(5 of 5)
You described the final bill the California legislature approved to authorize the purchase of the 7,500-acre Headwaters Forest from the Pacific Lumber Co. as "the Deal." However, you overlooked a number of significant improvements California made to the Deal, compared with what had been negotiated over the past two years. This legislation requires Pacific Lumber to set aside, for 50 years, an additional 7,000 acres of ancient redwoods that will be off limits to all logging and protected as habitat for the threatened marbled murrelet. The company is also required to set aside an additional 11,000 acres in no-cut buffers next to streams critical to the survival of the endangered coho salmon. It is unfortunate that you characterized what we achieved as saving a few "scraps" of wildlife habitat. BYRON SHER, State Senator Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Headwaters Forest California Legislature Sacramento, Calif.
Chain's death in a skirmish to save a 40-ft. redwood was murder, plain, pure and simple. A compassionate person was sacrificed at the altar of human greed. What incredible arrogance and ignorance. But these two qualities do seem to go hand in hand, don't they? CAROLYN AND DAVE CANOY Salem, Ore.
Your article was totally one-sided and heavily antilogging. I find the statement that "a clear-cut leaves a sharp demarcation line between a woodland full of life and a biological ruin" complete nonsense. As a hunter, I know that the place in a forest to find the largest concentration of all manner of critters is in the regrowth that occurs in burns and clear-cuts. Inasmuch as we seldom let fire do its work in the forest, we are probably doing diversity a favor by selective logging and clear-cutting! DALE ROSS Ashland, Ore.
TUTTLE TO THE RESCUE
Finally a breath of fresh air and humor. I am referring to your report on Vermont Republican Senate candidate Fred Tuttle, 79, who spent a total of $200 to win the primary [NATION, Sept. 28]. The man is whole and witty! I loved it all. Hail, Fred Tuttle! FREDERIC A NASSAUX Southfield, Mich.
I was born just up the road from Tuttle, and although I have lived elsewhere most of my adult life, I am a Vermonter to the core and am cheering for Fred. But I'm also cheering for Democratic incumbent Pat Leahy, whose good sense and honesty set him apart from the general run of politicians. Fortunately, both guys will win: Leahy will win the election for Senate, and Fred will win our hearts. And the movie Man with a Plan, which provided the scenario for Tuttle's campaign, wins too by satirizing the incredible insanity of U.S. campaign finance. ROBERTA BICKNELL PIPER Murphysboro, Ill.
CORRECTION
Our report on Fred Tuttle's Senate primary victory mistakenly said his opponent Jack McMullen had not conceded the race. McMullen did concede privately to Tuttle on the night of the primary.