LETTERS: HEARINGS SHOULD BE IN RURAL AREAS

To the editor:

Both the U.S. House and Senate plan to hold field hearings regardin reauthorization of the Endagered Species Act. It is likely that the hearings will be held in a dozen or so major cities around the country.

Urban residents have almost no contact with the land. Meetings will be dominated by national environmental groups. Urbanites giving their thoughts on endangered species usually recommend actions that don't affect city dwellers but impact strongly on rural property owners, rural customs and ways of life.

We country folk have to put up with the ever-expending laws protecting bugs and weeds and running us off our so-called wetlands on our own property. There is still time to change the meeting schedule, but representatives and senators need to be contacted (see address and telephone information elsewhere on this page). Ask that some of the hearings be held in rural towns.

WILLIAM F. JUD

Fredericktown