distributed by the Wilderness Society in cooperation with the Big Thicket Conservation Committee just prior to the Beaumont Hearing stated that the ecologically unique area contained twenty-eight national champion trees. For your information, the national champion tree list in Texas is maintained by the Texas Forest Service. A check of their record which can be confirmed by the master record in the Washington Office of the American Forestry Association will show that by stretching the boundaries of the Big Thicket you can conceivably count fifteen national champions, not twenty-eight as they publicized. By counting some state champions, it is possible to reach the twenty-eight figure, however, this is not what they said. Their literature clearly states, "twenty-eight national champions." Such misrepresentation is most unfortunate. It is respectfully requested that any bill approved by your committee include the following two provisions both of which are in one or more Big Thicket bills introduced into the current session of Congress : 1. In order to facilitate the acquisition of privately owned lands in the park by exchange and avoid the payment of severance costs, the Secretary may acquire land which lies adjacent to or in the vicinity of the park. Land so acquired outside the park boundary may be exchanged by the Secretary on an equal-value basis, subject to such terms, conditions, and reservations as he may deem necessary, for privately owned land located within the park. The Secretary may accept cash from or pay cash to the grantor in such exchange in order to equalize the values of the properties exchanged. 2. The Federal Government, through the Department of Interior, shall provide for payment in lieu of ad valorem taxes to political subdivisions in cases where such private owned lands are removed from tax rolls in establishment of such parks and recreational areas such as not to unnecessarily burden existing taxpaying citizens within the affected jurisdictions. Such payment shall be arrived at by study of existing tax cost per acre, plus negotiation of increased increments at various intervals determined by said negotiation. Since I attended college in Knoxville, Tennessee; Durham, North Carolina and Athens, Georgia, I am quite familiar with your Congressional District and the Smokey Mountain National Park. There is no way you can compare the Big Thicket area as a tourist attraction to the Smokey Mountain area. Here in the Big Thicket area of East Texas several of our industrial members have attempted to establish woodlands trails, primitive areas and other similar facilities for public use and enjoyment. These have been terribly abused which emphasizes that the people of the Big Thicket area do not want a Big Thicket National Park. As Mr. Crawford indicated, the major industrial members of our association in the Big Thicket area have been observing a logging moratorium in the "String of Pearls" since 1967. It is unreasonable to expect these companies to pay taxes on their land for an indefinite period without having some use and income from the land. Therefore, we respectfully request your assistance in a solution to this question which we hope will preserve the best of the Big Thicket at the earliest possible date. Respectfully, E. R. WAGONER. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, D.C., September 27, 1967. Mr. O. R. CRAWFORD, Easter, Inc. Jasper, Tex. DEAR MR. CRAWFORD: I am very pleased to learn of your recent meeting with the National Park Service regarding the proposed Big Thicket National Monument. I especially commend you and your Company for your voluntary moratorium on cutting in areas under study for inclusion in the monument. Such interest in the conservation of our natural resources and close cooperation between government agencies and private enterprise is exemplary. A recommendation regarding this important conservation project will be made as fast as possible and you can be assured of our continued cooperation with you. Sincerely yours, STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary of the Interior. (The following attachments have been placed in the Committee files :) Texas Forestry Association "Forest Trails Guide." Article from May 30, 1972 Beaumont Enterprise. Statements acknowledging and commending TFA for cutting moratorium. Mr. TAYLOR. Now, we have a great many witnesses to hear. We will limit each person to 3 minutes. At the end of the hearing, if there is any time left and if any witness feels that he or she is in a position to develop a point that has not been developed, we will be glad to call the witness back. STATEMENT OF MRS. EDNA JAGOE, THE TEXAS FEDERATION OF Mrs. JAGOE. Mr. Chairman, how much time am I allowed? Mrs. JAGOE. I am Edna Jagoe, from Port Arthur, Tex., serving as Big Thicket chairman for the Federation of Women's Clubs. May I express my gratitude and that of all Texas club women to you for holding this hearing today in Beaumont, Tex. I represent and speak today for 24,000 members of Texas clubs. I dare say I represent the largest segment of Texas citizens of any one testifying at this hearing. 