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We request that this letter be included in the record of the hearing before your Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation.

Sincerely,

EVA G. LOVETT, Conservation Chairman.

Hon. WAYNE N. ASPINALL,

NATIONAL PARKS & CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION,
Washington, D.C., October 27, 1971.

Chairman, Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, Longworth Office Building, Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The National Parks and Conservation Association appreciates your invitation to submit a statement for the record in support of HR 8382, a bill to establish the Buffalo National River in Arkansas.

NPCA is a non-profit private organization, educational and scientific in character, which publishes the monthly National Parks and Conservation Magazine, the Environmental Journal. The magazine goes to all of the more than 50,000 members of the organization.

The Buffalo River is superbly suited for inclusion in the National River Park system. The area has great scenic, wildlife and historic resources and values. And the river itself is one of the few remaining wild and free-flowing streams left in Arkansas. To preserve this river for conservation and recreation purposes is an entirely appropriate use of a great natural resource. It would also, we believe, prove to be economically beneficial to the region.

In this respect, NPCA believes that the bill before this committee, HR 8382, is better than a similar measure which passed the Senate earlier this year (S. 7). We support the provision which authorizes federal payments for up to four years to compensate the counties for loss of tax revenue resulting from federal acquisition of certain park lands (Section 4 of the bill). As the committee is no doubt aware, despite the fact that the National River has received overwhelming support from local residents and organizations in Arkansas, opposition has been expressed by some residents of these counties. These people fear that the sudden loss of revenue would seriously affect their counties' economic situations. The inclusion of this provision in the bill should mean that the National River proposal would be supported by almost all of the local population, as well as by local conservation organizations, state agencies, and many national organizations. NPCA would therefore like to recommend that the bill, HR 8382, be swiftly approved so that the Buffalo National River can be established and this tremendous natural resource fully protected from any adverse development. Sincerely,

JONAS V. MORRIS, Representative for the National Park System.

ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION,
Little Rock, Ark., November 3, 1971.

Hon. Roy A, TAYLOR,
Chairman, Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation, Interior and Insular
Affairs Committee, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C.
DEAR CONGRESSMAN TAYLOR: The hearings you conducted recently on estab-
lishment of the Buffalo National River has generated much comment and con-
siderable controversy in our state. Many of the landowners along the Buffalo
River are members of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation. They are con-
cerned that the rights of landowners within the boundaries of the proposed
Buffalo National River be fully considered in any decision made by your
committee.

On May 28 we expressed in a letter to Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt concerning his bill, H.R. 8382, our concern over this matter. May we repeat our position on this issue at this time.

Voting delegates at our most recent convention established our policy, which says that "We are opposed to any proposal which would prevent the economic development of a stretch of river which has potential resource value for water supply, flood control, agriculture, forestry, recreation, tax income or other economic use, or which would necessitate the taking of fee title to privately owned lands, or which would unnecessarily involve federal responsibility for

a river which is being adequately managed by a state." We also state that "The power of eminent domain should not be used for national parks, wildlife refuges, riding and hiking trails or other recreational projects. It should be used with restraint in other cases."

May we respectfully ask that this statement be entered in the hearing record of the proceedings of your subcommittee on the Buffalo National River.

Sincerely,

HAROLD F. OHLENDORF, President.

ARKANSAS BOW HUNTERS, INC., North Little Rock, Ark., June 17, 1971.

Hon. JOHN PAUL HAMMERSCHMIDT,
U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. HAMMERSCHMIDT: The Arkansas Bow Hunters have adopted a resolution urging that the Buffalo River be made a "National River" by the United States Congress.

The Buffalo River is one of the few remaining mountain streams in this country still in its natural setting, free from any so called "improvements" such as dams, etc., that have been constructed on many of our mountain rivers by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.

We urge your Committee to favorably pass legislation so that the Buffalo River may become a National River before it is too late to preserve its natural beauty and primitive appeal.

Our Organization respectfully requests your favorable approval of this matter during this session of Congress.

Sincerely yours,

FRANKLIN SEFORD, President.

OZARK SOCIETY,
CADDO CHAPTER,

Hon. Roy A. TAYLOR,

Texarkana, Ark., July 7, 1971.

Chairman, Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation, House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: The 51 members and their families of the Caddo Chapter of the Ozark Society urge you to pass the Bill HR. 8382 introduced by the Hon. John Paul Hammerschmidt to protect the Buffalo River of Arkansas as a National River under the National Park Service.

