Mojave Desert

A little over 100 years ago Charles F. Lummis walked across the Mojave Desert, on his way to Los Angeles, a job with The Times, and a career of speaking out, often for “the little guy.” Much of that desert is the same today as when Lummis saw it. Now a controversial plan to “preserve” the desert, by turning the current “East Mojave National Scenic Area” into a national park (Sen. Alan Cranston’s SB 7), is being supported by the powerful urban media (“Protection for the Desert,” editorial, April 4).

People who live and work in the desert are not in favor of a national park. They feel the current Bureau of Land Management plan, with which few people seem familiar, is very adequate. These local people reasoning against this national park proposal is being deliberately ignored: They feel the public should hear their points of view. Charlie Lummis would agree!

DAYTON LUMMIS JR.

Lima, Calif.