I received the exact same e-mail response to an e-mail I sent to the mayor.

Followup letter from Mayor of Minot.

Mr. Glueck,

Thank you for your e-mail regarding Steam Locomotive 735 in Minot, North
Dakota.

Since the Park District is a separate governmental subdivision of
elected
officials that is in charge of making decisions regarding the Minot Park
District, and therefore the locomotive, I am forwarding all e-mails and
questions to them. You may be hearing from them as to what is being
looked
at and studied. You can e-mail them at minotpark@ndak.net.

We are concerned as to what the outcome will be and we appreciate
responses.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Curt Zimbelman
Mayor
City of Minot, North Dakota
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 9:39 PM
Subject: Proposed destruction of Soo Line steam treasure

> Mayor Zimbelman:
>
> Please urge your council to reconsider the publicly announced plans to
> destroy you city's steam locomotive treasure by burying it as "hazardous
> waste". Though steam locomotives were once plentiful and sold as
> wholesale scrap in our nation, those days are long gone, and these rare
> and treasured artifacts are now regarded as antiquities of the highest
value.
> Emotionally, no other human built contrivence has affected people to such
> a degree. The steam locomotive is tied to most every historic part of
> Americana, and particularly that of the western expansion. Famed and
> honored in song, poetry, prose, and legend, the wanton destruction of
> Minot's steam locomotive will show a callous disregard for the people who
> built the railroads that built our nation, the original gift of the engine
itself,
> and the status of Minot as a community aware of it's place in time and our
> nation.
> May I suggest that necessary asbestos abatement be undertaken by
> capable and competant people. If that option is not an option which
> garners support of the city council, please consider donating the
locomotive
> to a responsible museum or a site such as Steamtown National Park in
> Scranton, Pennsylvania.
> Please advocate sparing this survivor from the great age of steam
> railroading. To do less than that would cast a shadow of shame on those
> who once agreed to protect and honor the big Soo Line passenger engine.
> Rail historians from around the nation will be watching as Minot considers
> an appropriate decision at your December 10th meeting. Please take the
> lead and save this artifact from certain destruction.
>

glueck@maine.edu