the dredge report

Re: "highways, byways and neural pathways," BasicTraining (December 2006)

Certainly Art [Van Bodegraven] and Ken [Ackerman] have done a fine job of condensing into 1,200 words what most of us cannot even begin to comprehend. Once considered, the complexity of our infrastructure is only overwhelmed by the critical need for its maintenance.

What's worse is that no piece can be overlooked! Without ship channel dredging, the constant flow of barges that deliver the stone aggregate (where none is available) to manufacture the asphalt and concrete needed for highway and bridge rebuilding would come to a grinding halt. Examples like this are endless and demonstrate the dire need for action to continue to improve each and every piece of infrastructure.

Perhaps, just as Cliff Lynch offers in his "Letter to Santa" (December 2006), we should all be writing to Santa because I do not think that Uncle Sam is listening.

Skip Case, Case Industrial Partners Inc.