It is a bit amazing to us that the locomotive in city park has been enclosed in an old tin building for 15 years over the fear of asbestos contamination when we learn the cost of abatement is less than $50,000.

In 15 years we couldn't come up with $50,000 to get the work done and tear down that ugly building?

When we think of all the money wasted on paying lawyers in the matter of water from Caddo Lake — for no discernable benefit — it makes us a little ill. For that matter, the entire cost of doing all the restoration work is far less than half the money uselessly spent on attorneys fees.

What is even more remarkable is that a report from Lathrop and Associates Ltd., from North Carolina, says that in-kind donations of materials and services could lower the total cost by as much as 75 percent. That figure probably does not include the asbestos abatement, however, as that would have to be done by a professional company.

Still, less than $50,000 is an amount that we should have been able to scrape together over the last 15 years, even with our legal flights of fancy — that amounts to less than $4,000 per year. It would be worth it just to tear down that tin building.

We agree that the locomotive would be best if placed next to the Marshall Depot Museum, but there is no requirement that this be done, or at least that it be done immediately. There is time for the depot museum to raise the money or find the in-kind contributions.

The idea that a final long-range plan must be developed within 90 days or the locomotive will be sold is a bit silly, considering it has been sitting inside a tin building for roughly the last 15 years. We guarantee, if given the opportunity, it will not take nearly that long for the depot board to act affirmatively.

But, in our view, it should be the city that takes responsibility for abating the asbestos, just as the city should have done it 15 years ago, or anytime since then. After that, the matter can be handed over to a private group for the rest of the work. We can assure city fathers that it will get done.