BACK in the 1960s, Charleston had 86,000 population and Kanawha County had 253,000. County schools had 62,000 students. But erosion of the Valley's industrial base and rising automation slowly wiped out thousands of jobs. Now Charleston is slipping below 50,000 people, the county is sliding under 200,000, and schools have only 28,000 students.

The decline happened while most of America grew. The Population Connection in Washington listed Charleston as the country's "fastest-shrinking city." Forbes magazine ranked Charleston among the nation's 10 "fastest-dying cities."

Local development agencies have worked hard to create new jobs, but they couldn't reverse the slippage. Meanwhile, some leaders such as state Sen. Brooks McCabe, D-Kanawha, sought another remedy: streamlining and consolidating local government.

Merging Charleston and Kanawha County in a unified administration would create a state capital of nearly 200,000 people -- gaining higher status in the eyes of major corporations and federal agencies. Taxpayers could save millions through consolidation of city services. Kanawha's 14 other municipalities would keep their current town governments.

Charleston Mayor Danny Jones and Kanawha's three commissioners endorsed this sensible concept. Civic leaders embraced it. The Charleston Area Alliance launched a task force. "It's time we do something," President Matt Ballard said. A delegation visited Louisville, which pioneered city-county unification. Mayor Jones formed an exploratory committee led by councilman Marc Weintraub. Prospects seemed hopeful.

But now, both Mayor Jones and County Commission President Kent Carper say there's little immediate hope for a capital of 200,000, because most county residents and neighbor communities won't support it. Jones and Carper threw in the towel at a Wednesday night meeting. "If it was voted on today, I think it would fail miserably," councilman John Miller added.

This sad surrender evidently dooms hope that unification could be approved by voters in time to save Charleston from sinking below Class I status (50,000 population) in the fast-approaching 2010 census. It's depressing that the mid-Kanawha Valley will just roll over and take no visionary action -- meekly accepting its decline.

 But this setback shouldn't kill all prospects for future teamwork and merger. The dream should be kept alive and moved forward when possible. Money-saving consolidations of public services should be pursued. We admire the spirit of Commissioner Carper, who said:

"I still believe there will come a time when we will have a more unified type of government. I don't feel defeated. In fact, I feel undaunted."

Community teamwork is a worthy goal. Keep pushing it, step by step, until it's finally achieved.

BACK in the 1960s, Charleston had 86,000 population and Kanawha County had 253,000. County schools had 62,000 students. But erosion of the Valley's industrial base and rising automation slowly wiped out thousands of jobs. Now Charleston is slipping below 50,000 people, the county is sliding under 200,000, and schools have only 28,000 students.

The decline happened while most of America grew. The Population Connection in Washington listed Charleston as the country's "fastest-shrinking city." Forbes magazine ranked Charleston among the nation's 10 "fastest-dying cities."

Local development agencies have worked hard to create new jobs, but they couldn't reverse the slippage. Meanwhile, some leaders such as state Sen. Brooks McCabe, D-Kanawha, sought another remedy: streamlining and consolidating local government.

Merging Charleston and Kanawha County in a unified administration would create a state capital of nearly 200,000 people -- gaining higher status in the eyes of major corporations and federal agencies. Taxpayers could save millions through consolidation of city services. Kanawha's 14 other municipalities would keep their current town governments.

Charleston Mayor Danny Jones and Kanawha's three commissioners endorsed this sensible concept. Civic leaders embraced it. The Charleston Area Alliance launched a task force. "It's time we do something," President Matt Ballard said. A delegation visited Louisville, which pioneered city-county unification. Mayor Jones formed an exploratory committee led by councilman Marc Weintraub. Prospects seemed hopeful.

But now, both Mayor Jones and County Commission President Kent Carper say there's little immediate hope for a capital of 200,000, because most county residents and neighbor communities won't support it. Jones and Carper threw in the towel at a Wednesday night meeting. "If it was voted on today, I think it would fail miserably," councilman John Miller added.

This sad surrender evidently dooms hope that unification could be approved by voters in time to save Charleston from sinking below Class I status (50,000 population) in the fast-approaching 2010 census. It's depressing that the mid-Kanawha Valley will just roll over and take no visionary action -- meekly accepting its decline.

 But this setback shouldn't kill all prospects for future teamwork and merger. The dream should be kept alive and moved forward when possible. Money-saving consolidations of public services should be pursued. We admire the spirit of Commissioner Carper, who said:

"I still believe there will come a time when we will have a more unified type of government. I don't feel defeated. In fact, I feel undaunted."

Community teamwork is a worthy goal. Keep pushing it, step by step, until it's finally achieved.