The following was submitted to Governor Pataki's web site on or near July 22, 2005. As of October 8 we have no response.
Dear Governor Pataki:
LeBoeuf Bridge, known to some as Follensby Bridge, near Tupper Lake is
owned by John S. McCormick, is dangerous and blocks a public Navigable river
owned by the citizens of the United States and held in trust for us by New
York State. New York State is derelict in this duty.
Please visit www.BridgeBeGone.Org and let us know if you can help.
Thank you.
Most Sincerely
Jerry Richer
The following was published in the Tupper Lake Free Press of September 14, 2005
Dear Business Owner:
As you may know there is a local effort to have the bridge known as
LeBoeuf or Follensby Bridge raised or removed.
The bridge prevents many from enjoying the eighteen miles of
Recreational and Scenic river between it and Raquette Falls or Tupper Lake
and adjacent bodies of water.
The bridge is dangerous. There are several accounts of people getting
trapped under the bridge in everything from pontoon boats to kayaks. In
1980 a fourteen year old boy was killed when he struck the bridge while
passing underneath properly seated in a boat.
This has to have some economic impact on Tupper Lake. If you notice,
any water related event involving Tupper Lake is always bounded by the
bridge.
Read the comments people have made regarding the bridge at:
"http://www.BridgeBeGone.org/cgi-bin/commentsprint.cgi".
Any change in the bridge would have to be undertaken by the owner, John
S. McCormick or with his permission. Mr. McCormick as of yet will not
cooperate with this effort. Mr. McCormick does not own the Raquette River.
He claims that New York State won't allow him to raise the bridge yet no New
York Agency claims any jurisdiction over this bridge.
We hope, by demonstrating that people are concerned enough, that either
the owner or a governmental agency will take enough interest to rectify this
situation.
As a business owner we feel that you have a unique opportunity to make
a difference. We would like your permission to list the name of your
business on our home page amongst the growing number of businesses that
endorse this effort. Will you help with your endorsement by going to
bridgebegone@BridgeBeGone.org?subject=Endorsement_for_Bridge_Be_Gone and
sending us the name of your business?
You can see how your business would be represented by viewing the
Bridge Be Gone home page at: "http://www.BridgeBeGone.org".
Thank you.
Sincerely
The Bridge Be Gone Team
The following was published in the Tupper Lake Free Press of September 21, 2005
To the editor-In response to a September 14 letter in the Tupper Lake Free Press from a group calling themselves Bridge Be Gone.org, I wish to offer the following rebuttal.
I am a member of the River Ridge Hunting Club which is located on the
Follensby tract. The land is owned by Mr. John McCormick and he has been a
great steward of his lands and a fine landlord to not only our hunting club
but four other hunting leases as well. There are over a hundred members to
these clubs and we do not necessarily want LeBoeuf Bridge raised or taken
out. We use the bridge to access our leased lands and have done so for more
than 50 years.
There are many other groups that don't want the bridge raised as well. I
don't believe the people living on
River Road necessarily want the increased traffic going by their homes. I'm
sure that the canoers and kayakers don't want to see any more traffic on the
river, especially that of large boats and party barges. I'm sure that the
environmental groups really don't want the bridge to be raised Since
increased traffic means increased pollution up river.
I don't think that Mr. Clifford and his group envisioned a flotilla of large
boats and party barges riding around the Oxbow while their nature hikes were
being held by the museum,
If your group insists on pursuing your wish to get to the upper Raquette,
you should channel your efforts toward the D.E.C. and have them fix the boat access at the "crusher" before someone gets hurt there.
I have decided to form a splinter group that I will call "Pain in the Butt Be Gone." I call on all canoe enthusiasts all
environmental groups, and anyone else that feels that the LeBoeuf Bridge should stay, as it is to contact the appropriate agencies and let them know your feelings. I know that the environmentalists have all the addresses and
I would hope they would make them public.
On the "Bridge Be Gone" website there is a list of businesses that support
their movement I, for one, will hesitate to Support any of these businesses
if they continue to show support for this group and I would encourage any of
the aforementioned groups to do the same.
The following was written to Senator Betty Little on September 21, 2005. As of October 8 there has been no official response. After several phone calls to Senator Little's office we were told that the Department of Environmental Conservation was looking into the matter.
