Conrail's sale is good for shippers, Maryland business

Last Thursday, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board gave the green light to the sale of Conrail to CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern.

This is the biggest decision in railroading since Congress deregulated freight rail 18 years ago. Freight rail is a vital link to the port of Baltimore, which brings 62,000 jobs and $1.1 billion in personal income to Maryland.

The Conrail sale eliminates delays and creates opportunities for Maryland by accelerating the movement of goods by rail to Baltimore.

Shortening transit times reduces shipping costs and enhances the port's natural advantage as the most inland seaport on the East Coast.

Maryland shippers will be tied into a seamless system of single-line service directly linked to the big markets of the Midwest and to every major market east of the Mississippi. CSX has also pledged to improve overhead clearances near Washington, which will substantially reduce the transit time for tri-level rail cars.

These two railroads will be vigorous competitors. As a result, Maryland shippers will see competitive rates and significantly improved customer service.

The bottom line is that the sale of Conrail is a good deal for Maryland companies, Maryland workers and Maryland consumers.

Champe C. McCulloch

Annapolis

The writer is president of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce.

The Christian Coalition doesn't speak for Christians

Thanks to John Rivera for his superb article July 20 "Clergy support gays in church" about our interfaith coalition that openly affirms homosexual persons in all aspects of church life.

Thanks also to The Sun for the prominent placement on the front page of the Maryland section.

The Christian Coalition does not speak for all Christians, and the word needs to get out. You have certainly made that happen.

The Rev. Joan I. Senyk

Baltimore

Human life must take priority over property

I am very disturbed by the response to the July 5 killing of Jermaine Jordan by Albert Sims.

People keep making excuses. Yes, the young kids were wrong for vandalizing his property. Yes, they were wrong for harassing the elderly.

I'm sorry, but that does not excuse the fact that Albert Sims pulled a gun and killed a 14-year-old child.

I understand people work hard for their material goods. However, people are placing more importance on the car than on the boy's life.

The man worked hard for his car. Does that make it OK for him to have shot that boy? No. His life was not threatened.

Those boys ran and he chased them with a loaded gun. He shot that boy in the back.

Akilah Brown

Lanham

Anderson will bring compassion to shelter

I applaud the appointment of Bob Anderson as the director of the Baltimore Animal Shelter ("New director delighted to be running city's troubled animal shelter," July 21).

A change in directorship was long overdue, and the choice is an excellent one. I am certain he will bring to his position both compassion for animals and business acumen. The "city pound" desperately needs both.

I have had only one experience with the pound. It was eight years ago, but I have not forgotten that one visit.

I wanted to adopt a cat and chose an adult because they are more difficult to place. The cat was not one in quarantine, but I was told "It has not been approved for adoption."

I phoned the shelter each day for three days to ask if the cat had been approved and was eventually told it was doomed to be put down. When I asked why the cat could not be adopted, I was told that it was more than 2 years old and animals older than 2 are considered unadoptable. This experience left me with contempt for and distrust of those operating the shelter.

Mr. Anderson has a tough job ahead of him, and I wish him success for his sake and for the sake of the abandoned animals of Baltimore City. Perhaps the Baltimore shelter will eventually live up to its name.

Eleanor R. Logue

Baltimore

Amid grim news, paper needs more touching photos

I am writing to point out a most poignant photograph that appeared in your paper July 20 on Page 2E.

There seems to be a lot of negative news these days involving the black population -- shootings, drugs, unwed mothers, cocaine-addicted babies, absentee fathers and poverty. How refreshing it was to open the paper and see the photograph . . . a black couple kissing their daughter goodbye as she left for camp, the wife sitting on her husband's shoulders, kissing her daughter through the window of the departing bus.

It was a cheerful respite from the usual daily onslaught of grim news. I encourage your photographers and reporters to seek out this type of refreshing coveragethat highlights Baltimore blacks upholding family unity and values.

Jackie Baker

Jessup

Is there a new meaning for 'incubator'?

I refer to your July 22 editorial, "The next great idea in food." It goes on: "Jessup incubator: Proposed facility might help Maryland farmers develop and market products."

My question: When and where was the word "incubator" hatched to describe this type of endeavor?

To me, an "incubator" is a device offering a suitable environment to prolong the life of newborn infants and chicks. By what stretch of the imagination is a "food laboratory engaged in product development" now conceived as an "incubator"? I am a retired food scientist from the University of Maryland. In my professional career, I have never heard the word "incubator" used in this context.

I am not offended. Just curious!

Michael W. Paparella

Salisbury

Telling the other side of the pit bull story

I thought your July 16 article "Dogfights, attacks raise hackles" about the increase of dog fighting and raising pit bulls as vicious attack dogs in Baltimore lacked the counter-perspective that pit bulls when bred well and raised as family pets are very unlike the dogs you describe in the article.

The shame in all of this is that the drug dealers and organizers of pit bull fights seem to go on with their business while mistreated pit bulls are attacking innocent people, being shot by police and euthanized by Animal Control.

Outlawing ownership of pit bulls, as Prince George's County has done, seems to punish the breed and responsible owners rather than the intended targets.

I hope that tough laws and large fines for those caught misusing pit bulls in Baltimore will curb the problem and take the heat off this breed.

Alesha Schmale

Baltimore

To our readers

The Sun welcomes letters from readers. They should be no longer than 200 words and should include the name and address of the writer, along with day and evening telephone numbers.

Send letters to Letters to the Editor, The Sun, P.O. Box 1377, Baltimore 21278-0001. Our fax number for letters is 410-332-6977. The e-mail address is letteraltsun.com.

Pub Date: 7/26/98