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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-07-27, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1988. “Wooops! I guess we’d better call that one a scrambled egg,” says Brussels fireman Doug Sholdice as he takes his turn on chefs duty at the annual Brussels Volunteer Firemen’s Breakfast at the swimming pool park on Sunday. A large crowd turned out to enjoy the sumptuous meal, which helped to raise funds for the firefighters’ equipment. Letters to the editor Writer sees Guelph-Goderich trail HUMPHRIES-RYAN Kathryn Humphries and Michael Ryan were married Satur­ day, July 9, 1988 at Duff’s United Church in Walton by the Reverend Bonnie Lamble. The bride is the daughter of Robert and Nora Humphries of London and the groom is the son of Gerald and Ann Ryan of Walton. Maid of honor was Sandra Sholdice of Walton, friend of the bride and bridesmaids were Cheryl Ryan of W alton, sister-in-law of the groom, Linda McLinchey of London, friend of the bride, Karen Achilles of Stratford, friend of the groom and Lisa Karcz of London, friend of the bride. Best man was Dan Achilles of Stratford, friend of the groom and guests were ushered by Chris Ryan of Brussels, brother of the groom, Jim Humphries of London, brother of the bride, Chris Humphries of London, brother of the bride and Paul Ryan of Walton, brother of the groom. Organist was Marion Godkin and soloist Marie McGavin The couple will reside in Walton. THE EDITOR, There is little likelihood that the CPR Guelph to Goderich line will remain open. The CNR Clinton to London line is closed south of Centralia, and the rail-crossing signs have been taken down. There are rumors among the employees of the CNR Goderich to Stratford line that with the deepening of Goderich harbour and the new deep-water docking facilities, ships will out-compete the rail­ road the salt trains will no longer be required, and the line will be closed. In your June 22nd article entitled “Railway Loss Can Be Turned to Tourism Gain’’ you referred to the American experience of convert­ ing abandoned rail lines to multi­ purpose recreational trails that generate tourist dollars. The good news is that tourist dollars can be generated. The bad news is that it seems to take Yankee initiative to turn rails to trails. In 1973, eight years after conversion of a 32-mile stretch of abandoned line in Wisconsin to a trail, an economic impact study was done. It was found that 6.4 per cent of retail sales in the communities along the trail were to trail users. That is probably more retail business than was realized in recent times from the railway when it was operating. But what about initiative? The movement in the United States started in Wisconsin in 1965 with State Government initiative, and that State now has about 300 miles of trails converted from abandoned rail lines. Does Ontario have any? Does the Ontario government have any positive policy whatsoever on abandoned railroads? As a cruel joke on themselves, let your readers ask their MPP about this matter. He will refer them to a Department which will refer them to a Department which will refer them to a Department... Our cabinet system of government does not encourage initiative among MPPs for local causes. In your article above-mentioned you state, referring to the long- abandoned London Huron and Bruce from Clinton to Wingham, “it’s easy to see how it could still easilyberejuvented as a nature trail ’ ’, and you describe a few short sections that are still accessible. An air flight along the old LH&B - the Butter and Eggs Special, shows that over any considerable dis­ tance it has all but disappeared, having been plowed out, blocked, fenced, cut through, or otherwise completely removed by adjoining landowners. A single closure closes the through-line between sideroads, and it doesn’t take many such closures to shut down the entire through-route. This process can be seen in action along the recently abandoned CNR Wingham to Kincardine line. As soon as the rails were up one landowner had two fences across the line, and the same process can be seen on almost any abandoned line in Ontario; the abandoned CNR line Creemore to Collingwood which passes through some of the best scenery in the Province, is another example. The last paragraph of a letter I received from the Wisconsin De­ partment of Natural Resources reads as follows: “In the final analysis, it is extremely important that many of these corridors be preserved for future public needs, regardless as to whether the needs are of a recreational or transportational purpose or for whatever reason. Once the corridor is cut into little pieces and sold off to individual buyers, the opportunity is lost forever to preserve a corridor for future options “ Does Ontario have any need of such corridors? Before the second World War the bottomlands along the rivers of Southwestern Ontario were mostly in pasture, and were park-like and seldom posted against trespass. They provided corridors through the country for hikers and sportsmen, and the secondary railroads, even when operating, likewise provided cor­ ridors. At the present time the bottomlands are largely unused for anything, and are grown up to a nearly impassable undergrowth, a considerable part of which is stringing nettle; and an ever-in- creasingamountof