16 April 2005
DM&E's plan for expansion can go ahead, agency rules
Enviros and NIMBYS Continue Opposition to RR Expansion
Obviously to anyone except hard-core moonbats is the necessity for the USA to do whatever it can to improve it's energy independence. A high proportion of our electricity is produced by coal-burning power plants. Is this the cleanest, best way to make electricity? Probably not, but it IS still a vital part of our de-facto energy production mix of resources and technologies. The cheapest large source of coal is the Powder River Basin in Wyoming. For some time, the Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern Railroad (DM&E) has been planning and working towards an extension of their line into the Basin to obtain access to this coal, and also increasing the carrying capacity of their line across SD and MN.
This has attrcted the usual opposition from a mixed-bag of envirowackos, leftlib anti-business types, activists of various stripes, and NIMBYs. (Not in MY Back Yard!) When this activity was at a very high level in Brookings a few years back, one of the biggest cries of protest was over the prospect of 50-55 trains per day moving through town. (Horrible! Real evidence of economic activity!) At this time, the Chief had the occasion to attend a family reunion with Mrs. Chief (reunion with part of her side of the family) down in Iowa. The town we were at had a main-line RR running through it, and coincidently was about the same size as Brookings. We stayed at a bed & breakfast 1 block from the rail line, and didn't notice much problem or disturbance from the trains. On inquiry I learned that the town had abour 50 trains daily, and that no one thought much about it one way or another. Conclusion: the DM&E expansion wouldn't be NEARLY as big a deal as the local moonbats & allies were making it out to be. Ultimately, I think the RR agreed to re-route their main line along the edge of town, but that's another story.
Some points to ponder:
• Brookings was founded as an end-of the line RR construction town back when. I wouldn't exist where it is except for the RR being built. Also, people back then frantically welcomed railroads as a real tangible sign of economic progress and infrastructure (before infrastructure was a word).
• Some of the same folks decrying the "evil corporate wailwoad" also worry about the loss of people from South Dakota - specifically the trend for graduating students to leave the state for greener pastures elsewhere due to a lack of suitable employment opportunities.
To maintain base of a modern technological economy of the sort that would provide opportunity to graduating strudents, it is essential to develop the overall level of economic infrastructure. This contributes to the overall level of economic activity, and will ultimately solve the population drain problem. To oppose the development, but decry the lack of opportunity seems to the Chief to be a major mental disconnect, giving strong supporting evidence to Michael Savage's asstertion that "liberalism is a mental disorder", but what else is new?
Obviously to anyone except hard-core moonbats is the necessity for the USA to do whatever it can to improve it's energy independence. A high proportion of our electricity is produced by coal-burning power plants. Is this the cleanest, best way to make electricity? Probably not, but it IS still a vital part of our de-facto energy production mix of resources and technologies. The cheapest large source of coal is the Powder River Basin in Wyoming. For some time, the Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern Railroad (DM&E) has been planning and working towards an extension of their line into the Basin to obtain access to this coal, and also increasing the carrying capacity of their line across SD and MN.
This has attrcted the usual opposition from a mixed-bag of envirowackos, leftlib anti-business types, activists of various stripes, and NIMBYs. (Not in MY Back Yard!) When this activity was at a very high level in Brookings a few years back, one of the biggest cries of protest was over the prospect of 50-55 trains per day moving through town. (Horrible! Real evidence of economic activity!) At this time, the Chief had the occasion to attend a family reunion with Mrs. Chief (reunion with part of her side of the family) down in Iowa. The town we were at had a main-line RR running through it, and coincidently was about the same size as Brookings. We stayed at a bed & breakfast 1 block from the rail line, and didn't notice much problem or disturbance from the trains. On inquiry I learned that the town had abour 50 trains daily, and that no one thought much about it one way or another. Conclusion: the DM&E expansion wouldn't be NEARLY as big a deal as the local moonbats & allies were making it out to be. Ultimately, I think the RR agreed to re-route their main line along the edge of town, but that's another story.
Some points to ponder:
• Brookings was founded as an end-of the line RR construction town back when. I wouldn't exist where it is except for the RR being built. Also, people back then frantically welcomed railroads as a real tangible sign of economic progress and infrastructure (before infrastructure was a word).
• Some of the same folks decrying the "evil corporate wailwoad" also worry about the loss of people from South Dakota - specifically the trend for graduating students to leave the state for greener pastures elsewhere due to a lack of suitable employment opportunities.
To maintain base of a modern technological economy of the sort that would provide opportunity to graduating strudents, it is essential to develop the overall level of economic infrastructure. This contributes to the overall level of economic activity, and will ultimately solve the population drain problem. To oppose the development, but decry the lack of opportunity seems to the Chief to be a major mental disconnect, giving strong supporting evidence to Michael Savage's asstertion that "liberalism is a mental disorder", but what else is new?
