taken place in the Buffalo region over the past two decades, extensive industrialization does not appear likely." These two paragraphs defy comment. Also, on page 10: "A Buffalo National River would add variety and an element of uniqueness to the attractions of the Ozarks." What are we going to do? Color the water red, white, and blue? The river was there for millions of years before the Park Service came into being. Where do we get this "Add" stuff. Everyone who so desires is using the river now, without a single acre being confiscated or a single tax dollar spent. Let's Keep It That Way.

6. Last, an item "overlooked" by the park backers. The normal river level is about one foot. But it can and has risen quickly to 50 feet. I have seen it at 40. An awesome sight. A roaring liquid monster, full of flotsam, jetsam, overturned boats, and water moccasins. There are better places for new parks, if this country really deserves one.

STATEMENT OF HERBERT K. FOWLER

Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the committee, first of all I noticed that I am also scheduled at No. 39, and I promise that I will testify only once here.

Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Fowler we have to leave. We have a vote on the floor. I guess we might as well adjourn the hearing for today, because we will have votes I think for the rest of the afternoon.

We will meet in the morning at 9:45; you will be the first witness. (Whereupon, at 3:10 p.m., the subcommittee recessed to reconvene at 9:45, Friday, October 29, 1971.)

H.R. 8382, H.R. 9119, AND S. 7-BILLS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1971

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS AND RECREATION

OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS,

Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to adjournment, at 10 a.m., in room 1324, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Roy A. Taylor (chairman of the subcomittee) presiding.

Mr. TAYLOR. The Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation will reconvene.

Our first witness is Mr. Herbert K. Fowler. Mr. Fowler was just getting ready to get started yesterday when we had to leave to go to the House to vote.

STATEMENT OF HERBERT K. FOWLER, ARCHITECT AND TEACHER FROM THE STATE OF ARKANSAS

Mr. FOWLER. In appearing before this subcommittee today I wish to speak as an architect and a teacher and to express my deep concern for the future of the State of Arkansas, a significant part of whose future may be determined by the action on H.R. 8382 (Hammerschmidt, Arkansas) and H.R. 9119 (Alexander, Arkansas).

As a professor of architecture I am fundamentally devoted to teaching young people about their environment: its influence on architecture, and the impact at man's works on the environment. In every course on the history of architecture and in contemporary design, environmental considerations appear inevitably as major determinants of successful architecture of all types, of all ages, of all regions. One's own region is always the best example to use, to create a new awareness of regional characteristics which have often been taken for granted or gone unnoticed. The Buffalo River region has served frequently as an area of study by my students for architectural problems involving design which evaluates and relates to the area's ecology and culture. My concern over the future of the Buffalo River has increased year by year as it has faced severe threats to its preservation as a now virtually unique area of our country. What happens to the Buffalo River in the State of Arkansas will be a strong indication of the direction our Government is willing to take in concerning itself with the long-range, nationwide development of its physical and natural resources.

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The Buffalo River area is a relatively small area, but the fact that these two bills are before this subcommittee testifies to the preservation of the Buffalo as not merely a local matter. This hearing is an indication of the importance of the retention in their natural conditions of as many as feasible of the remaining and dwindling unique areas of our country before it is too late.

The Ozark Mountains have been until recently an area of rolling hills, twisting streams and rivers, precipitous limestone bluffs, and small, unspoiled, unprogressive communities. There was a strong regional character to the area. One could hear it, played on guitars and banjos on shaded porches, in the centuries-old English ballads of the "old-timey" music. One could see it in the rugged log-constructed "dog-trot" dwellings of the homesteaders, the proud, beautifully proportioned homes of the village leaders, and in the land itself. Low population density, and the low productivity of the area inhibiting agriculture and industry were part of its character.

This has changed, in the general Ozarks region, and to a great extent it is good that it has changed. Certainly the economy and the living standards of the region have improved largely due to the greatest Ozarks industry, tourism.

