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The most important phase of our cattle operation is also located in Arkansas, with other phases in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. In Arkansas, we are continuing to build our purebred herd and have this past year entered the field of exotic breeds; namely, Simmental and Maine Anjou. Here, again, climate, grass and water are of utmost importance, and in our area, there are the qualities we have most abundantly. Part of the cattle are maintained on the headquarters property and part are maintained on the 2,000 acres adjacent to the headquarters area. The adjacent property is an integral part of the cattle operation. The adjacent property also produces some of the hay necessary for the horse and cattle operation.

FOUR-STATE COMMERCIAL OPERATION

Plate IV shows a map of the ranch locations in four states involving the cattle and feeding operation. In Southern Missouri, we have our commercial herd, our artificial breeding program and marketing of the grass-fed cattle. It is from this point that feeder calves are selected for our feeding operation on our ranch in the Kansas City Area, which is a successive step and natural approach to the finest beef market in the United States. The relationship of this location to the market is a matter of a 30-minute haul.

The Oklahoma ranch property is a grain operation from which feed is generated for the other three ranch operations. All of these operations are closely interrelated and necessary to the final production.

The Southern Missouri operation is the base for our cross-breeding from which the finest of the cross-bred heifers are taken to the headquarters ranch in Arkansas, where they, in turn, form the basis for our up-breeding to our purebred herd. The Arkansas ranch is selected for this operation because it is the best suited in this 4-state operation for that part of our beef development program. The cattle and horse operation employs-fulltime-fourteen men with families, nine of which are located in Arkansas. We also employ a number of part-time men. We expend more than $100,000.00 annually in the Arkansas area alonemuch of which goes into Harrison, Jasper, Springdale and Fayetteville. We are satisfied that should the legislation now pending be enacted, the tourist revenue generated in our area on the river would not produce anything like our annual expenditure. If we are talking about the value of all our ranch property from a commercial ranch operation only, we would be looking at $3,815,000.00 with the Arkansas holdings representing $2,169,000.00 at its present point of development. However, we are in reality talking about a commercial development of part of the Arkansas property and maintaining the pastoral scene.

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Plate III shows a map of a proposed commercial development, which has been in the planning stage for a period of 10 years and an earlier architect's drawing of this project has been in the hands of the National Park Service for four or five years. Considerable planning and some of the groundwork, preparatory to this development has already occurred. The areas have already been plotted and feasibility established as indicated by our drawing on the following page, and a preliminary development loan has been made in the amount of $300,000.00 with the final development cost to be $10,410,000.00, based on the projection for a motel and shopping area, twenyt-five vacation and retirement homes and— in keeping with the times-250 condominium units, a golf course and a landing strip, roads, utilities and sanitation facilities. This development, considering the commercial value of this property-based on a conservative estimate-increases the land value alone of the headquarters ranch property by $2,000,000.00. The present economic situation in the central states, as well as the state of Arkansas, along with highway development into the area, indicate that now is the time to proceed with development. A review of similar developments, both in Arkansas and in adjacent states, confirms the present feasibility of a project of this type and scope.

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From a standpoint of time, scope, and expense, it would not be feasible to attempt to relocate. First, let's consider national advertising. The Valley Y Ranch has become so identified in the public's mind with the Buffalo River Area in Newton County, Arkansas, that all this value built up over a number of years would be lost and destroyed.

It would likewise be economically unfeasible to attempt to move the cattle operation to any of the other existing ranches because the Arkansas operation is such an integral part of the whole that each is necessary to the other. Further, the Arkansas location provides the best facilities for the purebred cattle and the headquarters operation. In addition, none of the other ranch properties offer the same type of climate, environment, or water.

Dr. Doyne Hamm is a veterinarian of national stature, who has a large and small animal clinic and is located and staffed in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Dr. Hamm's staff of four veterinarians and their assistants manage and operate his clinic, and Dr. Hamm personally acts as Resident Veterinarian for the Valley Y Ranch and personally supervises and directs the overall breeding program. Dr. Hamm has advised us that relocation of the horse operation would be far too expensive to attempt, in that at least two years would be lost in the horse and cattle breeding program, even if facilities were available.

We have never objected to camping along the river, even though it has meant cleaning up and picking up beer cans, tin cans, whiskey bottles, soft drink bottles and other accumulated trash, as well as the rocks and driftwood which are carried up for the fires that are often burned on our meadows.

We have always made this property available to canoeists, sightseers, hikers, and campers.

We know the Buffalo River does not have enough water in our area to become a magnet for extensive or increased canoeing activity, especially during the summer and fall months when it is at its lowest period. At high water, it can be a treacherous river, hardly a place a man would take his family. The National River Bill would, to use an argument advanced against the supersonic transport, spend millions in Federal monies to benefit a handful-the few expert canoeists who run the river at high water.

The Park Department themselves have admitted publicly that: "The entire Buffalo can generally be floated from the autumn rains until late May or early June. During the summer's drought, the upper part of the river" (which is our area) "and later the middle reaches drop too low for boating..."

The upper part of the river, mentioned by the Park Department has only limited value to the canoeist, in that it affords favorable water and weather for a period less than two months during the year.

