THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 24, 1995 TAG: 9502240014
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
Now that the vocal minority has had its say regarding the proposed prison for the Eastern Shore, it's time for the silent majority to be heard. I believe I speak for the vast majority of our citizens when I say that we would welcome the prison with open arms. Geographically and economically, I don't see how a more suitable location could be found.
It is the citizens of the surrounding area who stand most to gain. Instead of nothing better to look forward to from year to year than seasonal agricultural work, they would finally have a chance at a real, full-time job with benefits and all the security and well-being that go with it.
The same goes for our local watermen who have had a disastrous year. Many of them would jump at a chance for a construction job or one of the 400 or so permanent jobs that would be offered. This would also have the very beneficial side effect of lessening the stress on our rapidly diminishing marine resources.
Just a few years ago Maryland built a prison in Somerset County near West-over similar to the one proposed for Northampton County.
Somerset County is a carbon copy of Northampton County. It is located about 60 miles to the north and has the same demographic makeup - rural, agriculture, seafood, tourism and small business.
When the prison was first proposed there, the residents fought it tooth and nail. Protest rallies were held, billboards went up and all sorts of doomsday prophecies were heard.
Now, when I ask my friends in Crisfield, Smith Island and Mount Vernon what their thoughts are on having the prison in their county, their reactions are all the same: ``We fought with everything we had to keep it out. Now we would fight just as hard to keep it here.''
JOHN P. SCOTT
Onancock, Feb. 15, 1995 by CNB