—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 18, 1973
10
Strange as it seems, one of the greatest
boons to America in this environmentally
conscious, fuel-short age could be
rediscovery by the public that railroads are
one of the nation's greatest assets.
Elder statesman and former presidential
candidate, Mr Alf M. Landon has joined the
ranks of those seeking to awaken the
country to the unique virtues of a string of
cars running on steel rails He says the
railroads are a “ . necessity in meeting
rapidly diminishing fuel energy supplies
and rapidly increasing demands that will
come to a head before the turn of this
century ” Mr Landon stresses that, “costly
and time consuming overlapping govern
ment agencies should be consolidated by
the Congress if railroad managers and
their union counterparts are to function
efficiently in their responsibility to the
Nothing can refresh the soul like a hot,
spicy debate with associates over a
political issue. But how often do we go
beyond that and write our opinion to our
Congressmen? Unfortunately, that answer
is, “seldom or never." Too many of us fear
that one opinion is barely audible in the
hubbub of current events. Yet, as one
legislator has said, “The mail box is nearly
as important as the ballot box to a member
of Congress.”
A short, factual letter limited to one topic
could be just what a Congressman needs to
chart his course in the right direction, and
you will never know unless you write. A
major industry association gives some
suggestions: “If you are writing about
legislative proposals, explain how it affects
Launching the Good Life
College enrollment will drop for the first
time in ten years this fall. This may be one
of the best things that has happened to
young people in quite awhile.
During the past few years, plumbers,
mechanics and carpenters seemed on the
verge of extinction, because everyone was
rushing off to college, and relatively few
young people were bothering to learn
these occupations anymore But the fact is
that these and other blue collar trades are
The Public Service Company of Colorado
reports a startling innovation: “General
Electric Company has designed a new type
of cooling tower for electric generating
plants It would propel thermal exhaust
into the upper atmosphere. The tower, a
hollow ring about 60 feet tall and 600 feet
in diameter, also would ventilate the air
over metropolitan areas. GE says the tower
would reduce the need for cooling water,
making it possible to locate power plants
some distance from large bodies of water.
GE estimates initial cost would be com
petitive with present designs.”
“A community is like a ship; every one
ought to be prepared to take the helm.”--
Hennk Ibsen
A National Association of Manufacturers
editorial notes, “Once again, Congress is
trying to legislate a yardstick to determine
how big a business can grow before it is
considered
Don’t wait for a long, high-speed trip to
find out your tires are unsafe The Por
tland, Oregon, Traffic Safety Commission
urges all drivers to inspect their tires now.
Good Advice
Small Price to Pay
"Grassroots
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public, the employees andlhe investors."
He comments on the views of those who
believe that a government take-over of the
railroads--nationalization--is the most
fitting nostrum for current rail problems.
He says such a move would “simply
present a new set of problems-bigger and
more complex and, in the end, far more
costly to the public "
Mr Landon is not a railroader, but he is
convinced that what is needed, “is
reorganization of government regulatory
agencies for railroads so that they can
operate on sound business principles...."
The words of this former presidential
candidate are timely. They draw attention
to the problems and potentialities of an
industry that will have much to do with
how well this country utilizes its resources
for environmental improvement and
economic advancement.
you... Try to refer to a bill by number and
subject Make sure your views get to
your Congressman early in deliberation of
the bill. If you wait for a crisis stage or try to
change the legislator’s mind later in the
development of an issue, you are not apt to
achieve your goals. Finally, if the replay to
your letter comes from an assistant, don’t
be upset. Public officials have staffs so that
requests can be dealt with effectively.”
It’s easy to rationalize your way out of
writing to your Congressman, but the plain
fact is that our democratic republic could
not function without citizen input.
Remember: “An official wants and needs
to hear every point of view on an issue.” An
eight-cent stamp is a small price to pay for
freedom.
every bit as essential to the maintenance of
society as are the professions-law,
medicine, etc. A college education is still,
for some, a prelude to chosen careers, and
today’s high school graduates should be
encouraged to pursue the goals of their
choice. But a college degree is not the only
means to happiness and security. Young
people should be made aware of other
avenues that might better suit their needs.
Opinion"
If there’s any question, replace worn tires
now, before tempting fate by high-speed,
long-distance vacation driving.
“Although I know that our world is a
better place than the one in which our
fathers lived. . .man still suffers from a
tendency to take short cuts to ac
ceptability, or success, and achieves only
mediocrity thereby. Although mankind’s
total fund of knowledge has doubled,
redoubled and doubled again since the
start of the century, personal integrity is
not patented and sold nor has it become an
item of government issue. It remains an
individual characteristic that each of us
must strive to develop and then guard so
tenaciously that not even those with the
ability to cheat with both hands can dent
it ”-Mr. Louis W. Menk, chairman,
Burlington Northern Inc.
“Would you guess,” says the FINAST
RECORD, published by First National
Stores, Inc., “that trees are one of the
greatest dangers to drivers’ It’s because
they grow in the middle of ro'ads l At least
that’s what 514,000 American drivers’
claimed last year when they hit one.”
