The Independent-News, Volume 103, Number 39, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 2 March 1978 — Page 4

MARCH 2, 1978 - THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS

EDITORIALS

A REAL PROBLEM The news of the past week end contained some tragic and very alarming stones concerning train derailments and deaths caused by poisonous gases escaping from tank cars, explosions along with just the wreckage and possibility of injury or death by the derailments themselves. In one such incident nine person died, others were hospitalized due to an explosion. A second incident found the poisonous gases escaping taking at least eight lives and putting as many as 80 more people m hospitals as well as chasing thousands from their homes until the situation is cleared. Add to this the derailment in North Liberty where luckily no one was injured or killed. One note of interest in this story was that the repair crew that was called in to clean-up the mess in North Liberty had two other derailments in the near vicinity, both in lower Michigan, the same week and yet we hear very little of these accidents to really realize how many there are. What if the accident in North Liberty had contained tank cars w ith the toxic materials, or explosive type liquids? What would have been the result being so near the heart of the town, just a couple of blocks from the schools, adjacent to the elevator and a manufacturing plant. What would be the results in this as well as about all the derailments around the country? It makes one shudder to think what might have happened. There is no doubt that the heavy frequency of rail accidents now is caused by poor care of the tracks. Many of the lines that not too many vears ago were running high speed trains now are limited by slow speed limits for the trains and yet they still have problems. The train that derailed in North Liberty was going supposedly 25 m.p.h. The railroads have financial problems. Just what the true answer is no one seems to know. Subsidising the railroads has been going on for quite some time and yet some of the largest lines are going broke, are owning large amounts of monies that may or may not ever be paid, and are depending strictly on the government to bail them out financially. They consequently have neglected their safety standards in keeping the tracks in proper repair. It can easily be remembered when manv boys tried and many succeeded in getting jobs on the section gangs in the summer. The pay was good, many started around SI.OO an hour when that was good money for a kid. The work was hard, but it was a summer job that brought money into the pocket but also it kept the railroads in good shape. A section gang of four, five or slightly more, got to know every inch of the maybe seven to ten miles of track they were responsible for. They replaced, repaired and in general, kept the tracks in good shape. However, progress took over. Now the tracks are “patrolled" by vehicles moving along at higher speeds, covering maybe 25 to 30 miles. The track repair is something else. Just watch the machines come along, pull out some bad ties, replace them and continue along the way. After the work is done, watch the tracks continue to bounce up and down, watch the cars sway from side to side and it is a scary situation. Most railroads go through pretty busy areas of towns and cities as this was at one time the livelyhood of passenger and freight service. It had to be close to the people for convenience and necessity. However, these busy areas, especially in the smaller towns, seem to be where a good amount of the problem lies. With their financial situation what it is, the answer is unknown. It seems unfeasable that the railroads can assume a lot more expense in repair and maintenance, but certainly they would save hundreds of thousands and even millions in loss and damages. It becomes especially concerning when one realizes the amount of tank cars that carry dangerous or potentially dangerous materials. Just how and if they can be made safer is not known, but now it looks like the railroads and the nation as a whole has a really serious threat with the number of derailments and subsequent loss of life and property that follows. We can only hope and pray that these accidents don’t strike near home . . . they are going to occur if something isn't done and the safety of people all over the country is at stake. "HOOSIER MYSTERIA” "Hoosier Hysteria" is a term that is often used about this time of year relating to one of the greatest sports spectaculars on an amateur basis you will ever find, that being the annual chase for the title and crown of the basketball champion of Indiana. Indiana is one of two states remaining that does not have a class system in their basketball format, giving any team, large or small, the right to win it all. However, that familiar phrase this year should be called "Hoosier Mysteria" as it now is a real question mark event just when and how a champion will be crowned due to the energy shortage. The only thing that is certain now is that plans are uncertain. It appears that about half of the 64 sectionals will be playing on a revised schedule which no one seems to know for sure. Some of the school centers afflicted with the mandatory 50% power cut back have just postponed for the time being, others are trying to work daytime games in to keep the tourney moving. It is almost a certainty at this time that the entire tourney after the sectional level will be taking that three-week delay that the IHSAA board planned for at their drawing and business meeting on February 21. This is by far not the most serious of events caused by the coal strike and subsequent energy shortage, but is one that has upset a normally well-planned and well-executed high school event that one way or another affects many residents of Indiana. The weather has caused one and two day postponments before, but this has to be a first when the entire master plan is upset by one crisis Just what it will take from the play remains to be seen, but we do know that just another thing we take for granted is being upset by a man made crisis

■ Even though the dirty snows of winter blizzards remain heaped in crusty piles around our landscape and lights are dimming across the state as the coal strike holds Hoosiers in its grim grasp, there are heartening developments on the Indiana scene that should not be overlooked Despite our current round of coal-induced economic woes, which, hopefully, will end soon, the basic health of Indiana s economy is something to applaud Our employment rate has been stronger than the national average Personal income of Hoosier workers reached record levels during the past year and the rate of growth was running a full percentage point above that for the nation This means that Hoosiers are working more, making more and keeping more of what they make than are most other Americans In recent years, our economy has performed better than the nation as a whole Our property taxes per person have dropped well below the national average and state and local government expenditures are among the lowest in the nation State and local government in Indiana spends about 5825 per person, contrasted against a national average nearing $1 100 In addition, spending growth for state

when... (TAKEN FROM THE FILES OF "THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS)

