Re[4]: [at-l] Wilderness

[Bob Cummings <ellen@clinic.net> (Bob Cummings)]

No. That issue is dead. No new skyline drive will be built in Maine and I hope, no place else. The
concern now is condominium colonies on the ridgelines. And with 20,000 acre blocks of forest land
being sold to folks for private "wilderness" enclaves, to house million dollar homes, complete
with no trespassing signs that prevent traditional public access to the mountains, streams, lakes and woods
of the state.

No one questions the right of such people to buy whatever they want. Some of us, however, think we
need to persuade Congress to appropriate sufficient public funds so that the public can also compete
in the bidding wars that are now underway.

Traditionally, timber land in Maine has been held by paper companies who managed the lands as a
source of raw material for their mills. As long as public use didn't hinder their harvesting, the
public was welcome to use the lands for trails, hunting, fishing, camping, what not. That has
changed dramaticaly in the past few years. Virtually the entire northern forest is for sale to the
highest bidder. Twenty percent of the land mass of the state has already changed hands and the deals
are accelerating.

The largest unbroken expanse of forest in the East is now being broken up into giant house lots. The
sense of wilderness that has been easy to find in Maine is rapidly disappearing. Some of us think
that is a shame and fight to preserve at least some of the mountains, waterfalls, lakes and trails
for the public.

Weary