Date: Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Subject: "Dangerous and Annoying bridge known as LeBoeuf or Follensby Bridge at Tupper Lake"
To: Senator Betty Little
Email: little@Senate.State.NY.US
From: Jerry Richer
38 Barry Avenue
Tupper Lake, NY 12986
Phone: 1-518-359-8538
Email: bridgebegone@BridgeBeGone.org
Dear Senator Little:
There is a bridge known as LeBoeuf or Follensby Bridge that crosses the
Raquette River at Tupper Lake. The bridge is too low presenting a danger to
those who use the river and keeping many from enjoying the eighteen miles of
Scenic and Recreational river between it and Raquette Falls.
To acquaint yourself with this issue please visit www.BridgeBeGone.org,
read the home page and read the forty-four accounts of peoples issues with
the bridge including one death and one near death.
Many would like the bridge to be raised or removed but it is privately
owned and as such no New York State agency claims to have jurisdiction.
John S. McCormick does not own the river and we think it's unfair that
he has essentially taken it away from the people who do own it and can't
enjoy it.
Will Senator Betty Little help with this bridge problem?
Thank you.
Very Sincerely
The Bridge Be Gone Team
The following was published in the Tupper Lake Free Press of September 21, 2005.
Dear Editor:
In response to Mr. Bruce Smith's September 21 letter to the editor
regarding LeBoeuf Bridge, Bridge Be Gone offers the following.
Mr. Smith begins by telling us that he is a member of a hunting camp
that is situated on Mr. John McCormick's Follensby tract. He then goes on
to praise Mr. McCormick, acclaiming his stewardship and telling us what a
"fine landlord" he has been.
We never questioned Mr. McCormick's stewardship of the Follensby tract.
And we are not concerned with how he treats his tenants. Our concerns are
focused on the safety and access issues involved with his Bridge (and other
methods used by his lessees to cross the Raquette River). Mr. McCormick has
constructed a bridge across the Raquette that restricts safe access to those
wishing to travel up and down river. The Raquette river is a public
waterway and, as such, is held in trust by the state for navigation,
fishing, and other non-destructive visits. Mr. Smith seems to feel that it
is the right of a private landowner to determine who may enjoy our public
waterways. We strongly disagree, as do many others.
An online survey was started earlier this year at
http://www.BridgeBeGone.org to provide the opportunity to anyone interested
to vote on whether LeBoeuf Bridge should be: modified to allow boats to pass
freely, removed, or left alone. To date, 98% of the votes submitted call
for the modification or removal of the bridge. Four out of five call for
modification.
Mr. Smith has stated that he and other lessees use the bridge to access
the hunting camps on the Follensby tract. We have no problem whatsoever
with this. We just feel that the bridge, while providing rightful access to
landowners, should not interfere with rightful access by the public to the
river upstream and the lakes downstream.. What does he or any of the
hunting club members care if the bridge is raised? How could raising the
bridge possibly interfere with access to the hunting camps? He also states
"There are many other groups that don't want the bridge raised as well."
Again, we have provided everyone with an online survey to vote on this
issue. It has been advertised in the local papers, displayed on posters and
circulated via email and, as previously mentioned, 98% agree with our
position that the bridge is a hazard.
As the recently self-appointed president of the splinter group "Pain in
the Butt Be Gone", Mr. Smith has singled out some groups that he feels agree
with his position. None of these groups have voiced these concerns with us.
Have they contacted him or his splinter group? Smith states "I don't
believe the people living on River Road necessarily want the increased
traffic going by their homes." Included with the survey on our website we
have an option where you can offer your comments and testimonials on the
bridge issue. Many individuals have commented about the tragic death of a
young boy. Others, the dangerous situations boaters of all types have
experienced. Then there are several commenting about their desire to just
safely navigate these beautiful waterways that are rightfully theirs to
enjoy. The following comment is from a River Road property owner:
"MY WIFE & I OWN A PARCEL ON DUGAL RD AND OWN A PONTOON BOAT WE ARE UNABLE
TO GO BELOW THE BRIDGE. WE FIND IT INCONVENIENT TO TRAILER OUR BOAT TO
ENJOY BIG TUPPER. OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR WAS KILLED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO
BECAUSE OF THE BRIDGE HEIGHT. I BELIEVE THE ONLY REASON THAT THE STATE OF
N.Y. HAS DONE NOTHING IS THAT THEY WANT TO BUY THE FOLLENSBY PROPERTY. ITS
TIME TO RAISE THIS BRIDGE AND I AM HAPPY SOMEONE HAS STARTED THE BALL
ROLLING. GOOD LUCK"
We have also started to circulate our paper petition and other River Road
residents have signed on. We will let them speak for themselves. Next Mr.
