Page 18 RAIN May 1979 cant. G. Moore estimated that the economic cost of ICC interference was $3.6-6.9 billion in 1971, and obviously it is even higher oday. About one-quarter of the income generated in transportation IS simply wasted (and we all help pay to keep those empty trucks and idle box cars profitable). As George Hilton notcs, the transportation industry "attracts unspecialized reSources from other activities and wastes them in idleness, underutilizarion and inappropriate uses." We can nOw seC the reasons for the railroads' decline, and they have nothing [0 do wirh alleged highway subSIdies. The ICC's value-of-service method of rate setting has become unworkable in the transportation industry because rhose shippers who have the greatest ability to pay, the high-value industries, also have the most alternatives to railroad tral15portation. At the same time, the excess that must be charged these highvalue shippers has gotten larger and larger as the railroads have acquired an increasing burden of nonprofitable services, such as rail-passenger, low-density spur line, and small-lot traffic. Meanwhile, prices of the bulk, low-value goods could be increased because of the political power associated with these commodities (farmers and mineral interests), and because shipping costs affect demand in these commodiries so much more_ Thus, ovcr time, the railroads became burdened with Plant Ecology Wallcharts from the British Museum (Natural History), Barbara Nicholson, 15 annotated 24" x 31" color posters, $6.00 each plus postage, for descriptive brochure write: United Communications Box 320 Woodmere, NY 11598 Nature Through the Seasons, Richard Adams and Max Hooper, color illustrations by David A. Goddard and Adrian Williams, 1976, 108 pp., $4.95 from: Penguin Books 625 Madison Ave. New York, NY 10022 Here are two popular ecology items from Britain which underscore the seasoned genius of tbese island people to understand and delight ill their countrysideitt; somewhat limited but rich storebo use of ecological treasures. Theirs is an appreciati01J of nature well worth learning from: II) c ~ os u III j!... fo ::0 E -S ~ ~ z e ~ Chances are you may already have seen one of Barbara Nicholson's Plant Ecology Wallcharts; actually ~here are 15 of these finely detailed composites of plant life in Britain. Each poster explores a distinct botanic community in its natural habitat, from hedgerows to Scottish pine forest to heather moorlands. Most of the habitats have some North American equivalen~ . Ms. Nicholson's eye for scientific accuracy and her subtle progressions of season and scale make these posters wonderful educational media as well as beautiful pieces of artwork. Domestic ecology fans should note that two additional posters on culinary herbs and household plants are also available. Top notch quality from the ' British Museum. The joint effort of a naturalist, biologist and two artists, Nature Through the Seasons similarly raises our level of understanding of plant and animal communities common to changing seasons and habitats. Each section sandwiches elaborate artwork- the Meadow in Sumthe Wood in Autumn-between thought-provoking prose and ecological explorations. David Goddard's illustrations are so vividly expressive you cannot take your eyes off them. Richard Adams' texts are spiced with folklore and ramblings so quintessentially English you'll be reading them out loud. In all, this small book goes a long way in giving human expression to that "unquestioning acceptance of life which is shown by birds and animals themselves." Very special. - SA Joe Liles/Celebration Graphics 1116-B Ninth St. Durham, NC 27505 I wasn't there when Joe Liles previewed his mind-opening slide show Radial Symmetry, to faculty and students at the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources. But for years that linear institution buzzed with his visual insight into the circularity of natural systems. Something good had happened. . . . Since that time Joe has taken his acute awareness of detail and balance along new paths, learning to walk in "moccasin tracks," sharing his visual communications skills with others, catalyzing them to communicate the strength of their own visions. His work with Native American people and themes has been particularly fine, whether at Red School House in Sr. Paul, Minnesota, or in his current series of coloring books and readers on Ojibway history. Now in North Carolina, Joe is freelancing his art/change work- doing illustrations, layout and graphics, screen printing, multi-media work, hand-lettering of books.and much more. "I keep harbor
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