Wednesday’s (Feb. 18) Marietta Times front page article carries a story of the lamentable state of our brick streets. They served us well for decades until: SALT.

Salt attracts water. Salt water seeps down between the bricks, attracting more moisture. This turns to mud, the bricks sink, and we’ve got a rough road.

In Marietta, the damage is done, leaving only one cure; pull up the bricks and start again.

Also, the Putnam Street concrete bridge will have to be replaced in 40 or 50 years. Yes, again due to salt. Every homeowner knows that salt on his sidewalk ruins it. Brine seeps down. rusts the re-bar, cracks the concrete, and the structure fails.

I don’t have the answer. The choices are clear: Don’t use salt and save the streets and bridges and then listen to the public whine. Or use it and ruin the streets and bridges.

GOOD LUCK.