Only 3 options available for the Texas State Railroad
DR. MICHAEL BANKS Jacksonville
Here it is as simple as I can tell it:

Option 1: The state funds and operates the Texas State Railroad. Supported by state Sen. Robert Nichols, state Rep. Chuck Hopson, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Save Texas Parks and most of the people of the state of Texas.

Option 2: The state gives the Texas State Railroad to an authority to be run by a private operator. Supported by Sen. Nichols, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, the operating agency of Rusk and Palestine.

Option 3: The state makes a static display of the Texas State Railroad. Supported by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

With the first option, the TSR runs for at least 10 years and maybe forever.

With the second option the TSR suffers a slow death, probably three or four years. If it survives eight years, the private operator gets the real estate on both ends of the tracks to use as leverage to blackmail the cities to keep coming up with money to operate.

With the third option, the TSR is put out of its misery.

We need you to make your position known to as many legislators as you can. If your Aunt Sally in Houston knows one of the Harris County representatives or senators, ask her to take a stand. Spread letters around and get others to do the same thing.

If you FAX a letter, then take the copy and mail it. That way we have the opportunity of another hard copy arriving in their offices.

To get started, here are two important FAX numbers:

Sen. Nichols' FAX: (512) 463-1526

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's FAX: (512) 463-0677

The time to act is now. I wish you could see all the great feedback information I receive. It makes my heart warm.

Dr. Banks is the president of Save Texas Parks.