rural land is now posted against trespass. The abandoned railways are the only major hope for retaining access to the landscape other than along the road system. One of life’s great enjoyments is to feel possessive of your country - “this is my own, my native land’’ and one way to get that feeling is to see the country as a landscape that belongs to you and towhichyou belong, close up and at not too fast a speed. You can get that feeling from a cross-country trail whether you walk one mile on it, cycle 60 miles, or ski 20. There is a big big vision available! First a trail from Guelph through Ariss, Elmira, Wallen­ stein, Lindwood, Millbank, Mil­ verton, Monkton, Walton, Blyth, and Auburn, to Goderich. And later - let’s make the vision big - a trail from Goderich through Holmesville, Clinton, Seaforth, St.- Columban, Dublin, Mitchell, Se- bringville, to Stratford. East of Stratford and Guelph there is a veritable sea of bicyclists looking to get out of the pollution to speed their way and spend their dollars. And there are skiers and hikers too. With the beauty of this part of the country and its great seasonal contrasts we could become famous in the world for our trails. It is a vision, it is a dream. It is all possible! The trails could be a major recreational facility unlike any other - as big as the downhill ski development on the Niargara escaprmentatCollingwood and Beaver Valley, as big as the Stratford Festival, as big as a domed stadium! Thatbig? Yes, that big. It’s a vision, it’s a dream. It’s all possible! But there is the question of Brussels says thanks THE EDITOR, At this time the Village of Brussels is proud of our Village Residents. During the shortage of water we certainly appreciated Public gets say, Riddell says THE EDITOR, The general public will have the opportunity to express their views on “Sunday shopping’’ at public hearings in August and Septem­ ber. A great deal of confusion has surrounded the issue, and the controversy is understandable. The fact is, the government is proposing a law which is clearer, New Citizen letter policy The Citizen this week received a letter to the editor on which we were unable to confirm the identity of the writer. The letter concerns a situation in Blyth. If the writer would like to come to The Citizen’s office and identify herself, we would be happy to consider running the letter. This is the second time in the past month we have had such a problem. Because this seems to be an ongoing problem we have been initiative to get it all started. Why don’t I, who am shooting off my mouth in this letter, take the initiative? I’m pretty old -1 was in the war - I’m away a lot, I have enough other projects lined up to lastmetotheendofmylife. Iam willing to help. Iam writing this letter, which isn’teasy, and am willingtowriteothers. I asked a business friend in Montreal how he would proceed in such an under­ taking. The first thing he thought of was the service clubs in the places on the about-to-be-aban- doned line. The service clubs are business oriented, dedicated to the betterment of the community, already organized, and they have links with each other from com­ munity to community. My friend’s idea was that the right person would be able to get the service clubs interested. They would create an organization to which other interested parties could contribute time and ideas, and would otherwise initiate and co­ ordinate the action to convert rails to trails. In Stratford, Tom Patterson envisioned a theatre in the park and went on to make the now world-famous Stratford Theatre happen. In Blyth a small group did the same for the now-nationally famous Blyth theatre. In Colling­ wood, according to an article in the Owen Sound Sun Times for July 9, members of the Georgian Trail Association have had a meeting with the Minister of Natural Resources with the objective of obtaining provincial co-operation in establishing a trail along an abandoned line from Collingwood to Meaford, a distance of about 20 miles. Amongst those attending the meeting was Mr. George Weider, owner of the Blue Moun­ tain ski resort. Mr. Weider is a business man who obviously knows that the trail would be good business. Mr. Editor, within your reader­ ship there is a public spirited individual with a feel for good business, and stomach for a challenge. Madame or Sir: Have you considered the Guelph to Goderich Trail? Sincerely, Gerry Fremlin Clinton, July 22, 1988. those who conserved water. Your dried up lawns are a badge of honour. Thank You for your co-operation. The Council of the Village of Brussels. fairer, and more enforceable than what has existed in the past. Both this government and pre­ vious governments have agreed the previous legislation had proven unworkable and subject to wide­ spread abuse. For example, the “tourist’’ exemption has been challenged as unfair; the exemp- Continued on page 20 forced to adopt more restrictive letter policies which many other newspapers have already adopted. In future, letters to the editor must contain the name, address, and telephone number of the letter writer printed plainly plus the signature of the letter writer. We will still, at this time, use a pseudonym for the writer, if requested, when the letter is printed. Letters with the real name of the writer, however, have much more impact on public opinion.