ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 4, 1997 TAG: 9701060030
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
MEMO: ***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on January 7, 1997.
In Harriett Cooper's Jan. 4 letter to the editor, "Smart road is
Tech's boondoggle," the sentence should have read: "With our county
taxes increasing, it would be an excessive burden to have our state
taxes increased to pay for a road that Montgomery County does not need,
since Alternative 3A should take care of our traffic problems."
Smart road is Tech's boondoggle
THE MORE I learn about the "smart road," the more upset I become. How is it possible that such a behemoth was foisted on us?
Not only does this road violate agricultural-forestal district agreements, it also will despoil one of the most beautiful areas in Montgomery County. The resulting traffic will cause an increase in air and water pollution. Virginia Tech researchers may produce additional water pollution by their use of de-icers, and an unacceptable amount of noise when they start using snow blowers in their all-weather testing.
If there is not enough money to complete the smart road, who will end up paying for it? Montgomery County's Board of Supervisors project increasing property taxes for the next four or five years just to pay for building new schools, not including the outfitting of those schools. And that is not the only area that will strain our county's budget in the next few years.
Without county taxes increasing, it would be an excessive burden to have our state taxes increased to pay for a road that Montgomery County does not need, since Alternative 3A should take care of our traffic problems. The smart road's only purpose is as a test bed for Virginia Tech research.
I urge the Virginia Department of Transportation to reconsider this road that would decrease the travel time between Blacksburg and Roanoke by only five or six minutes.
Further, I suggest that Tech utilize some of its own property for its own research. This will do much to restore Tech's damaged reputation and relieve our community of an unnecessary and expensive boondoggle.
HARRIETT COOPER
BLACKSBURG
Put slave museum in New England
GOV. GEORGE Allen wants the commonwealth of Virginia to authorize $100,000 for a slave museum (Dec. 26 news article, ``Allen to push slave museum'').
Former Gov. Doug Wilder wants the slave museum to be built at Hampton University where it would be bordered on three sides by water.
Wilder would like a replica of a slave ship built next to the museum. He said such a replica would show the conditions the Africans endured on their voyage to America.
I have a suggestion for Allen and Wilder. Put the slave ship in Boston Harbor, where the majority of slave ships originated.
They should also ask the New England states for the $100,000 because they were the ones that got rich off the slave trade.
Wilder will be very disappointed to learn that not one slave ship flew a Confederate flag.
THOMAS N. HUTSON
SALEM
Gingrich, Clinton are peas in a pod
REGARDING YOUR Dec. 31 editorial, "Why Gingrich needs to go":
Remember this last presidential election? When questions of honesty, morals, character and ethics were brought up about Bill Clinton, the response was: "So what?''
Newt Gingrich? So what? Let's be fair.
FRANK S. EARLY
BLACKSBURG
Program can benefit more young men
I APPLAUD the gentlemen and their program profiled in Beth Macy's Nov. 21 article, "Fostering boys to men, all over lunch."
It is about time that young men in the community had someone to turn to for advice, information and guidance on such delicate issues.
I've had the opportunity to view these guys in action, and I commend them for the necessary work they are doing. I believe with continued support the For Males Only Program will be able to reach many young men who have not yet experienced the program's positive influences.
I also admire the restaurants that have contributed to this special program. Other restaurants should follow their lead.
TERRELL T. TONEY
ROANOKE
Hike the mountain; park at the bottom
A MONTH ago I saw an article in the paper written about a concerned resident of Mill Mountain (Nov. 18 news story, ``Woman fights for Mill Mountain to stay the way it is'').
The concerned resident's name is Betty Field.
A few days ago, Mrs. Field took my class on a hike on Mill Mountain. We had a lot of fun hiking in the woods and observing nature.
I think the city should be proud to have a noncommercialized mountain within its city limits. I do not think we need a parking garage or a bigger zoo; we should enjoy nature and enjoy Mill Mountain as it is. Others in my class agree.
JONATHAN McGRAW
ROANOKE
Editors note: This letter was signed by 26 other students at Community School in Roanoke.
LENGTH: Long : 102 linesby CNB