1973 The annual John Glenn winter athletic banquet will be held on Tuesday, March 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the high school dining commons with a carry-in dinner prior to the presentation of awards. Fred Schaus, head coach of the Purdue Boilermakers and formerly of the Los Angeles Lakers, will be the speaker for the evening. Market prices show chuck roast at 73 cents a pound; minced ham at 99 cents a pound; Cool Whip, three four ounce sizes for $1.00; cottage cheese, 33 cents a pound; three jumbo Kleenex towels at 99 cents; Joy liquid, 22 oz. for 39 cents; Jonathan apples, 3 pounds for 49c; celery at 29 cents a stalk and 48 ounces of Crisco oil for 79 cents. 1963 A flute trio composed of Mary Lee Loucks, Susan Steele and Sharon Stump, of North Liberty, received a First Division rating on their entry in the State Music Contest held in Indianapolis last Saturday. Miss Janet McEndarfer also placed in the First Division of the vocal contest. Prayer will be the invisible space ship which will orbit the world on March 1, the 77th World Day of Prayer, in which women of the Walkerton and North Liberty area, will join with hundreds of thousands in services around the world. The Walkerton Science Department will hold its first Science Fair on March 8 and 9 at the Walkerton High School. Market prices show spare ribs at 39 cents a pound, pork roast, loin end. 49 cents a pound; Hills Bros, coffee, 2 pounds for $1.09; oleo, 4 pounds for 89 cents; I*4 pound loaves of bread at 15 cents each; shelled pecans or English walnuts at 39 cents a pound; jumbo shnmp

Capitol Commentary I Governor Otis R. Bowen

and local government has grown less rapidly Hospital costs are lower than for the nation as a whole We invest a higher percentage of our tax dollars in the critical area of education Tuition at Indiana and Purdue Universities ranks lowest in the Big Ten. Our favorable position seems to lie in the diversity of our economy and our productivity Even though Indiana — smallest state west of the Appalachians — is 38th in size, we are 12th in population. Sth in exports and agricultural production and 9th in value added by manufacturing We are debt free, we are not mortgaging the future incomes of our taxpayers Our highways are paid for; we have money in the bank Other factors contribute to the good life in Indiana We are a state of responsible, hardworking and productive men and women who strive to maintain a decent standard of living who want their state and local governments to be prudent and restrained Spring soon will be upon us Hopefully, the coal strike soon will end We then will regain the momentum which makes this state such a good place in which to work and live

2 pounds for $1.69; lemons at 39 cents a dozen; cabbage, 2 pounds for 15 cents and on another scene you can purchase a 19" Westinghouse TV. model P3OOOU for only $159.95, black and white, of course. Also filler note book paper 11 cents; facial tissues, 8 for $1.00; alarm clock at $2.29; hair spray, 98 cents; hand lotion also at 98 cents and transister batteries, 9 volt, 2 for 39 cents. 1958 Dave Mellin and Ray Chapman, owners of the Dave & Ray’s Superette, in Walkerton, have announced that they will open a new superette at Koontz Lake as soon as ail preparations can be completed. A meeting was held in the basement room of the elementary school building on Monday night with 40 interested patrons in attendance. Those present were interested in the construction of a new elementary school. The building is in need of repairs and is overcrowded. The following table shows the enrollment trend in grades 1-12 (excluding kindergarten) as taken from the average daily attendance reports to the State Department for the first two months of school: 1951-52 593 1952-53 649 1953-54 678 1954-55 703 1955-56 728 1956-57 670 1957-58 691 The sharp decrease in 1956 is due to the transfer of pupils to St. Patrick’s School. Great buy in a used car, 1957 Chevrolet. 2 door, hardtop, powerglide, radio and heater. 2 tone blue, just like new for $2,145.00 at Powell-Mann Chevrolet. A Hamilton Deluxe automatic washer which

regularly sold for $399.50 is on special for $219.50 at Leßoy's. Professionals listed in this weeks paper include: P. S. Bourne. M.D.; Dr. H. C. Miller, Osteopathic physican and surgeon; C. D. Linton. M.D.; Dr. B. L. Furst, Dentist: Dr. Elliott C. Frash. Optometrist; and Dr. W. M. Denaut, Dentist. 1948 Walkerton's new clothing store, Dad & Lad's, will open its doors to the public on Thursday according to Francis Gindelberger. manager. The new store is located in the room formerly occupied by the Ewing Barber Shop and more recently by the Hill Barber Shop The Walkerton Chamber of Commerce has made plans for its annual Farmers Night party to be held on March 11 in the new school gymnasium starting at 8 o’clock. The Walkerton Indians took another one on the chin Friday night as their old rivals. North Liberty, defeated them 58 36 The Quality Dairy has purchased the garage building on Illinois Street, Walkerton, which has served the Walkerton Motor Sales agency for the past several years. A fire was discovered in the basement of the Evangelical United Brethren Church Saturday night near midnight which might have proved very disastorous. Also a fire broke out in the Peter Heil home on Harrison Street on Sunday afternoon around four o'clock which did damage to the extent of about $350 before it was brought under control. 1943 Although getting off to a late start with independent basketball, Walkerton will play host to three visiting clubs in an invitational tourney to be staged in the high school gym on Sunday, March 7. Beavers & Co., engineers of world-wide renown, have begun construction on several dams to be situated on the Mill Race, the Koontz Lake outlet. Sites have been chosen about a half mile west of the Fish Hatchery, and trees arc already cleared in preparation for the project.