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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1989-02-15, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1989. Letters to the editor Committee says give land back to the farmers DEAR EDITOR, Re: The Disposal of Unused CPR Railway Properties. The Rails-to-Trails proponents keep mentioning Wisconsin’s Sugar River Trail as an example of what our abandoned CPR line could become if converted to a Nature Trail or Parkland area. Turning to the CAA Tour Book, Michigan/ Wisconsin, 1987 edition I was able to uncover this information. The Sugar River State Park is a 23 mile long trail between New Glarus and Brodhead, Wisconsin, following the meandering river flats of the Sugar River and developed along one of the old Trails can profit communities THE EDITOR, Following a precedent set in the United States, the Ontario Govern ment is ready to bank some of the Province’s abandoned rail lines for potential future service corridors. It also appears to be favouring the American model of converting some of these abandonments to Don't use money for trails THE EDITOR, I am concerned by the future use of the abandoned C.P.R. right of way which runs through the middle of my farm. Everyone, as a taxpayer, helped to establish this C.P.R. line while the landowners whose property it divided bore the nuisance and inconvenience. Now, it seems tax payers will be called upon again to the tune of a few million dollars to convert this land to public use of some kind. My specific concerns include A different proposal for CP Rai! line THE EDITOR, What to do with the C.P.R. station and tracks seems to be a news topic now, and so we decided to write and give our thoughts on the subject. One idea we have heard that really excited us is that of running an excursion train from Blyth to Goderich, a route that would be truly scenic at any time of the year. Both Goderich and Blyth are tourist towns and this would be an additional attraction for tourists, especially train lovers. If the towns of Goderich and Blvth would co operate with people who would be Pacific Railway systems leading out of Chicago. The trail’s main en trance is at New Glarus which is located 20 miles south of Madison, Wisconsin (population 170,616), approximately 80 miles west of Milwaukee (population 636,212), or 140 miles northwest of Chicago (population 3,005,072). Ignoring the many other smaller cities and towns within a 100 mile radius of this trail and comparing the total population of these three centres alone, they add up to 10-15 per cent of Canada’s whole population. This is a good solid population base to support and use the 23 mile Sugar River State Park. recreational use. There have been more than 120 successful rail-to- trail conversions in the U.S. Landowners can be assured that where the Province assumes ownership of the right-of-way and where a proposal for trail develop ment is approved, the issues of funding, liability, fencing, maint- weed control, drainage, mainten ance, access to the other part of my land, fencing and the establish ment of a public thorough-fare dividing my property. Also, I feel if this railway right-of-way was used as a public trail it would be an invasion of my privacy. I object to my tax money being used to support a trail that would perpetuate the nuisance caused by the railway property and further erode my rights as a rural citizen. A Morris township fanner. in a position to further this idea, we feel it would be a great benefit to this area. Excursion trains are becoming increasingly popular in many areas of the U.S. and Canada. Our country was opened by the railroads and, as they went into new areas, their benefit and pros perity has been beyond compare. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to keep some of these links with our past and remind people of the part trains played in the history of our country and our communities? INTERESTED IN RAILROAD PERSERVATION. The population of Huron County as of the 1988 municipal record was 55,553. The length of the proposed Goderich-Guelph Nature Trail is 77.2 miles. New Glarus (population 1,800) uses its Swiss heritage to bring tourism into the area, with four major annual festivals, a museum atid a Swiss historical village. It has at least two CAA recommended hotels advertised as being on the “bike trails’’. Brodhead (popula tion 3,200) has a museum, the old railroad depot, and an historic Exchange Square and Historical District, a nine-hole golf course, Decatur Dam and Decatur Lake. It has been stated that this area earns enance and policing