Letter: Open Pit Mining as a Tourist Attraction?
Dear Editor: As a long time resident of the Comstock, I have watched with dismay the erosion of the Comstock Historic District that has occurred because of open pit mining.
One need only travel from Virginia City to Carson City to see what used to be historical landscapes transformed into a series of ugly pit mines. The Comstock Historic District is a cultural and historic resource set aside for the people of Nevada. Pit mining erodes this resource visually, and endangers historic landscapes and structures.
The mining companies come and go and always promise economic prosperity as a result of their heavy industrial activities. Tourists, the real economic backbone of the Comstock, come to "step back in time", not to view mountain removal on a grand scale.
Business owners on the Comstock should be very concerned about the damage to their bottom line. Home owners should be aware that landscapes degraded and modified beyond rehabilitation result in lower property values. The value of my home and land has plummeted as a result of the economic downturn. Further devaluation from the effects of pit mining is a hardship I don't want to contemplate.
Mining companies are created to make a profit. Don't be fooled by promises that never come true. Actions speak louder than words. Look at what mining leaves behind, not what they promise they will do to "Revitalize the Comstock".
Sincerely,
Gayle Sherman
Silver City, Nevada