"I sec no reason why we won't see a much greater use made of this 

 coal in the next few years and I also see no reason why this coal can't 

 be put to use in a very fine, compatible way with the environment and 

 the area." 



attention to the fact that the industry that I represent, a segment of it at 

 least of it, Burlington Northern, is a sizable segment of the rail industry 

 and I might add as well, of the resource industry, so that our interest is 

 not entirely confined by any means to simple transportation, although 

 that's the theme to which I intend to address myself here today. But I 

 make the point only to show that we are concerned with all the resources 

 and very intensely concerned with them and whether these be land for 

 agriculture purposes or for grazing, timber, in which we have a very 

 great interest in both the production of timber on land and in its use, of 

 below surface resources, oil, natural gas, coal and so forth. And I don't 

 think I need to emphasize to any of you people here who are well schooled 

 technically, that no one in his right mind today is going to look at these 

 resources as of the moment, but you're going to have to look at them from 

 a long-term basis. And, I can assure you that it's that basis that 

 Burlington Northern is looking at its resources because we've been here a 

 long time and we intend to be here a long time yet. I think that one 

 other thing that I would like to call attention to particularly on the water 

 aspect of this and that is that for many, many years, our industry has 

 been in the forefront of water concerns and we are some of the founders 

 of the National Water Resources Association of the old Montana Reclamation 

 Association, which at one time was practically the only organization having 

 much to do with water. We still are active in this type of work and will 

 continue to do so. 



Since we are involved here today, I intend to make this as brief as I 

 possibly can with the hope that any of you that do have questions will 

 either address them after we have finished here or will talk to me 

 privately if you care to do so. I'd be glad to do that. 



I want to comment just briefly on a few things that my friend Fred 

 here has said here and I want to assure him at the start that I am a 

 public relations man and I make no apologies for being one. And I'm not a 

 lobbyist anymore. I used to be one but I don't lobby anymore. I haven't 

 licensed myself for lobbying for several years and that dosen't mean that 



