Sylvia Mahoney is a member of the WTHA. She is and has been one of the primary movers and shakers on getting the Great Western trail recognized and helped get the bill passed that funded the feasibility study for the historic designation initiative. She just alerted the WTHA office that the feasibility study has reached the public comment stage and the deadline is July 23-this Friday. If you feel strongly about such a designation she asks that you post a comment online at the National Park Service web site.
To post comments online, please visit the following website: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ntir
Once there, click on the 'Chisholm and Great Western NHT Feasibility Study/Environmental Assessment' link (which is the uppermost of the four planning projects). When you reach the next screen, click the 'Open For Public Comment' link on the left side. Then click on the link that says 'Trail Study News May 2010.' After that, click on one of the two links that says 'Comment on Document.' This last click will take you to the 'Submit Comments' page.
Also, Sylvia has two concerns. Right now the designation will not include the Great Western Trail south of San Antonio and north of Ogallala because whoever wrote the Congressional Bill showed the trail originating in San Antonio, Texas, and ending in Ogallala, Nebraska, which has been proven to be inaccurate. The second concern that needs to be addressed is it has been suggested that the GWT and the Chisholm Trails can be combined and called national cattle trails. This would completely obscure the history of the trails.
She asks if you would be willing to make it clear to the NPS that you support recognition of the trail north of Ogallala and south of San Antonio. Also, she asks that you support recognition of the Great Western Trail separate and distinct from the Chisholm.Whatever each of you decide, you have an opportunity to comment.
Best wishes,
Tai Kreidler
Executive Director
West Texas Historical Association
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