To the editor:

I expressed amazement at the Corps of Engineers’ plan to consult every Native American tribe in the nation on local traffic problems and I got a “history/government lesson” from Mr. Ford for my trouble. No problem! Unlike most of my “Euro-American” friends, I never tire of hearing the old “my ancestors got a crappy deal” story! We should all get used to hearing it, as it promises to be a major theme of the Democratic Party in the next decade.

Now a serious recommendation to the SLT issue:

Just north of Pascagoula, Miss., a 5-mile elevated stretch of U.S. Highway 10 crosses one of the most pristine and ecologically important expanses of salt marsh on the Gulf Coast. My recommendation is that the SLT be placed in the optimum route to reduce the traffic problems in South Lawrence, elevating that section which spans the Baker wetlands.

Ecologically friendly construction would probably be five to eight times the cost of regular construction. Should the Army Corps of Engineers have to poll the “500 American Indian tribes with Haskell ties” to see if they have any problem with OUR trafficway, they should inquire if the tribes would consider helping to offset the added cost of elevating the roadway. Also, instead of being a perpetual roadblock, perhaps the long list of organizations Mr. Ford mentions could be convinced to put their contribution where their lawsuit is and, naturally, donations from local members of the “Save the Swamp” foundation would be welcome!

Gary Stussie,

Lawrence