Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Ms. Grove. A true wilderness is something that even animals avoid because they have to have a trail to travel to feed and water, moving from higher to lower elevations with weather and time. We have been pushed to build ramps, doorways, and toilets so handicapped persons can use public buildings. These wilderness areas without roads and some trees harvested to provide access for handicapped cannot bring an enjoyment to those people. Enjoyment of all possibilities such as cold, clean water, fish in water, smell, and sec mountain flowers. Locking up more land in Idaho without any income from property taxes has left Idaho low man on the totem pole as far as education. Public owned land has not produced any taxes to buy school buses or computers. Locking up oil, gas, and lumber resources puts us in the category of the man at a planning and zoning meeting, when we wanted to lock some land into agricultural. When asked what he would do when he goes hungry, he said, 'I'll go to Safeway and buy beans.' He did not stop to think that somewhere around a farmer had to produce the beans, someone had to refurnish the tin, and someone had to cut the tin, and someone had to cut the tree that made the label so he knew what it was. A tree is a thing of beauty standing but a hazard fallen. A plant put on Earth to be used by humans. How can you admire scenery when you have to look at your feet to keep from stumbling, and that's what wilderness is to me. Therefore, we have so much wil 203 derness, we need no more, but manage what we have for maximum use. Thank you.