background information was available. And you know what? The biologists tell us all MAGNA TIMES A wealthy local farmer was even willing to construct the factory and donate it rhetoric. 0 USPS to try and keep the kids at home. 3980 West 2700 $outh High taxes, insurance costs, and a bad business climate kept this one city from MAGNA, UTAH 84044 getting the factory and its jobs. I have been trying to tell this story, repeatedly, but few in government want to listen. J. HOWARD STAHLE " I pro-wo- Pro-wolfe- rs . ; , -- Straight Talk ! 3 pro-wo- 4 so-call- ed '' . e . , - st , 325-58- Volunteer! it never fails Corner I Editor Publisher-Managin- g BONNIE STAHLE Advertising-Offic- Manager e KIM FOLSOM 9' Assistant Editor-Writ- KENT GOBLE Writer Ronald McDonald House 935 East South Temple Salt Lake City, Utah 84102 Features-Sport- s DEANNA JONES Typesetter-Offic- e Help Published each Thursday p: Subscription $12 per year $1 4 per year out ot state . t 1 ! Thats Straight Talk! Second class postage paid at Magna, Utah 84044 Volunteers are needed to help at .the Ronald McDonald House, serving families of critically ill children being treated in our local hospitals. Duties include working as a receptionist (answering phones, checking families in and out, etc.), visiting with families, light housekeeping, running errands, helping as a handyman, sending thank, you letters, acknowledgements, etc. Contact Karen Huber at '363-4663. fr 9, i, t 9, Do you have an opinion that youd like to share? Write a letter to the Editor! 8980 West 2700 South Magna, Utah 84044 Mil ttSSMH American Heart Association TO H, L. TANNER 9 |