But what of the regional character of the Ozarks, which was the initial incentive for this industry Beaver Lake, Bull Shoals, Norfolk, Table Rock, Taneycomo, Greers Ferry and other manmade lakes now fill the valleys, inundating the streams and rivers and concealing the dramatic bluffs, their spreading fingers of water making an impressive area of blue on the tourist maps of the Ozarks, testimony to the diligence and perseverance, if not the ecology mindedness, of the Corps of Engineers. These lakes have been instrumental in building tourism as a major industry of the area. Created by multipurpose dams, these lakes have provided a certain amount of electrical power and flood control, but have primarily developed the area as a tourist and a recreation area. Unquestionably the economy has improved, but unfortunately a great part of the area's dollar income is benefiting the local population less than that of already wealthy out-of-State investors. And at what cost to the region? The most heralded effort toward acknowledging the region's character is the galling caricature of the Ozarks, "Dogpatch," promoted by that old Ozarks native, Al Capp. But even this caricature is less offensive than the wide-open virtually unrestricted and inappropriate commercial development which is rapidly decimating the beauty of this fine recreational area, which, as previous testimony has shown, now threatens the Buffalo River shoreline as well.

This is now the neighboring environment of the Buffalo River, whose geographic remoteness, (though the area is not far from the lakes) has permitted it to exist relatively unchanged. This is, due to its isolation, one of the few remaining areas representative of the Ozarks regional character, with many features which must be preserved, which can be preserved through passage of II.R. 8382 and H.R. 9119. Certainly the natural ecology of this region must be saved as nearly as possible as it is now, an island of Ozark woodland in a sea of commercial tourism. Only through passage of these bills can it be preserved and developed properly, by careful planning and recog nition of the value to both the region and the Nation.

In addition to preserving the area's ecology, other aspects of the Buffalo valley's character can be retained through these bills. The culture of the area, which has developed as an integral element of the total ecological balance, must also be recognized. The small farms and villages are a unique historic feature, perhaps unmatched in any other part of the country. Many farm and community structures have been marked for historical preservation, representing the Ozark culture in its traditional regional architecture. These last vestiges of the tradition should be preserved, as nearly as possible, through careful planning, in their historically characteristic environment.

I neither expect nor propose, that should these bills be passed by our Congress, that the Buffalo National River project leave the area totally undisturbed or return it to its condition of a hundred and fifty years ago. It must, of course, be developed for use by the people and will be visited by thousands more each year than in the past. I feel that only through passage of these bills can this be done in a way which will not destroy the character which is the basis of these bills in the first place. I would like to emphasize that that valley is of small interest in the area. This sense of interest is a key feature of its character which will soon be destroyed if left unprotected.

It is a relatively small area. The nature of the terrain further limits the areas in which the necessary buildings and road systems can be constructed. My greatest concern and hone is that in this necessary development, the recognition of the Buffalo's prime assets: its sense of remoteness, its quiet beauty, and ecological balance will be a principal consideration. The location of heavily trafficked areas, tourist accommodations, campsites, and other facilities and amenities must be planned so that the essence of the area's character is not imperiled. The architecture of new structures and new traffic systems must further try to retain something of the character of the existing roads, trails, and buildings.

The experience of the present Buffalo River State Park should serve as an example, where despite the supposedly increased awareness of environment of our time, the new structures of recent years, of concrete, plastic and glass, have, in the interest of purely minimal and shortsighted economics, been placed alongside the appropriate and harmonious structures of the thirties. Built sturdily of native stone and wood, the early park buildings were built in consideration of their environment and still, after nearly 40 years, enhance it.

People have come to the Buffalo, and will come, to experience a magnificent natural environment. We owe them at least an appropriate, harmonious balance between man's works and nature's.

This is the character of the Buffalo River area. This is what will be irretrievably lost to the country unless H.R. 8382 and H.R. 9119 are passed. I earnestly hope this committee and the Congress will support these measures and hope that this action will encourage the protection of other areas of the country which are uniquely representative of their regional traditions and culture.

In further support of these bills, this statement carries the voluntary endorsement of 14 of my colleagues in the field of architecture in Fayetteville, Ark., whose names are: Euine Fay Jones: John G. Williams: J. Palmer Boggs: Gayland B. Witherspoon; C. Murray Smart, Jr.; Elam L. Denham; Isoo Oishi; Frank L. Doughty; Mort A. Karp;