1972 is the federation's diamond jubilee year. Since our beginning 75 years ago, Texas clubwomen have sponsored and fought for the preservation of those things that should be saved, whether it be the Treaty Oak in Austin *** helping to preserve old courthouses of architectural value *** establishing a park or a museum to preserve the history of the past, present or future. Wherever you find a historical marker along our Texas highways, a clubwoman has helped to put it there. In 1968 Texas Federation of Women's Clubs went on record to preserve 100,000 acres in southeast Texas for a Big Thicket National Park. A resolution to that effect was passed May 8, 1969, at the State convention. On June 11, 1970, when the General (national) Federation of Women's Clubs met in San Antonio, Tex., a resolution was passed by 3,000 delegates who represented 22 million members of the free world, that wilderness areas be saved. The Big Thicket is part of the area covered in that resolution. Again, on May 6, 1971, when clubwomen assembled in convention at Fort Worth, Tex., another resolution was passed voicing great concern over the dwindling area of the Big Thicket and the encroachment of industry and to recognize the efforts of those Senators and Congressmen who had introduced bills in behalf of the Big Thicket National Park. In September 1970, Texas Federation of Women's Club members. adopted a new slogan-Texas has a new battle cry: "Save the Big Thicket!" From then until today we have made our "battle cry" loud and clear by thousands of letters and cards, many telegrams. phone calls and more resolutions being sent to you, the members of this House committee and the Senate committee, plus other Senators and Representatives. Club members have publicized the saving of the Big Thicket throughout the United States and, of course, in all parts of Texas by lectures, films, programs, slides, television, radio, newspapers and magazine articles, interviews, and by word of mouth wherever they have traveled. On January 24, 1972, Gov. Preston Smith, at my request as Big Thicket chairman for Texas Federation of Women's Clubs, signed a proclamation declaring the first week of March as "Big Thicket week." This proclamation was sent to all parts of Texas. This is the first time a Governor of Texas has publicly declared the "value of the Big Thicket to science, Texas and the Nation 'immeasurable."" On May 8, 1972, at the recent State convention in Dallas of the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs, I gave 300 delegates from all parts of Texas a copy of Representative Jack Brooks' press release to take home to their newspapers that concerned this hearing. Texans everywhere are interested in the outcome of today's hearing. As stated before, gentlemen, 24,000 clubwomen are on record asking that 100,000 acres of the Big Thicket be saved for a national park. We know that certain acres must be saved, but we have faith in you as legislators, in your judgment, fairness and farsightedness into the future, to use your office of public trust to select acres that will mean most to the people now and for future generations. Less acreage could not possibly preserve the wonders, beauty and value of "the fragile wonders of God's creation" that is left in the existing thicket area for the creation of a national park. Gentlemen, in my humble opinion, it is a race now between the power of elected officials in positions of public trust, or the power of bulldozers and buzz saws. I close my testimony with words written by a distinguished 93-yearold pioneer club woman who is present today, who lives alone in a log cabin called Dogwood Den near Woodville, Tex. She is a former feature story writer and still writes a weekly column for the Tyler County Booster. She is Mrs. Ether Osborn Hill, known as Texas' officially elected "Ma Thicket." She has been fighting to save the Big Thicket for 50 years. OUR BIG THICKET Deep in the heart of the vast Big Thicket Where the wildwood creatures still keep picket There are beauty spots almost sublime Nurtured by God through endless time. Great pines stand tall and straight and cool, Beech trees bearing their rich, brown fruits 'Neath magnolias and oaks bloom flowers bright If just for a day or a night 'neath the stars Regardless of how others show their scorn, Some dispute my slogan and even hold debates I say, "It's the fairest spot this side of the pearly gates." Mr. TAYLOR. Just a minute. We may have some questions. Mrs. JAGOE. Yes, sir. Mr. TAYLOR. Why do you favor a national park rather than a national monument or a national recreation area? Mrs. JAGOE. I think the national park will be of more meaning to more people, that they can go into and see. Mr. TAYLOR. Well, now, they can go into a national monument and see it. They can go into a national recreation area and see it. As a matter of fact, the purpose of a national recreation area is to bring people in for recreation. Mrs. JAGOE. This will not be, as I understand, what we are after for a national park to be, one where the public can just trample through at will. There will be places, trails, or wherever roads are there already, that they can go and see whatever we set aside or whatever you set aside, sir, as a national park. I think people are more familiar and they like perhaps the park idea more than they would just a monument. Mr. TAYLOR. What is your recommendation as to the location of the 100,000 acres? Mrs. JAGOE. As I stated in here the 24,000 club members in Texas, each one of them is not familiar with all of the acreage listed there, and we as a group will leave it up to the judgment of the committee and the experts and the biologists and whoever is concerned with this to choose, but we think 100,000 acres could only do justice. It will take that many to do justice to what is there