Wow, shame on you, The Durango Herald, for running a nearly full-page article and photo on the front of the opinion page titled “Breathless” (July 6). Ms. Wiles’ letter, without a damning photo, could have been printed in the main body as a letter to the editor. While thousands of workers and shop owners have had a financially devastating summer, you chose to blow it up bigger than life. I, too, live in the Hermosa area, and I miss the train that runs through my property three times a day. We all know this area is in an “exceptional drought.” So why don’t we ban all cigarette smokers, hikers, riders, gardeners, barbecuers and anyone outdoors who may inadvertently cause a spark that ignites the tender dry forest?
The train is the lifeblood of this tourist driven community and that of Silverton. It needs our support in a time of low tourist numbers as a direct result of the train not running. We are all enduring a less-than-ideal summer with smoke, blackened forest and loss of vegetation. The conditions of the forest are such that a variety of things could have started a fire.
For those who can’t help support this historic town – it is a large country. If you can’t support the train, then you have the freedom to move. I’ll help you pack!
Chessa Gill
Durango
