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In response to Bruce Greene’s “My Turn” concerning the proposed BNSF train bridge, I’d like to make the following points:

1. Land use: There are rules for building on your property if it affects the neighbors in a negative manner.

2. Precedent: Rathrum grass growers forced out of business when land around them was developed residential and the “new” residents couldn’t handle the smoke.

3. Abe Lincoln, really? One hundred and fifty-five years ago trains were much lighter, weren’t a mile or more long and didn’t carry millions of gallons of extra volatile oil.

4. FYI, We’re nearly a generation into the 21st century, Surprise! The West was won a long time ago.

5. Back in the 19th century the government allowed private companies to mine anywhere and anything on public lands and pay at best a few pennies in royalties if anything.

6. I think Sandpoint, that’s been around for approximately 130 years, has a few rights of its own.

7. BNSF is not the only economic concern in the country, contrary to what they and their mouthpieces think.

8. Cars may not pull over for others to go by, then again they’re not all from the same entity.

9. Wherever the new line is, it’ll wipe out a big chuck of something along the waterfront.

10. BNSF could be sued for liability if something bad happens? OK, if your child wandered out into the street and a truck came barreling toward him or her, would you:

A. Run and yank them out of the way, or

B. Let the truck kill them and sue afterward?

I pick option “A”

LAWRENCE FURY

Sandpoint