Our membership represents a wide geographic area in southwest Arkansas and northeast Texas, and many of us know and love the Buffalo River for the rich variety it offers in scenic beauty and recreation. Year-round, we derive pleasure from its fishing, canoeing, birdwatching, camping, and nature-hikes. A group of us just returned from a canoe-float down 40 miles of the river, and the numbers of fishermen, swimmers, canoeists and picnickers testified amply to the river's popularity. Not merely Arkansans enjoy the Buffalo, but people from Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Tennessee, and other states.

Its craggy bluffs, deep pools and white-water rapids offer a spectacular beauty that we could not find anywhere else in this area if the Buffalo River is not protected.

We request that this letter of support for Bill HR. 8382 be included in the record of the hearing.

We urge you again, Sir, to a speedy passage of this Bill in your committee. Yours faithfully,

Mrs. THOMAS C. MCRAE IV,
Conservation Chairman

Hon. WAYNE N. ASPINALL,
House Office Building,
Washington, D.C.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CROSSETT, ARK,
Crossett, Ark., June 10, 1971.

DEAR MR. ASPINALL: The local League of Women Voters urges your support of HR 8382, a bill introduced by Mr. Hammerschmidt to provide for the estab lishment of the Buffalo National River. We wish to assure the Committee on

Interior and Insular Affairs that interest in making the Buffalo a national river is state-wide. Our concensus supports the preservation of the Buffalo River as a free flowing stream. Too few such streams remain.

Preservation of the environment is one of the most vital concerns of the American people today. We feel protection of the Buffalo River can be most effectively provided by the National Park Service.

Sincerely yours,

JEANNE BURTON, President.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF BAXTER COUNTY,
June 16, 1971.

Hon. WAYNE N. ASPINALL, Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. ASPINALL: Baxter County League of Women Voters joins our State of Arkansas League in asking support for the above bill. Establishment of Buffalo National River has been a long time desire of the residents of our state and now with the added fear of pollution and destruction of the beauty of national waterways we believe this preservation is very urgent and can no longer be delayed. Further delay may result in complete loss of this river as a thing of beauty.

Sincerely,

Mrs. PAT THOMPSON, President.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY,
Fayetteville, Ark., June 18, 1971.

Hon. Roy A. TAYLOR,
Chairman, Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation, House Committee
on Interior and Insular Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.
DEAR MR. TAYLOR: The League of Women Voters of Washington County has
been interested for ten years in maintaining the Buffalo River as a natural,
free flowing river. The erosion process which carved the watershed of the
Buffalo began 3,000,000 years ago. This process has left beautiful multicolored
cliffs, some 650 feet high. In addition to the 250 species of birds. and other
numerous species of wildlife in the area, two Indian sites have been discovered.
To protect this last remaining free flowing river in the Arkansas Ozarks
means preserving an invaluable heritage for posterity. But time is running out.
Since the 1969 consideration of this project, land speculation and development
have occurred in the area which will be costly in dollars as well as damage to
the river valley. Therefore, we urge early consideration of HB 8382 by the
Committee and request that you give passage of this bill your personal support.
We would also like to request that our letter be included in the records of
the hearing.

Sincerely yours,

MARCIA M. WOOD, President.

ANITA F. BUKEY, Legislative Chairman.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF COLUMBIA COUNTY,
Magnolia, Ark., October 18, 1971.

Hon. Roy A. TAYLOR,

Chairman, Subcommittee on Parks and Recreation, House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Washington, D.C.

MY DEAR MR. TAYLOR: As you know the League of Women Voters of the United States are very interested in H.R. 8382, a bill to establish the Buffalo River in Arkansas as a National River.

The members of the Columbia County League of Women Voters hope that you will do what you can in getting H.R. 8382 passed. Those of us living in Arkansas are especially interested in the Buffalo River remaining as a freeflowing river.

We appreciate your influence on other committee members and hope that your committee will be favorable toward this Bill.

Sincerely yours,

FLORENE JORDAN BRADLEY, Chairman, Environmental Quality Committee.

Hon. Roy A. TAYLOR,

ARKANSAS WILDLIFE FEDERATION,
BEAVER LAKE WILDLIFE CLUB CHAPTER,
Springdale, Ark., November 2, 1971.

Chairman, Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. MY DEAR MR. TAYLOR: The Beaver Lake Wildlife Club is an affiliate member of the Arkansas Wildlife Federation. As such our members have voted to support the Federations endorsement of H.R. 8382 and H.R. 9119, the Buffalo National River proposals.

In addition our members feel that to have successfully freed the Buffalo River from the threat of being converted into another reservoir would be small gain if we now allow the beauty that was saved to be spoiled by indiscriminate development of the area by individuals or large commercial groups.

