To Frederick County Commissioners November 2003

  I am writing to strongly urge you to support the proposal for an archeological
review and study of current archeological sites in Frederick County.  As you well
know, the rate of development in this area is destroying valuable archeological 
information daily.

  I have been involved in  Frederick County archeology for over 50 years.  I have
studied and reported on many sites throughout the county and most of what we know
in the archeological record for this area is based on those studies.  Over 43,000
artifacts from this area have been turned over to the state and are now available
for study at Jefferson-Patterson Park and Museum.  There are many additional sites
that have yet to be studied and information about our prehistory and history is 
rapidly being destroyed.  It is not too late to save some information for the future.
Please consider this provision at some length.

  While we understand that funding is in limited supply for new initiatives, this
particular item is too important to disregard completely and any initiative along
these lines will immediately begin to see results.  This does not mean that development
will not continue or that most areas cannot proceed without any delay.  It means
that you are preserving something that cannot be retrieved after it is destroyed.

  Spencer O. Geasey

.