The INDEPENDENT JOURNAL, Thursday, February 17,1994

The plans of the U.S. Forest Service to create a 308 mile trail in the Salern-Potosi district of the Mark Twain National Forest for motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles is a threat to our much-appreciated heritage.

The proposed OHV Trails will increase soil erosion, noise pollution, and adversely affect fragile wildlife. Local landowners who have been abused by trespassing, littering, and intrusive noise are joining groups opposing the US Forest Service's assault on public lands. .

The proposed - OHV trail includes 193 stream crossings that are illegal under Missouri State law. The present multi-use of the area by those who enjoy hiking, walking, fishing, and wildlife observation will be adversely affected.

Those wishing to express their concern for the negative consequences of the OHV Trail proposed by the U.S. National Forest Service may register their concern by writing or calling: Darsan Wang, Mark Twain National Forest. 401 Fairground Rd., Rolla, MO 65401. (Tel. (314) 364-4621.)

Your response may also be directed to Danny Staples, Jim Graham, Bob Ward, and Bill Emerson. You have until February 23rd to help diffuse this attack on our precious heritage.

Missouri is a great state to live in; it's worth the effort to keep it that way!

**

As a reasonable thinking human being I am disturbed by my fellow citizens who propose to cheapen and destroy the amenities of the Mark Twain National Forest by building an Off-Highway Vehicle road system.

The destruction of the environment goes on all around us. We are blessed with these wild places and should treat them with the utmost regard. I am not a land owner and the National Forest is the only place that I can go to remove myself from the influence of modern life. The National Forest is a place where life has evolved in complete harmony. It is a place where we can all learn about life and living. Promoting the exploitation of the forest scares me because of the facts of our bad judgement concerning past environmental issues. Total air pollution releases in the U.S. in 1993 were 2,010,000,000 pounds. There are 1,235 Hazardous Waste Sites in the U.S. Missouri has 23 Hazardous Waste Sites which is more than 34 other states in the Union. There are 705 Endangered or Threatened species in the U.S. You can drive any highway or back road in the Mark Twain National Forest system and find the roadside strewn with litter. The list goes on and on.

We can look around us and see that most all homes are not built to take into account the energy saving aspects of the sun and wind. We seem to immediately forget about our waste when it conveniently goes into the garbage can, down the drain, or out the chimney. It seems that we have turned a deaf ear to the rhythms and powers of nature.

We must not allow a small unjustified interest destroy our refuge from the insanity of the world. We must not allow it. If you refuse to act then you must share the blame for the loss of the Mark Twain National Forest as we know it.

***

The more I read in the DEIS the more opposed I became to this proposal. I request at least a 6O-day extension of the public comment period.

Anytime one makes even a slight trail or rut on a slope the next medium to heavy rain makes a wider and deeper one. Most of us know that traffic, moisture, power to wheels and rate of speed increase erosion on any slope and many trails or roads must of necessity go down slopes to get to stream crossings. We also know that any rut made is an open invitation for water to erode the soil - washing it into the stream, losing the soil, muddying the water, thereby, choking the vegetation and the aquatic animals - and there are a possible 193 stream crossings!!! How do you plan to keep users on these trails or roads?

****

My wife and I were both born in the early 1920s in the area which is now the Potosi Ranger District of the Mark Twain National Forest. At that time most of the area was scrub forest on land abandoned by the large timber companies and local farmers used it as grazing land for their cattle. They burned it off in the spring to promote the growth of grass. In 1954 we bought, and still own, a 160 acre abandoned farm on Rocky Fork alongside the Dawes ridge. .

We remember when, in the early thirties, the Government acquired the land to establish the Clark National Forest, and the CCC boys moved in to begin converting the area by building roads, phone lines, lookout towers and fire trails.

We watched as the phone lines and towers served their purpose and were abandoned in favor of new technology. We watched the forest fires trickle to a faint glimmer as the local residents accepted their new neighbor. We drive on some of those original winding roads which have been converted to blacktop highways. The herds of grazing cattle and hogs have been replaced by herds of deer and flocks of wild turkeys.

Many of the pine seedlings planted by the CCC boys have matured and gone to market. Mining operations have progressed from pick and shovel surface mines to the remote controlled giants 1200 feet below the forest lands.

Hardwood forests have replaced the tangled undergrowth inherited from the timber companies, and many of those trees have been harvested and sold all over the world. A quiet area on the headwaters of Brock's Creek has been converted to a recreational complex with boating, fishing, swimming and camping facilities available to the public at a nominal fee.

As I look back over the past 60 years of seemingly constant change, I can't think of a single one that has not had some POSITIVE EFFECT and most have had at least SOME PAYBACK to the Forest Service and thus to the taxpayer.