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I NOW IS
I THE TIME . . .
Max Smith
County Agr. Agent
Telephone 394-6851
TO PROTECT SOYBEANS
The current soybean crop is
being threatened by the green
cloverworm; this is a light green
worm about one to one-and-half
inches long that is eating soybean
leaves and blossoms. A number
of growers have reported some
damage; if at least 25 to 30
percent of the leaves are eaten,
then an insecticide should be
applied. Sevin, Malathion, or
Methoxychlor may be used for
control. The cloverworm is also
reported in neighboring counties
where spraying is already un
derway.
TO SECURE SEED SUPPLIES
It is not too early to be locating
supplies of winter barley and
wheat for this fall’s seeding. At
this time the supply of quality
winter grain seeds is uncertain
and growers are urged to make
their needs known to their seed
dealers. We still recommend the
use of certified seed for best
results. However, if the supply is
not available, then growers
might use some of their own
grain. Such seed should be
cleaned and treated and put
through a germination test. The
Seed Testing Laboratory, Penna.
Department of Agriculture, 2301
North Cameron St. Harrisburg,
will run the test for $1.50 per
sample. Send one pound of grain.
Feed grains are very much in
demand; maximum acreages
should be planted.
WRONG COMPANY
Background Scripture- Matthew 12 43-
45, Mark 2 13-17, Luke 1511-32,
1 Corinthians 9 19-23, Galatians
5 25 through 6 5
Devotional Reading James 1*22-27
About six years ago my wife
and I became involved in an ecu
menical coffee house ministry in
a nearby city. Beyond providing
a good atmosphere for refresh
ment, “The Source,” as our cof
fee house was called, served as a
place where peo
ple could meet for
fellowship and, at
times, to minister
to one another’s
needs. It was an
attempt to reach
out beyond the
four walls of the
Rev. Althouse churches.
The “tax collectors and sinners”
Many of us were dismayed
when the local council of churches
refused support or recognition of
this ministry on the grounds that
the coffee house might be fre
quented by the “wrong kinds of
people.” The coffee house was lo
cated on the town’s main street
and there was a good possibility
that it would be frequented by
alcoholics, drug addicts, amf peo- ,
pie of unsavory character. To
marty of us, even worse than the .
refusal to support us, was the ap
parent outlook and 1 attitude of,
many church people ( towards
those who might be termed “the
wrong company.”'
Actually, Jesus himself was on ’
the receiving end of this kind of
criticism. “Why does he eat with
TO DO ESTATE PLANNING
Due to higher land values,
higher salaries, and higher in
surance coverages, estates get
larger and tax obligations
become greater. Considerable
time devoted to estate planning
can reduce taxes , protect your
family security, and reduce
family quarrels. A new Extension
bulletin, Circular number 557,
“Estate Planning for Penn
sylvania Families” discusses
some of the important factors in
planning a sound estate. Copies
are available at our local Ex
tension Office.
TO HAVE WRITTEN
LEASE TERMS
There are many kinds of lease
arrangements but all of them
should be in writing. We are
aware of so many verbal
arrangements because people
are friends and trust each other;
this may be quite true and might
work in some cases, but we still
contend that it is best to put all of
the agreements in writing so that
each party has a copy of his or
her responsibilities. Each person
should have a more clear un
derstanding of the lease if it is in
writing. Many mis-undertan
dings will be prevented. Take
time to write down the terms and
discuss them with all parties
concerned.
tax collectors and sinners?” asked
the scribes and pharisees (Mark
2:16). Nor is this an isolated re
action: Jesus was frequently cri
ticized for his association with
people whom the “righteous” re
garded as sinful and unworthy of
any contact Whatsoever. People
were frequently indignant that he
would associate and even help
prostitutes, drunkards, lepers,
collaborators with the enemy,
criminals, etc.
His reason for coming
They were no less shocked
when he reminded them of the
true nature of his mission (and
theirs if they followed liim):
“Those who are 1 well have no
need for a physician, but those
who are sick; I came not to call
the righteous, but sinners ” (Mark
2:17). If these people were really
so immoral, than they needed him
all the more. Unlike the Old
Testament religion, the heart of
Christianity is not judgement, but
redemption The New Testament
is no less concerned with human
sin, but it is even more concerned
for sinners Christ came into the
world to save sinners, to redeem
people with stained lives, not
simply to gather up and certify
the righteous.
Unfortunately, many of us > are
too often afflicted with the unre
demptive attitude of Jonah. Jonah
agreed to preach to the people of
Nineveh and pronounce God’s
judgement upon them. He was
surprised, however, to find that
these godless people heeded his
preaching and repented, thus sav
ing the city and themselves Jo
nah would have preferred for
God to rain down fire and brim
stone upon them and, angered by
this turn of events, he sulked in
steamy silence.
1 Too many people, like Jonah,
would rather use the Gospel to
“divide the sheep from ( the goats,”
to pronounce judgement upon sin
ners, and enjoy their divine pun
ishment. Blit the purpose of the
' Gospel, as Jesus demonstrated so
clearly, is to save and redeem
those whom we frequently judge
to be “the wrong company."