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.