In my opinion the most devastating proposal in the history of the National Forest is now awaiting approval. This obviously is the 308 miles of ORV ATV trails which will simply carve the forest into a maze of eroded gullies and trails, usable primarily, if not solely for the pleasure of a select few. Even the recent DEIS seems to indicate that it will actually wind up as a financial liability for the taxpayer. There cannot be any net pay back at all. It is difficult to understand all of this for a few thrill seekers and the interest of certain foreign manufacturers and their local agents.

I don't know you personally, Mr. Morse, but in your position you must have had a long and distinguished career with the U.S. Forest Service. I find it difficult to believe that in what must be the waning years of your career, you would throw those years of dedicated service to the wind and literally give the Potosi and Salem Ranger districts to those favored few.

As you approach what could well be the most important decision of your long career, I simply must believe that you will be reasonable and listen to your conscience and the public, rather than the select few.

Please understand, Mr. Morse, I am not making this plea on my own behalf. I am a retired senior citizen who is "over the hill" but I have enjoyed 60 years of the natural surroundings of the Mark Twain National Forest. All I am asking is that my children, my grandchildren and all future generations, regardless of race, creed or color be allowed to enjoy these same pleasures through the 21st Century and beyond.

Please give this proposal the serious consideration it deserves, then I guess you have to do what you have to do.

*****

1970's

Every letter that is written and sent in only adds that much more support for the preservation of these buildings. please get out pen and paper and start writing. People enjoy reading about the history of Palmer and its people. Everything you can remember, I am sure the 'Ghosts' enjoy reading."

I therefore thank you all, and hope you will continue to write.

"The Palmer Ghost."

My name doesn't really matter, as all I am worried about is saving the old buildings in Palmer."

Mrs. Rutledge, in a letter to the 'I-J' writes:

"I have enjoyed the 'Palmer Ghost' and replies, and add to his that those old landmarks of a past era be saved, repaired and kept in good shape for future generations.

My mother, Martha Mae Buckley Sullivan, deceased, was born three miles from Palmer where my grandparents, the Buckleys, lived on Hazel Creek. My great-grandparents, the Harvey Sittons, also lived on Hazel Creek on what is now Marler farm. Both of the families are buried on the Sitton farm, or the present Marler farm in the Sitton cemetery.

They saw Palmer grow up into a prosperous mining town where many visitors stopped their wagon trail wagons to trade, rest, and visit at the store there. There is a child from one of these wagon trains buried in the Sitton Cemetery.

I have, as a child, spent a lot of time on my grandfather's farm and walked to Palmer with my aunt, Essie Buckley Porter, now deceased, to trade in that store and to be treated from their stock of candy.

I have also stopped at the unidentified man's grave on the road to Palmer, to add a stone to his grave.

I have listened to many stories told by my grandparents, my mother, and other members of her family about early Palmer and the joy they had there.

So, as a memorial to all of them, I add my plea to the ghosts' to save Palmer.

I grew up at Belgrade, Mo. and taught school in Washington County and St. Francois County before coming to Flint, Michigan to teach. I have taken the 'Independent Journal" since I left my home state to keep posted on the events of Washington County.

The church was saved, but the Old Palmer Store had to go.

The 'Palmer Ghost,' whose anonymous letter in the 'IJ' in December stirred up a 'passel' of memories about the old times of Palmer, received thanks this week from another regular 'IJ' letter writer, 'The Oldtimer,' Mr. E. W. Cover, Rt. 2, Box 166, DeWitt, Arkansas.

Mr. Cover writes:

"Hello Ghost,

"I appreciate you. I have never been to Palmer, but I have always been Palmer-minded.

"My mother was born and reared there and near by. My father and her uncle Bill Turner were peddling with a spring wagon. She was over at her grandmother's (who was a Turner before marriage), they came along, and that's where she met my father the first time.

"Her best friend in those days was a girl named Mandy Goodson, who was about her age. Mandy died young, in her late teens or early twenties.

"Mother entertained us children many times with stories of her and Mandy, how they would go to the store and have a big visit for an hour or two with everyone who came in. She also used to tell us all the things that were said and done, and all about the church, the parties, taffy pullings, fishing, picnics, and gatherings at the 'Big Spring'. They must have been a happy people around Palmer in those days. She would get starry eyed and actually look younger when she told of those days.

I read the dates on her tombstone just a few days ago and I expect the old store and Church may be the same ones, as that would have been 85 or 90 years ago.

She lived close to the Welkers, too, and they were also the best of friends.

I am going to camp a day or two at that big spring, if I get an occasion, if they will let me, and will see that old store building and Church, spring, creeks, and other things Mother used to tell me about.

Just in appreciation of the Ghost's concern for old things. I love them. Too..