tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post8801832288777459928..comments2024-01-03T15:30:05.586-05:00Comments on Home in the railroad earth: "Up then, Melpomene!" The tragedy of Elkhart, Indianasteve on the slow trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257811143869341854noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-67508786918429788102009-06-25T03:04:44.000-04:002009-06-25T03:04:44.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-41594938440089268592009-03-01T09:23:00.000-05:002009-03-01T09:23:00.000-05:00I'm also a sentimental sap, but basically only abo...I'm also a sentimental sap, but basically only about people (and music).<BR/><BR/>And especially little girls (and I don't mean in any bad way here!).gerry rosserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06095232815291651669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-87625209874138132642009-02-27T15:03:00.000-05:002009-02-27T15:03:00.000-05:00Elaine--Looked at the high-speed proposal. I reme...Elaine--Looked at the high-speed proposal. I remember that the plan was to run through Valpo and Fort Wayne, south of South Bend/Elkhart. That would take most of the $9 billion set aside for the whole country. The ex-NYC route through Elkhart would cost a lot less to set up, but the amount of freight on the line is a problem. So I suspect the Detroit, St. Louis, and Milwaukee routes will get the money here in the Midwest.steve on the slow trainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18257811143869341854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-77994704171395286302009-02-27T08:50:00.000-05:002009-02-27T08:50:00.000-05:00Hi Steve,Here's the high speed rail map. It looks ...Hi Steve,<BR/>Here's the high speed rail map. It looks like it's following US 20. I tried to post a clickable link, but it wouldn't accept my HTML... so the link is:<BR/>http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/203<BR/><BR/>Cheers,<BR/>Elainegnosticserenityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13680963473802745853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-43176206303523400322009-02-26T00:49:00.000-05:002009-02-26T00:49:00.000-05:00Gerry--I'm pretty sentimental, as you might guess....Gerry--I'm pretty sentimental, as you might guess. Still, you're right about trusting corporations.<BR/><BR/>Patty-Thank you. <BR/><BR/>Lilith--It would be wonderful if we got high-speed rail on the Chicago-Toledo-Cleveland corridor. Unfortunately, the state has never spent a dime on intercity rail, except through the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District. I suspect the Northeast Corridor plus the states with active rail programs--Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, California, Oregon, and Washington--will get the lion's share of the high-speed rail money. But you never can tell.<BR/><BR/>The Elco is certainly worth saving, as was the Bucklen. Personally, I like "Elco," as the Lerner name is not something that resonates.<BR/><BR/>Kellie--Thank you. Once upon a time, my hair was almost the same color as the dog's--just a bit lighter. Copper is already pretty spoiled with treats.steve on the slow trainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18257811143869341854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-4262367676517703922009-02-26T00:11:00.000-05:002009-02-26T00:11:00.000-05:00I just noticed your picture-- you are a nice looki...I just noticed your picture-- you are a nice looking man-- and your dog is *so* adorable! I just. . . I just want to throw a ball for him and spoil him with treats!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-35590888071172825112009-02-24T13:02:00.000-05:002009-02-24T13:02:00.000-05:00I'm hoping that the greening of our energy policy ...I'm hoping that the greening of our energy policy will aid Elkhart County. It's not just the city, but the entire county which is in serious trouble. Middlebury is devastated. I feel so blessed to have an income outside of manufacturing. <BR/><BR/>The immediate relief will come in the form of high speed rail which is in this stimulus package. It might raise property values while build the system... fingers crossed. <BR/><BR/>Tom talks about seeing the Bucklan before they tore it down. He loved that old building, but, as is Elkhart's way, they didn't care enough to keep it up... let alone save it. I'm glad the Elco is being saved. I hear they are returning the Lerner name. I love that idea. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, wonderful read. Thanks.gnosticserenityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13680963473802745853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-49872427632446538782009-02-23T09:27:00.000-05:002009-02-23T09:27:00.000-05:00Steve-I have your review from January ready to go ...Steve-I have your review from January ready to go this Friday. Thanks.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-87894496395358266472009-02-22T09:55:00.000-05:002009-02-22T09:55:00.000-05:00I guess I didn't express myself as well as I could...I guess I didn't express myself as well as I could have.<BR/><BR/>I'm not singing the praises of the "market" economy. I'm just saying that the tides of time and economics are pretty much bound to be determinants of whether a given place continues to exist as a center of human activity, a "town." I don't see that as something to get sentimental about.<BR/><BR/>Usually, trusting large corporations to the extent of spending public dollars to welcome them is a bad idea. Bayer is no more nor less reprehensible for failing to uphold its end with Elkhart than thousands of other companies in other places. Same as it ever was.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-10543202614411070282009-02-21T15:43:00.000-05:002009-02-21T15:43:00.000-05:00Charles--Amen Tea--I suspect Alaska won't be hit a...Charles--Amen <BR/><BR/>Tea--I suspect Alaska won't be hit as hard. The Upper Midwest, with its reliance on heavy manufacturing and pharmaceuticals, is really vulnerable.<BR/><BR/>Gerry--I'm not sure where you're coming from on this. I'm not a big fan of the "Market as God" theology that's driven American economic policy since Reagan. In most cases, towns "die" because of human decisions, not the supposedly infallible market. It is true that geography has a lot to do with how towns begin, but government and business decision, often arbitrary, have almost everything to do with their decline. Case in point: About 10 years ago, Bayer promised to begin manufacturing capules if Elkhart would upgrade its sewer sytem. Elkhart kept its promise; Bayer reneged.steve on the slow trainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18257811143869341854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-51525178137722657452009-02-20T10:56:00.000-05:002009-02-20T10:56:00.000-05:00Nice piece.I have rather contrarian views about "d...Nice piece.<BR/><BR/>I have rather contrarian views about "dying" towns. Surprised?<BR/><BR/>My view is not just a semantic one, although it might sound that way at first. Towns do not live, and the cannot die. At one time people began gathering in a place for a reason (a river for a mill or transportation, a railroad, etc., etc.). Towns are based on economics (except towns like Aspen which are based on bullshit). The economic raison d'etre of a place is not a fixed and permanent one. If there is little or no reason to keep people in a place, they drift away.<BR/><BR/>Sounds terribly unsentimental, I'm sure, but I tend to save my sentiments for people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-63901383521359703852009-02-19T01:14:00.000-05:002009-02-19T01:14:00.000-05:00It sounds like it's becoming a ghost town-- that i...It sounds like it's becoming a ghost town-- that is very sad. So far, Alaska seems to be holding her own, but we don't know for how long.Tea N. Crumpethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16399889311375477109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-33368194220190137812009-02-18T20:18:00.000-05:002009-02-18T20:18:00.000-05:00It's sad to see so many communities really hurting...It's sad to see so many communities really hurting right now. I'm almost afraid to go home to my small town.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.com