Smith suggests that kayakers, canoers, and environmental groups are against
raising the bridge and he cites increased traffic and pollution upriver as
the reason. One kayaker offers the following to
http://www.BridgeBeGone.org:
"I am not in favor of lots of motor boat traffic on many of our local
waterways since I primarily enjoy paddling and the kind of congestion one
finds on the Saranac River going on down through the locks in the summer is
not a happy place for me.. That being said it seems a shame to have such a
silly bridge block access for Tupper Lake people ( and visitors) who
otherwise could enjoy so much more of the river. Can't see that it would
have such a heavy impact on traffic. Boats manage to manuever under it
now - have experienced that myself in a variety of boats and no one
disagrees that can be tricky and difficult at times ; not to mention
dangerous. The bridge should be modified. It just isn't right to restrict
access that way."
Mr. Smith offers these arguments, for keeping powered vehicles below
the bridge, then advises us that our efforts would be better spent by
lobbying for the rebuilding of the Crusher boat launch. Bruce, what exactly
is your agenda? An email was sent to Mr. Smith on July 13, informing him
that we were of the understanding that the Crusher was on a short list at
DEC to be rebuilt in the next two or three years. We were told this by the
DEC Regional Supervisor of Natural Resources this past June. The renovation
of the Crusher boat launch is long overdue. We do not however consider this
an alternative to modifying LeBeouf Bridge. In fact we see this as another
argument to raise or remove it. What sense would it make to spend hundreds
of thousands of State dollars to rebuild the Crusher while not allowing the
boats launched there to get into the lakes downstream? They could, however,
access River road and the Oxbow from this access point. Did Mr. Smith even
consider this when he wrote "I don't think Mr. Clifford and his group
envisioned a flotilla of large boats and party barges riding around the
Oxbow while their nature hikes were being held by the museum."? The river
was here before the museum and we doubt anyone on a "nature hike" would find
it unusual to see boats floating by or someone trying their luck at fishing.
In fact powered boats could even compliment the mission of the museum by
providing access to the wondrous ecosystem of the River to the vast majority
who aren't ever going to even consider getting into a canoe or kayak.
Its not the number of boats on the river that presents a problem. Its
their irresponsible use. We would be one of the first to insist that the
State post and enforce the speed limit on the river. Presently, neither is
being done and the quality of the river experience is suffering. We have
contacted D.E.C. and asked why warnings aren't posted, why speed limits
aren't posted and enforced and why, in general, this section of the Raquette
is ignored. Their answer is that there is a lack of resources with only two
people to cover Southern Franklin county. When boats are traveling at
excessive speeds and otherwise abusing our waterways it is unfair to
landowners, paddlers, fisherman and others trying to enjoy everything the
river has to offer. With the proper stewardship by the State, paddlers and
motorized boats can co-exist on the river. This does not have to be a zero
sum situation.
We find it unfortunate that Mr. Smith felt it necessary to threaten the
businesses listed on our website. These businesses are endorsing a SURVEY.
A survey to collect information on an issue that affects locals and visitors
to our community. We hope that, after visiting http://www.BridgeBeGone.org
and reading the comments, that even more business owners will be interested
in supporting our effort.
As noted earlier, we do not question Mr. McCormick's stewardship of
Follensby park. We do however question his judgment when it comes to the
means used to access his fourteen-thousand acre tract.
President Smith and his splinter group's time may be better served
modifying the cable car that is used to access the River Ridge hunting
lease. There have been several accounts of boaters being knocked over in,
or knocked out of, their boats while suddenly encountering a cable, chest or
neck high, spanning the Raquette River. In case readers don't know, there
is a cable car that spans the river at Axton Landing that the River Ridge
members use to cross the river. Depending on the water level, the cable can
be a few feet above the water or just a couple of feet above the water.
Like the bridge, the cable is a threat to boaters and probably a more
ominous one because it can't be seen as well as the bridge. A few weeks ago
a young boy was struck by the cable while passing by in a boat. Thankfully,
it wasn't too serious but it did require a trip to the emergency room to
close the bleeding wound on his head. There have been several other
incidents here over the years. Again, one end of this cable is on
Mr.McCormick's land and the other end is on state land.
