Rail Merger

Re “Rail Deal a Little Too Generous,” editorial, July 15:

If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, etc., a $4.5-billion merger of our only two rail lines by any other name would be called a monopoly.

What would be good for the nation would be for the federal government to buy the tracks and rights of way. After all, the streets, highways, freeways, airports and harbors are all owned by some level of government. Roadbeds would be better maintained if kept to federal standards and the traffic faster and safer.

But most importantly, if rails were open for use by private enterprise, it would bring real competition, better equipment and better service. It would be a great day if the railroad monopolies were ended and the use of the rail lines were open to all businesses.

LYMAN ENNIS

Pasadena