OH, MERCY!
Now Progressive Searcy Countians, Americans, Buffalo River Landowners, and the
Corps of Engineers have been...

GORED
... by some erstwhile "conservationists" and nature lovers from Fort Smith, who ran an 
ad in the March 14 issue of the Southwest Times Record. They intimated we are about 
to destroy a thing of joy and beauty forever when a much needed impoundment on the 
Buffalo River is created for the State of Arkansas.


CHUG A LUG

They didn't mention to you good 
people that: If the dam is constructed 
it might inundate their "Favorite 
Drinking Preserve."

HERE IS THEIR RECORD

...as published in the Marshall
Mountain Wave weekly newspaper,
April 30th, 1964.

Of those arrested (named in the 
following news story) the following persons
also sponsored the misleading diatribe
against the dam last Sunday: Dorsey
Ryan, Tom Mueller, Robert W. Vater,
Jim Chesser, and Gerald Delung.  They
were defended by the great defender,
Heartsill Ragon.

Sheriff Siezes [sic] Untaxed Whiskey,
Beer From Group On Buffalo River

Sheriff Beal Sutterfield raided
a group of from 20 to 35 fishermen
camped close to the river
bank at the old Maumee Ferry
on Buffalo river Wednesday evening
of last week and confiscated
16 Quarts of Untaxed whiskey
and approximately 10 cases of
beer.

Sheriff Sutterfield said that
he received reports Wednesday
afternoon from citizens of the
area regarding the group that
drove to the river Wednesday,
and it was reported that some of
them were carrying a considerable
amount of intoxicants.

The Sheriff, accompanied by
Justice of the Peace L. A. Potter,
and a number of deputies 
arrived at the river about 9 p.m. 
and found a number of the
men drinking and intoxicated.
Upon searching the cars a total 
of 16 quarts of untaxed liquor, 
bearing Louisiana tax stamps, 
was found and many cases of 
beer.  All the beer bore the 
Arkansas tax stamp but many of 
the cars contained more than 
the three gallons which is 
permitted under the law.

Warrants were issued for Dick 
Mueller, Max Hare, Dan J. 
Gaither, Henry Scheilder, Charlie 
McRae, George Farmer, Jim 
Chesser, Charles Ivy, Cal 
Remmel, Thomas C. Mueller, Gerald 
DeLung, for possession of untaxed 
liquor and additional warrants 
were issued for Richard 0. Miles, 
Clyde Gains, D. M. Ryan, 
Gerald DeLung, John P. Shields, and 
Robert Vater for over possession 
of intoxicating liquor in a dry 
territory.

Hearing on the charges were 
heard Saturday afternoon by J. 
P. L. A. Potter in the courtroom 
of the county courthouse.

The group was represented by 
Heartsill Ragon, an attorney of 
Fort Smith, who joined the 
group Thursday.

At the hearing John P. Shields, 
who stated that his company had 
organized the group for a 
fishing trip, plead guilty to owning 
all the untaxed liquor and was 
fined $100.00 and costs. Richard O. 
Miles, Clyde Goins, D. M. 
Ryan, Gerald LeLung and John 
P. Shields, also plead guilty to 
the charge of over possession 
and were fined $50.00 and costs 
each on the charge. Total fines 
and costs amounted to $515.50.

The group at the river 
Wednesday evening stated that they 
were the early arrivers of a 
group which would gather at 
the river from four states, and 
that more than 100 people were 
expected before the end of the week.

Although they denied they had 
any connection with the Ozark 
Society and had no opinion as 
to whether or not the river 
should be dammed—some of 
them were well acquainted with 
Dr. Neal Compton of Bentonville, 
head of the Ozark Society and 
leader of the opposition to the 
proposed dams on the Buffalo.

Some complaints of the group 
driving on the roads between 
Marshall and the river were 
made by the citizens of the 
Morning Star community and by 
some of the residents along the 
ridge road to the river. Some of 
the party that came to Marshall 
after ice and were reported to be 
in an intoxicated condition when 
they arrived in town.

The group left the river late 
Saturday afternoon or early 
Sunday morning.

TRUTH

1.-

Ozark Society defenders forgot 
to tell you good people that more 
than 45 miles of the most scenic 
portion of the river above the 
lake would remain free-flowing— 
Enough for a 3 or 4 day float 
trip. Below the dam there will 
be more than 50 miles of river 
remaining in natural flow and
condition.

2.-

Hemmed-in-Hollow, Goats Bluff,
Diamond Cave, Fitton's Cave
and other attractions WILL NOT
be disturbed.

3.-

Where some scenic bluff might
be partially inundated the water
will back up around the hill,
create a long finger into another
hollow, and Lo--another bluff has
been Unlocked that was not 
accessible before.  WHO KNOWS,
the dam may unlock MORE
natural beauty than it now has.

4.-

LOVE THE BUFFALO ... they
said! Who has a right to love it
more--The Landowners and
Nearby residents who claim it in
heritage, or the gamehogs and
drinkers who come to sink beer
cans in it while being paddled
around by convicts from the 
Arkansas State Penitentiary??? 
National Treasure indeed!!!! Please
help us keep this for you and I— 
not the political kings and their 
slaves.

5.-

This entire area desperately 
needs that water resource for 
city water, industrial 
development, recreation etc. The 
proposed lake is in a naturally 
economically depressed area. 
Construction of a lake would result 
in more tax dollars to the state--less 
relief and welfare money--
greater attraction to tourists and 
residents alike. A national park 
would result in taking land OFF 
the tax rolls, a disenfranchised 
citizenry, government ownership
of more land.....and what??
The government already owns 
thousands of acres in National 
forests and parks in Searcy, 
Newton, Stone and other 
surrounding counties. Do we need 
more of the same. If this brings 
such prosperity — this section 
should indeed be prosperous 
already!!!

6.-

YES, PLEASE DO WRITE 
YOUR CONGRESSMEN, as the 
Ozark Society advised. Only, tell 
them to vote FOR PROGRESS, 
and For the Buffalo Dam. Tell 
them that you are a loyal 
Arkansas citizen who wants to see 
ALL of Arkansas prosper and 
Grow More Beautiful. Tell them 
Selfishness and Greed should not 
prevent the development of this 
lake for all Arkansas. Please 
do it today!!!

_____________________________

The people of Searcy county only ask
the right to develop their own property
to the best interest of all our people.
75% of the landowners in the lake site
favor construction of the proposed dam.
And they have expressed their position
by a petition to Congress and the Board
of Rivers and Harbors.  We solicit your
help.  Please do not hurt us.


Buffalo River Improvement Association

James R. Tudor, President
Gibson Walsh, V-President
Kate Ruff, Secretary-Treas.