Recently, June 17, 1984, The Buffalo News ran an article on the front page
of the Viewpoints section describing a proposal to build a new, more powerful
"atom smasher" by the Department of Energy. Mr. William Wallenmeier, head of
the department's division of high-energy physics research, said "It would explore
in the microworld the very most fundamental building blocks of matter. It's
almost guaranteed, Im told by my experts, that there will be breakthroughs in
high-energy physics with a facility like this." According to Gary Blonston, the
author, "Just where the Super Collider will be built, if approved, is a decision
still a year or two away, but the competition for the project already is developing.
A number of site proposals throughout the West as well as high-tech hungry places
like Michigan, Minnesota, and Massachusetts are under consideration."

Although Western New York wasn't mentioned, I believe it has certain advantages
which we, who have everything to gain, should make apparent to the search committee.

1. This is an ideal site for a joint U.S. - Canadian project, thus saving money for
   the U.S. and giving the Canadians an opportunity to participate directly in the
   research. Most of Canada's universities are located closer to W.N.Y. than any
   other shared border point.
   
2. This project will need tremendous amounts of electricity to run its ring of
   electromagnets 20 miles in diameter. With the soaring costs and unpredictability
   of energy, Niagara Falls is a very cheap and totally reliable power source. This
   power grid is also directly tied in with the James Bay Hydro project, which is
   looking for uses for its abundant hydro power.
   
3. The West is already engaged in a scramble for water which we have in abundance!!
   
4. The universities and research centers in New York State and Canada do have the
   personnel capable of initiating this project. In the long run, it would be far
   easier to move some specialists to Buffalo than to give up an ideal U.S. - Canadian
   location.
   
5. This area bordering the Canadian shield is very stable geologically and land costs
   are relatively low, saving money in design and site acquisition.

Of primary concern to us of Western New York, of course, is "Do we want it
located here"? We would be wise to welcome and indeed fight for this research project.
It would be a massive undertaking which would pump several billion dollars into the
economy in construction and technical support. It is "clean" research. Although it
investigates the nucleus, it doesn't involve nuclear explosions or the worry of
"melt downs". Furthermore, this kind of "21st century" research will bring new
related research and expertise to our area and result in an expanded University of
Buffalo and expanded employment opportunities for unskilled workers as well as
scientific workers.

Mr. Wallenmeier of the D.O.E. says "I'm optimistic. The (physics) community
is almost as one in feeling this will have value". I'm optimistic that the
community's leaders and citizens will be one in seeing its value to Western New
York and Canada.