Historical view

Regarding "Pristine piece of Texas becoming a state park" (Page A1, Thursday), Shannon Tompkins' article emphasized the environmental impact of the recent act of preservation. Readers should know that this measure will have significance in historical preservation as well.

Powderhorn Lake serves as the northern boundary to Powderhorn Ranch. Its narrow passage to Matagorda Bay divides the northeastern bulge of Powderhorn Ranch from the site of the former Texas town of Indianola. Between 1849 and 1875, Indianola rivaled New Orleans and Galveston as one of the most prominent Gulf port towns with regard to high seas navigation. In 1849, the Morgan Steamship Line established Indianola as its western port terminal.

Indianola lost its significance when a September 1875 hurricane destroyed the town. A second hurricane in 1886 finished it off for good. The two catastrophic storms prompted shipping and railroad magnate, Charles Morgan, to realize the vulnerability of Galveston to such perils and spawned the dredging of the Houston Ship Channel. Following the 1900 hurricane that destroyed Galveston, Houston evolved into the primary Gulf port city replacing Galveston in that capacity.

Interestingly, there was discussion about converting the region of the lost town of Indianola into a state park more than 80 years ago.

Jim Ballard, Houston

Analyze U.S. options

Regarding "U.S. tried to rescue hostages, vows to retailiate" (Page A1, Thursday), President Obama has vowed justice for the killers of James Foley, and Americans are horrified by his gruesome murder.

But if we jump back into Iraq in a major way, are we giving ISIS the exact response they want?

Now is not the time to overreact but to closely analyze our options, consider rational objectives, an end game and the ability to see light at the end of the tunnel. We should not stampede to action too quickly.

President Kennedy was moved in part to assist South Vietnam based on disturbing actions by communist insurgents. He wrote on Dec. 14, 1961 to President Diem of South Vietnam.

President Obama could decide to intervene in a major way in Iraq once again. We appear to be headed down that well-traveled road, and justifiably so.

But lessons should have been learned from sending a massive number of troops into Vietnam and later into Iraq.

David Nelson, Houston

Voter apathy

Regarding "Vote for change" (Page B14, Aug. 17), there are at least two reasons for the problem of voter apathy and feeling of voters that they don't have contact with elected officials: Redistricting and gerrymandering limit choices and stack the deck in many races, exemplified by the fact that no Democrat has won a gubernatorial race since 1992.

Secondly, when I have contacted public officials about different issues, the usual response, if any, is a form letter requesting donations to that particular candidate.

Larry Lass, Houston