In view of the foregoing, the Beaver Lake Wildlife Club not only urges that the Buffalo River be made a National River, but that as much of the area under consideration as possible be designated a Wilderness Area. We will support future legislation that will achieve these goals while affording maximum protection and compensation to the affected landowners.

It is requested that this letter be made a part of the record during the hearing on H.R. 8382.

Sincerely,

Hon. ROY TAYLOR,

TITO J. MORSANI, President.

CONSERVATION EDUCATION COUNCIL,
Little Rock, Ark., November 2, 1971.

Chairman, Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. TAYLOR: On November 28 and 29, I attended the hearing on the proposed Buffalo National River. May I say that you are to be commended for the fairness and dispatch with which you conducted the hearing.

It was my privilege to fish and hunt on the Buffalo beginning in June of 1911 at the age of 13. The Buffalo was a beautiful river then, and is still a beautiful river sixty years later.

My experience in teaching vocational agriculture ten years, being a County Agent for two years, and as an employee of the Soil Conservation Service for thirty years, has taught me that man must have more of nature and less concrete to keep his peace and sanity. The Buffalo River will serve many people and will allow them to experience the tranquility of nature.

Before my retirement, and since, it has been my privilege to work through committees in the Arkansas Wildlife Federation, the Ozark Society, the Farm and Ranch Club and the State Advisory Council on Environmental Education to encourage the State Department of Education to implement a plan for teaching environmental education in the public schools of Arkansas. Progress has been rapid since 1968.

The Buffalo River, as a national river, will offer a place for a training area, if facilities are available for housing groups of teachers, students, ecologists, and others near the river area. I visualize this facility in the Buffalo River State Park Area.

As a member of the Steering Committee of the Advisory Environmental Educational Committee, I wish to go on record as supporting the Bill by Representative John Paul Hammerschmidt known as HR 8382.

I also request that this letter become a part of the Buffalo River hearing record.

Respectfully,

ELSTON LEONARD.

BAYOU CHAPTER, OZARK SOCIETY,
Shreveport, La., November 2, 1971.

Hon. Roy A. TAYLOR,
Longworth Building,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: The Bayou Chapter of the Ozark Society is very much in favor of the Buffalo River being made as a national river. Our chapter is located in Shreveport, Louisiana and you might be interested to know that many people

from our state enjoy the scenic beauty provided by the Buffalo River and feel it should be preserved for all time. I understand that the bill for the creation of the Buffalo National River is listed as House Bill 8382. The Bayou Chapter of the Ozark Society endorses this bill. I would appreciate this letter being made a part of the record.

Very truly yours,

B. B. GIBBS, Chairman.

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COUNCIL OF MEMPHIS,
Memphis, Tenn., October 11, 1971.

Hon. Roy A. TAYLOR,
Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation, Interior and Insular Affairs
Committee, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

DEAR REPRESENTATIVE TAYLOR: The Environmental Action Council of Memphis has gone on record in full support of HR Bill 8382, calling for the creation of a Buffalo National River in Arkansas.

The Buffalo River, in its present unspoiled, unaltered state, is among the most beautiful streams in America. To turn any segment of it into a reservoir would amount to an ecological crime for which our progeny would never forgive us.

This river deserves the full protection of the law in the form of national park status. Save the Buffalo and you will have the everlasting thanks of all of us who love and revere our natural heritage. There are only a few such streams. They refresh the human spirit and restore the soul. They should not be sacrificed to the god of progress and technology.

Please let this statement become a part of the record of the impending hearings.

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Chairman, Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation, Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. TAYLOR: The Pulaski County Audubon Society strongly supports the Buffalo National River bill and urges that it be released by the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs for an early vote.

Many of us have watched with dismay the clearing and construction which has occurred along the lower stretches of the Buffalo since a similar bill died in the House two years ago. If the river is not given the protection offered by this bill, and soon, it will not be worth preserving. It is easier and cheaper to provide the nation with this park now rather than wait and attempt to reclaim the river later. We feel this river is a great natural asset and should be preserved not only for the present generation but more importantly for our children.

While all our members are not captivated by the National Park Service taking over the river as provided by the bill, most of us realize that practicalities being what they are, this is the only practical economic and political solution to preserving the stream.

Our organization consists of some 185 professional and business men and women living in Little Rock. Please enter our letter in the record of the hearing.

Sincerely yours,

J. LYNDAL YORK, Ph. D.,
President.

ARKANSAS FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS,
Little Rock, Ark., October 28, 1971.

Hon. Roy A. TAYLOR,
Longworth Building,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR HONORABLE TAYLOR: We the members of the Arkansas Federation of Women's Clubs, one of the largest women's organizations in the state, do strongly support the proposed legislation for the Buffalo River.

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