will be resolv ed. Sound management and main tenance policies are foremost. However without vesting in a trail conversion the Goderich to Guelph line, like other partially reclaimed abandonments in the Province, will be but one more scar across the landscape - subject to abuse by an unsympathetic public. There is little doubt that some of the proposals for rails-to-trails conversions will be approved. The communities along the Goderich to Guelph CPR line must soon decide if they want the funds that will be spent on trail conversion and the jobs and tourism dollars that will ensure, or if they would prefer to see trail development funds direct ed elsewhere. By withholding sup port at this critical time when the Province is debating where rail-to- trail proposals should be support ed, the municipalities can sabatoge the interests of many of their constituents and encourage the Province to look elsewhere, where the climate is more receptive. There is indisputable proof that changing a rail into a trail reaps benefits. Trail users spend money on food, beverages, camping, ho tels, bed and breakfasts, bicycle rentals, souvenirs, local attrac tions and gasoline. A 1986 study of Wisconsin’s Sugar River Trail showed trail users spent between $400,000 and $600,000 along the route every year. A recent study along another American converted rail line discovered that 6.4 per cent of all retail sales were directly related to trail use. It looks like Ontario would like to capitalize on the rails-to-trails suc cess story. We can be part of this exciting news opportunity, or we can pass it by. The choice is up to us. Joan Van den Broeck Goderich. $400,000-$600,000 tourist income annually in this state park area. That seems only reasonable given the population base and the area development for tourism. Tourism in Wisconsin is their second major industry, generating $6 billion/year and occupying 13 per cent of the labour force, as compared to agriculture which has annual farm sales of $3.7 billion/ year. Agriculture and agriculturally related industries are of prime importance in Huron County. Let’s get our priorities right for us! The Ground Hog’s Day Commit tee, representing the farm owners of Concession 10, Morris Town ship, wish the Provincial Govern ment to refuse the abandoned rail properties in favour of the munici palities. Then the municipalities could sell these lands back to the farm properties and they could be returned at the farm owner’s cost back into agricultural production or reforestation. We want to rejoin divided farm properties on a short concession. We do not want a Parkway or Nature Trail established here, be Walsh’s a-.Corner Cafe s“Nn^ Wednesday, Thursday & Friday February 15, 16, & 17 Shrimp 'n Chips $3.50 Chicken Strips 'n Chips $3.95 EAT IN OR TAKE OUT Fish 'n Chips $3.50 1 DAILY SPECIALS FROM THE CAFE #1 SANDWICH SPECIAL #2 DINNER SPECIAL Soup or J uice Sandwich/Fries QC Tea/Coffee Yw ■ w V Soup or Juice . - Dinner SZL MK Tea/Coffee •SUNOCO GAS •OIL •ANTIFREEZE •WINDSHIELD WASHER Blyth 523-4793 cause we want to avoid potential problems with vandalism, invasion of privacy, littering, pollution, damages, lack of weed control, property depreciation, and inade quate policing and maintenance. We feel that no group presently supporting the proposition of con verting these lands into park areas has the funding capabilities to guaranteed maintenance and polic ing in the long term. If CPR can deal with the munici palities instead of each individual landowner, the purchase can be made economically, with no sur veying fees. Subsequently after the landowners have purchased these acres from the municipality, they will be responsible for weed con trol, drain and fence maintenance along with the rest of their farm property, instead of at a cost to the taxpayer. Jeanne L. Kirkby The Ground Hog’s Day Committee also submitted by Emerson Mitchell Charles Shobbrook Arnold Elgi Alan Young If Ttou Use A Computer, Ttbu Can Earn Extra Income. There’s a computer boom in farm country. And that means new opportunities. We re launching a new farm dealer network. If you know farming and computers, and other growers who own computers, you can earn up to $240 per package selling FarmHandIM Agricultural Software. That’s up to 30% commission per sale. And we ll train you to earn that extra income right out of your own home. Now...take just two minutes to learn more! I I I I I I I I I I I I I Send For Ifour FREE FarmHand Dealer Intro Kit Today. All it takes is two minutes and there’s no obligation required. 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