After reviewing the problems of relocation, which include the high acquisition of land, the severance pay, where applicable, and relocation expense, in light of the new law passed by the 91st Congress, which is the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies for Federal and Federally Assisted Programs Bill-and, since the areas under discussion are now available for the canoeists, sightseers, hikers and campers without cost to the public taxpayer, there appears to be a grave question whether the benefit would be realized for the general public good, based on the large potential expenditure required to make the Buffalo River a National Park. We, therefore, respectfully submit that we are in opposition to the Buffalo River National Park Bill, because it would be economically unfeasible and would accomplish nothing that is not now available under private ownership.

SUMMARY

The Valley Y Ranch is a substantial horse and cattle commercial operation covering approximately five miles on both sides of the Buffalo River, Newton County, Arkansas. This Arkansas property is closely related to the cattle operations in three other states, Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

Extensive soil and conservation management have been accomplished to bring the depleted property to its original and present state of high fertility and the public has always been and is now welcome to enjoy the river and the scenery. Major improvements have been added to the land in the form of buildings, utilities, and sanitation system. The fair market value of the buildings is estimated at $669,000.00. The total fair market land value, including buildings has been estimated at $2,169,000.00.

A substantial horse and cattle operation is managed and headquartered on the Arkansas property. The Arkansas headquarters manages an Arabian horse operation, which has national prominence, along with a quarter horse program. and is the headquarters for a four-state cattle operation, which includes feed production, feeding and breeding and a cross-breeding and purebred operation. Extensive work has been done on a commercial development, which includes a motel, shopping center, vacation and retirement homes, condominium units, golf course, and landing strip. This planning has been accomplished over a 10-year period and development is now currently in process. A preliminary $300,000.00 development loan has been made. This commercial development conservatively increases the value of the Arkansas property by $2,000,000.00, giving the total fair market value of $4,169,000.00, excluding the value of projected improvements, which-when completed-should be not less than $10.410,000.00. The relocation of the horse and cattle operations present a near impossible task. The Arkansas property is ideally suited for the breeding and raising of horses and it is an integral part of the 4-state eattle operation.

Dr. Doyne Hamm, a veterinarian of national stature, acting as Resident Veterinarian for the Valley Y Ranch, has estimated that at least two years would be lost in the breeding program in the event relocation was attempted. At this time it is difficult for us to even estimate this loss in dollars.

The cost of acquiring relocation property would be prohibitive and it would appear that the government and citizens of the United States would realize little benefit from this type of relocation over what they now receive.

After considering the high cost of land acquisition, severance and relocation expenses, which would be applicable to this land and probably other property along the Buffalo River, it would appear very doubtful that any real beneficial use could be obtained that is not presently being derived by the canoeist, camper, hiker and sightseer, while the property is now privately owned.

We, therefore, respectfully oppose the Buffalo River National Park bill. Mr. ALLEN. My name is Thomas E. Allen, attorney, Overland Park, Kans., and this is Mr. Peter Yarborough, who is a landowner on the Buffalo River in Arkansas.

In the statement which we presented, we have fold-outs duplicating this material on this map, so I'm going to go through it very shortly, but it's much quicker and easier to see it.

This is the proposed Buffalo River project, of course. This is the land that we are talking about on these two spots. These two pieces of property are involved in the Buffalo River bill. The name of this particular land is called the Valley Y Ranch. This ranch was acquired over a 20-year period. It encompasses approximately, in the headquarters location, 5 miles on both sides of the Buffalo River.

Soil conservation was commenced many years ago by Mr. Yarborough on this property. It was depleted by row-cropping, and it has been brought back to a state of original preservation with help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and also from the Newton County agent in that area.

Fertilization, contour, grassland programs have been instituted. and are in full force in this particular property. Originally, when this land was acquired by Mr. Yarborough, the run-off was muddy and the stream was muddy. At this time, the run-off is clear and the stream is clear on heavy rains.

Mr. Yarborough has supported the conservation and wildlife movements in this area, providing food and cover, and when he originally acquired this property, there were no rabbits or very few quail or deer, and they are all plentiful because of his conservation nature. It is now in a beautiful state and it presents a beautiful pastoral

scene.

This particular property has received national recognition in magazines, newspapers, television, both inside and outside. Also, national card manufacturers have used this property to take pictures of because it is indeed beautiful, as many parts of the Buffalo River are.

Now, on the main piece of property, there are 23 buildings. I will not go through each one of these buildings as to what they are, but I show you this only to show you the nature and the subsidy of the commercial operation.

Until now, we've heard about population on a one person per mile basis on the Buffalo River with a few dwellings. Well, this is much more than a few dwellings. The main arena and sales pavilion are here, which encompass a purebred Arabian horse, quarterhorse, and cattle operation. That's 17,376 square feet.

They have a horse stable, a main horse stable, with 8,900 square feet. This property, total, just in the ranch headquarters area, has over 61,000 square feet under roof. This has been valued by an independent appraiser at a value, buildings alone, in the main property of $669,000. There is underground water to a majority of these buildings, underground utilities, underground power, and underground telephones, and a complex communications system already installed in this area.

Now, the commercial horse operation is Arab and quarterhorse, and this also has received State, regional, and national recognition. To give you just a little bit of an idea, here is Arabian Horse World, the magazine that involves this particular type of business, published last year, and this is an Arabian horse from the Valley Y Ranch, owned by Mr. Yarborough, on the cover, in a Buffalo River scene. This is a national magazine. Last month, the same thing. September 1971, national magazine, Arabian Horse World.

To give you a little further impact-we think it's beautiful, toogreeting cards by the Hallmark Card Co. of Kansas City have been

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