It is possible that Mr. McCormick and/or his caretaker are unaware of
these cable related incidents but we find that unlikely. We do know that
they are aware of the death and other accidents attributed to the bridge and
we also know that the D.E.C. is aware of the bridge and cable hazards. Yet
rather than rectifying these situations or at least marking them as
dangerous, all involved seem to ignore them.
We'd like to thank Mr. Smith for making the community aware of his
concerns and invite anyone to visit http://www.BridgeBeGone.org to read the
many accounts that people have submitted, to make your own comments and to
register your opinion regarding the bridge.
Thank you.
Scott Magrino
Jerry Richer
The following was published in the tupper Lake free Press of October 5, 2005.
“ Pain in the butt be gone” president responds
To the editor
Scott and Jerry,
In your group's recent
rebuttal to my letter on Sept. 21 concerning the raising or removal of LeBoeuf Bridge you asked, "Bruce, what exactly is your agenda?"
I would be glad to clarify my "agenda" for you and everyone else. I am totally against any "increase"' in motorized boat traffic on the upper Racquett River, I am not, however, against motorized boat traffic on the river in generaL I only hope to keep it to a viable minimum. The boat launches at the "crusher" and Axton landing are available to anyone who can trailer their boat and has a little bit of ambition or has a friend with that combination. I know that not everyone has either of these factors available to them and, therefore, this helps limit the amount of traffic on the upper river. I consider this a good thing. I hope everyone understands my position.
I'm sure you'll be firing back a response so please answer a couple of questions forme if you would.
(1). If your group were to succeed in removing the bridge ("be gone") how would the hundreds of dollars yearly lumber products be hauled off from the Follensby tract? What would be the economic impact of such a fool hardy move?? Lumberjacks? Truckers?
(2). How much do you want to raise the bridge? A couple feet would probably get most party barges under it but what about the boats with a fixed roof or why can't sailboats with a fixed mast go up the river? You wouldn't want to discriminate against these good folks, would you? .
(3). Does your group have any cost estimate to do the work you hope to have done? Do you expect Mr. McCormick to foot the bill when he has a permit to have the bridge and that this permit was granted by the State of New York? The environmental impact of a project that size would be incredible since both sides of
the bridge are currently situated in wetland areas. Your group. stated that the river was here long before the bridge but you must also know that the bridge was constructed long before the advent of pontoon boats. The enormity of a bridge project that would allow year round passage would boggle the mind and flatten even the fattest wallet.
(4). How do you know if I was self-appointed as president of the "pain in the butt be gone" group? It is entirely possible that I may have been elected bv a board of directors. You shouldn't make rash judgments. This leads me to wonder if the membership of the Rod and Gun Club and the many supporters of the rescue squad know their organizations are sponsors of
your group. Was this voted on or was it done by some "self appointed" follower of yours. Good food for thought.
I made mention in my September 21 letter that there were many people in many different groups that were opposed to the raising of the bridge for a variety of reasons.
I never said that everyone in these groups was against your movement. I only spoke for the people that are against the proposed bridge project. I feel that I must return your gesture of thanks for publicizing this issue with your lengthy rebuttal. I have since been contacted by people in the Residents Committee for the Protection of the Adirondacks as well as two other paddling organizations. They have all assured me of their support. I guess I never realized the time scope of the hometown gazette.
I will agree with vour group on one point you have made. There is a need for more enforcement of the boating laws. The D.E.C. is hard pressed to cover all the waterways all the time. But more could be done. When was the last time you heard of anyone getting a speeding ticket on the water?
I have hunted, trapped, and fished the Racquette River from the lake to Racquette falls and beyond for nearly 50 years and I have but one reason to take up this fight. I only wish for it to stay as beautiful and wild as I have always known it to be and if some people become offended because of anything I may have said or done, then so be it. I do this to make a point not a friend. Good boating!
Sincerely,
Bruce Smith
President, "pain in the butt be gone"
P.S. Last summer I climbed several of the high peaks while getting in shape for a hunt in Alaska. I encountered
severely steep trails during my
climbs. There were even a couple of spots too drastic for me to attempt. A younger or more agile climber could possibly have made it but I wasforced to retreat. I'm considering forming a new group called "dangerous, steep, vertical, rock faces be gone" and possibly putting pressure on someone to build some stairs around these areas to make them more user friendly. Let me know if anyone out there might want to be a charter member.