for future generations. Mr. TAYLOR. We have read much of your statement, more than you were permitted to read during your 3 minutes. We will read the rest of it. It is a fine statement and we commend you for it. Mrs. JAGOE. And you will find my attached articles to back up the resolutions and all that the Texas club women have taken. Thank you. Mr. TAYLOR. Let me state before you leave-there may be some more questions in the absence of objection, a copy of the resolution and the additional material attached will be made a part of the record or the file, as appropriate and the same will apply to other statements we are receiving. Mrs. JAGOE. I just want you gentlemen to know there is more than one generation of clubwomen interested in this. Mrs. Hill, for instance, has worked 50 long years and I hope you can meet her when the meeting is over. Mr. TAYLOR. Any other questions? Mr. KAZEN. No. I want to commend her for her presentation and to let her know she has been pretty effective if the letters I have received from here club members is any indication. Mrs. JAGOE. Thank you very much, and we are still ready to do battle. Mr. KAZEN. No, please. [Laughter.] (Mrs. Jagoe's statement follows:) STATEMENT OF MRS. EDNA JAGOE, PORT ARTHUR, TEX., STATE BIG THICKET CHAIRWOMAN, TEXAS FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS Mr. Chairman, committee members and Representative Jack Brooks: I am Mrs. Edna Jague from Port Arthur, Texas, serving as Big Thicket Chairwoman for the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs. May I express my gratitude and that of all Texas clubwomen to you for holding this hearing today in Beaumont, Texas. I represent and speak today for 24,000 members of Texas clubs. I dare say I represent the largest segment of Texas citizens of anyone testifying at this hearing. 1972 is the Federation's Diamond Jubilee Year. Since our beginning seventy-five years ago, Texas clubwomen have sponsored and fought for the preservation of those things that should be saved, whether it be the Treaty Oak in Austin .. helping to preserve old courthouses of architectural value . . . establishing a park or a museum to preserve the history of the past, present or future. ... Wherever you find a historical marker along our Texas highways, a clubwoman has helped to put it there. In 1968 Texas Federation of Women's Clubs went on record to preserve 100,000 acres in Southeast Texas for a Big Thicket National Park. A resolution to that effect was passed May 8, 1969, at the state convention. On June 11, 1970, when the General (National) Federation of Women's Clubs met in San Antonio, Texas, a resolution was passed by 3,000 delegates who represented 22,000,000 members of the free world, that wilderness areas be saved. The Big Thicket is part of the area covered in that resolution. Again, on May 6, 1971, when clubwomen assembled in convention at Fort Worth, Texas, another resolution was passed voicing great concern over the dwindling area of the Big Thicket and the encroachment of industry and to recognize the efforts of those senators and congressmen who had introduced bills in behalf of the Big Thicket National Park. In September, 1970, Texas Federation of Women's Club members adopted a new slogan-Texas has a New Battle Cry: "Save the Big Thicket!" From then until today we have made our "battle cry" loud and clear by thousands of letters and cards, many telegrams, phone calls and more resolutions being sent to you, the members of this House Committee and the Senate Committee, plus other senators and representatives. Club members have publicized the saving of the Big Thicket throughout the United States and, of course, in all parts of Texas by lectures, films, programs, slides, Television, radio, newspapers and magazine articles, interviews, and by word of mouth wherever they have traveled. On January 24, 1972, Governor Preston Smith, at my request as Big Thicket Chairman for Texas Federation of Women's Clubs, signed a proclamation declaring the first week of March as Big Thicket week. This proclamation was sent to all parts of Texas. This is the first time a Governor of Texas has publicly declared the "Value of the Big Thicket to science, Texas and the nation immeasurable'." On May 8, 1972 at the recent state convention in Dallas of the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs, I gave 300 delegates from all parts of Texas a copy of Representative Jack Brooks' press release to take home to their newspapers that concerned this hearing. Texans everywhere are interested in the outcome of today's hearing. As stated before, gentlemen, 24,000 clubwomen are on record asking that 100,000 acres of the Big Thicket be saved for a national park. We know that certain acres must be saved, but we have faith in you as legislators, in your judgment, fairness and far-sightedness into the future, to use your office of public trust to select areas that will mean most to the people now and for future generations. Less acreage could not possibly preserve the wonders, beauty and value of "the fragile wonders of God's Creation" that is left in the existing Thicket area for the creation of a national park. Gentlemen, in my humble opinion, it is a race now between the power of elected officials in positions of public trust, or the power of bulldozers and buzz saws. I close my testimony with words written by a distinguished 93-year-old pioneer clubwoman, who is present today, who lives alone in a log cabin called "Dog |