People need the coal those trucks are carrying

To the Editor:
Cumberland Times-News

July 17, 2008 11:25 pm

— This letter is in response to the article of July 12. (“Coal trucks downtown may be issue,” Page 1A) Mr. Umling must have a lot of time on his hands when he can look out his window in the Public Safety Building to count coal trucks.
What about cement trucks, black top trucks, lumber trucks, garbage trucks plus many other trucks which pass through Cumberland to get on to Interstate 68? The road doesn’t know what type of truck is traveling on it, so why should you just pick out coal trucks?
The coal trucks coming through Cumberland bring coal from Route 160, which is the closest route to Interstate 68 delivering to Warrior Run and R. Paul Smith Power Plant. They also deliver coal to the cement plants. The coal delivered to the power plant produces electricity which keeps your lights and air conditioning on and the coal to the cement plants helps produce the cement your building was built with.
Mr. Umling, you are just one of many people who condemn truckers. There is nothing in this country that truckers do not help haul. We have yet to see trains deliver to your local grocery store.
It might do you well to pay more attention to the drugs and crime that caused Interstate 68 to be shut down several weeks ago than dwell on the coal trucks.
William L. Orner
Grantsville
Western Maryland Truckers Association