Comment EI-24468
Received or sent (printed as 7/9/2016)
July 9, 2016 To the members of STB and to whomever else it may concern: I am writing in regards to the Great Lakes Basin Train - FD35952. I have been watching quietly to the developments, and have finally decided to speak up for my own piece of mind. Quiet honestly, I'm surprised it has gotten this far. The proposal put forward by Frank Patton and his undisclosed investors speaks volumes as to the current sad state of affairs in our once great country, the U.S.A. As I follow it, it seems a couple of software guys playing golf one day were bored and decided they want to loot the government and the landowners of a bunch of money so they can play in the railroad business. If I can get three people called the STB to play along, then it won't matter if the railroads don't want it, the people don't want it, the landowners don't want it, I can go raid the piggy bank and go play. Simple common sense would say the railroads should be the ones deciding these matters, or at least have a huge say in it. Also, whatever happened to improving what we have or even expanding it. Just because there exists a government slush fund doesn't mean we have to waste it on some far -fetched project when there are practical useful alternatives. Lets fix what we have and upgrade it instead of abandoning it and leaving it to rot away for the next generation to clean up. Worst of all, if this is a sound business's plan run by private individuals why on earth would you ask for eminent domain at a ridiculously low price, up front? Eminent domain has its place, but this definitely is not how it was supposed to be used. Go out and negotiate with the landowners on the route, then if you can get 80 or 90% of them to go along with you, then apply for it (I still don't believe that's how it was intended by our forefathers) but at least you will have some justification for it. As it stands now, it is outright theft by private individuals and nothing more than a huge land grab and a scam proposed by the next Bernie Madoff. I've been involved almost first hand in several projects scattered throughout the area concerning private landowners and commercial ventures. Prices have ranged from $40,000 per acre for farmland in the middle of no where, $75,000 per acre for large tracts of farm ground to be used for warehouses near the intermodal , to $3.50 a square foot for large tracts of farm land ( which is $152,460.00 per acre) within a few miles of town. These where projects that were far less destructive to the land and communities than the proposed rail line. The rail is nothing more than a wall, traveled by hazardous materials, dividing counties and farms. The railroads as they exist today,came first. The towns came second, as the people made the choice back then to be connected to them. They didn't draw a line on a piece of paper to amuse themselves and tell everybody in their way to get used to it and there is nothing stopping us and its going to happen, and the government is going to give us the power to steal it from you. STB and other government officials please do the right thing and go at this whole project with a fresh approach. One that involves common sense, respect for property rights, and the major railroad companies approval. Lately I haven't been feeling very proud about the country I was born and raised in. Please show me somebody in government understands simple right from wrong. That business ventures must make sense, and just because we have a slush fund we don't blow it on wasteful projects when our existing infrastructure is falling apart. Show me that common sense has more clout than a bag full of lobbyist money! If you would like to be provided documentation to above sales please contact me - James R Fleishman Real Estate, James R. Fleishman, managing broker - 815-287-2280.
Submitted by: James Fleishman · James R Fleishman Real Estate · Verona, Illinois
The Board publishes this comment in its environmental-comment table for this proceeding. It is quoted here as printed; nothing is inferred from it, and it states the commenter's own position in their own words, not this record's.
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