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Down in the state-of-the-art pit
It was with interest that I read Hinton mayor Ross Risvold's letter to the editor in your June 28 edition. He has been a tireless supporter of the proposed Cheviot mine project. But I am writing to express concern regarding the rather dated photo selected to support Mr. Risvold's letter, showing several weary coal miners emerging from an underground mine.
Contrary to this image, most coal is mined on the surface, and the work is done by educated, highly-trained people who operate sophisticated mining equipment, engineers and technicians who develop our mine and land reclamation plans utilizing state-of-the-art computer programs, and information systems personnel who manage highly-integrated management information networks. If in future you require photos to support a story on the coal mining industry, e would be more than willing to assist by providing images that more accurately reflect the contemporary situation.
N. ALLEN MAYDONIK, QC
GENERAL COUNSEL AND CORPORATE SECRETARY
LUSCAR LTD.
Edmonton
Bulldozers in paradise
Re: "Road rare sours Milk River." (July 26). What is graphically being demonstrated within our community is what happens when a small group of local "backroom boys" begin to think they are little gods. Their plan causes several homes, farm sites and small businesses to be destroyed or severely affected, plus major access problems for the Murphy Oil terminal and the Esso anhydrous site. This plan requires a kilometre or more of CPR track to be re-routed, and the present railway siding track to cross the expressway via a new train bridge. This plan is nothing but a disaster for our community.
Originally, Alberta highway engineers recommended a brilliant plan that would have avoided all this disruption, but the government and our community have fallen victim to the reasoning of the backroom boys: "The expressway goes through Lethbridge, Fort Macleod, Claresholm and Nanton; so why not Milk River?"
If the new expressway were to go east of Milk River, it would present to future travellers a panoramic view of the "gateway into Alberta" as they travel up over the crest of the Milk River ridge just north of town. To the west, the Canadian Rockies; to the east, vast stretches of grain fields; to the north, Alberta, the Yukon, Alaska; to...