Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Project could be burdensome

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, March 15, 2001 | 9:04 a.m.

From the sublime to the ridiculous.

That could be an overall assessment of the proposals for developing the former Union Pacific property near downtown Las Vegas.

In the next few weeks, city officials and staffers will be discussing possibilities, including everything from the world's tallest tower, an indoor ski park, a furniture showroom and warehouse, an arts center, a baseball stadium, ad infinitum.

Mayor Oscar Goodman is determined to put a first-class something or other on the property. What it will be is anyone's guess.

Let's hope, however, that the enthusiasm of Goodman and the City Council doesn't place a burden on city taxpayers.

I seem to remember some grandiose plans for something called Minami Tower, Main Street Station and other projects that had to be bailed out by the city.

Nevada is sitting on a gold mine.

Not the precious metal, but steamy hot springs.

We are all aware that the demand for electricity has exceeded the supply and the shortage has resulted in high energy prices throughout the West.

For years the development of geothermal energy in Nevada has been a proven product but never fully exploited.

For the most part, the Bureau of Land Management has kept geothermal development on the back burner, but it is now receiving applications for development -- so many that they can't be handled expeditiously.

A real emergency exists. It's time for the BLM and other government agencies to get off their duffs and find ways to expedite permits to utilize the geothermal energy of the Western states.

You could say the state Legislature is getting down and dirty: Senate Bill 152 would designate a state soil.

Dubbed the Orovada series, it is described as, "a coarse, loamy, mixed, super-active Mesic DurinodicXeric Haplocambids." And that alone should qualify it as a state symbol. It also supports the state flower, sagebrush.

This is serious business for the state legislators. We hope they realize how important it is for Nevada to have an official state soil.

But how about caliche?

From author Ben Cox comes the following: "Congress is undecided about what to do with our Social Security system. As one who has been getting checks, I can tell them what's wrong. There is enough for security, but nothing for social."

What's happening to my world?

Students going on rampages and killing other students.

Teachers accused of sexual misconduct with students.

Gang wars taking toll on innocent bystanders.

Young mothers tossing unwanted newborns into trash bins.

New drugs filtering into the market promising ecstasy to the users.

It's a hedonistic atmosphere with self-gratification replacing the Golden Rule. I don't know the solution, nor does anyone else. I do fear the demoralization of our society and its consequences.