Dear Mr. Dombeck,
Regarding your recent announcement (March 2, 1998) in which you stated that " "Every United States citizen is a stockholder in our national forests" and " recreation provides the link - a window through which an increasingly urban society can enjoy and appreciate the natural world", I am concerned.
You see, also contained within this address was your intention to accelerate the conversion of "unneeded" roads to trails. I am assuming, and please correct me if I am mistaken, that you are referring to the kinds of roads that I and my fellow tax paying, voting, fourwheeling friends use. We find great pleasure in traveling on these "unneeded" roads, many are "dead-ends" and most are shorter than 5 miles in length and though they were once used as logging, powerline, mining or access roads, they could now be called "unneeded" unless you look closer and see the many opportunities that these afford the public.
Many of these roads have existed here for nearly a century and offer rich, historical access to a public otherwise unable to visit these areas. Many of these roads are self-maintained as evidenced by their very existence although some do require maintenance, much of which we as taxpaying, voting users are willing to perform and have performed in the past.
My friends and I are hoping that we are mistaken, and that your 26% road maintenance increase will not include any new "road closed signs".
Sincerely