
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, June 5, 1990                   TAG: 9006050439
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CALL FLOODING AN ACT OF GOD?

"AN ACT of God!" cries the Establishment when the Roanoke River floods homes in low-lying Southeast. Formerly the sand buildup was scooped out and used in masonry works. American Viscose's acidity caused early breakdown of concrete; polluted sand was phased out before AmeVis shook the dust of this city from its corporate feet.

Ground-breaking releases more particulate; flooding of Roanoke grows apace.

Democracy was once "government by the people." It is now government by mental pygmies - greedier every four years. Farquhar, a homespun Scottish philosopher, said, "When people . . . learn that they can vote themselves money from the treasury, that will be the end of democracy."

Scooping the sand from Roanoke River would preclude treasury-tapping by the Establishment for democracy's sake.

Are owners of obstructions flooding Roanoke, or is this another act of God? ERNEST F. REYNOLDS ROANOKE

by CNB