Letter: Mid-States Corridor support lacks substance

What is progress? Is by-passing cities and towns progress? Is cutting off neighboring communities progress? Is paving over forests and farmlands progress? Some will say yes to all of the above; but, will say: How is it progress to by-pass a town and allow it’s businesses to fail due to the lack of customer traffic? How does this grow the community? If there are no shops or restaurants how can the community attract new residents or commerce?

If one cannot get to the neighboring town or community without going miles around how is this progress? How can this deliberately caused extra travel time contribute to the growth of the communities? Again, how does the removing of clientele from local businesses contribute to growth or progress?

In a rural/farming area how does the loss of forests and farms contribute to growth and progress. Are farms and forest the bane of growth and progress; and, therefore should be paved over? Do we as humans not need food and nature in our lives? 

Those who want the Mid-States Corridor often cite growth and progress as the main reasons for their support. They also claim the Corridor will bring economic development. Yet, they never seem to be able to tell us what growth, progress or economic development will come. They say “If we build it, they will come” but never say who they are. Or, to paraphrase Nancy Pelosi “We have to build it to see what it will bring”. These are just platitudes with no substance to them.

Several weeks back Gov. and Mrs. Braun gave an interview about why they liked Dubois County. Although Gov. Braun never mentioned the Mid-States Corridor, when he was asked if he and other local business leaders were actively recruiting (luring) new businesses and industries he said “No, we are not begging businesses to come to Dubois County. We have plenty of local entrepreneurs.” This statement seems to fly in the face of those who say we need the Corridor for growth and progress. If we aren’t trying to lure businesses to our area, why does the Corridor need to be built when our growth will be from within?

Something to think about, how will the Corridor benefit the local traffic flow? If one is coming from Loogootee to the Walmart in Jasper where will one exit the Corridor? Will it be at Haysville or perhaps the far East side of Jasper? Think about this, how does this save time and miles? One will still have to drive on “old” 231 from Haysville with all that slow, nasty farm traffic; or, one will have to fight the city traffic of Jasper. The same is true from or to Huntingburg, Shoals, Ferdinand and most other towns. How is this beneficial?

The Mid-States Corridor is an unwanted an unneeded waste of tax payer’s money. It needs to be stopped and the sooner the better. Eminent Domain is a long and costly process; so, remember all we need is for 50% of the landowners in the path of the Corridor to say no; and, we can stop this travesty. We the people, with help from the PRA, can beat city hall. Stand together and keep saying “No”.

Jim Arvin
Rutherford Township
Martin County