Marion Co TOC

       (Page 315) Any discussion of the reason for the construction of the Bull Shoals Dam must begin with a review of the frequent and devastating floods that occurred on the White River and its tributaries in the first quarter of the 20th Century. Floods had occurred from time to time prior to August of 1915, but in August of 1915 the flood waters of White River reached an all-time high-even higher than any prediction. Farmers had produced bumper crops all along the river and harvesting was scheduled to begin in about a month when the flood came. Most crops were almost a total loss; livestock and property damage was high-estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Loss of life was heavy also. In 1927 an even more destructive flood plagued the people of the White River Valley as the flood waters were even higher than in 1915.
       The people realized that there was little that they could do as they had no control over the rainfall and, at that time, no way of regulating or controlling the runoff from the rainfall. The problem was not limited to the White River alone but many other rivers in various sections of the country were flooding urban areas as well as farm lands. The United States government recognized the need for Federal action and the task of regulating and controlling the stream flow from the rivers was assigned to the U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers. Many of the men in the Corps of Engineers had seen service in Europe during World War I and had observed the dams on the rivers in Europe. They had the technical training, experience, and know-how to begin a systematic study of the rainfall over a period of years of these different rivers and from the study determine how these floods might be controlled. A comprehensive study of the Arkansas River and the White River in Arkansas led to a voluminous Report and Recommendation by the U.S. Corps of Engineers to the President and to the Congress that a series of flood control dams be built along these rivers and some of their tributaries.
       The Report and Recommendation was received by the Congress and several of the proposed dams were authorized. Authorization for construc tion was necessary, but an authorization by Congress without an appropriation of funds for the construction was a meaningless gesture. Congress did appropriate some money for construction but in the early years the amount appropriated was only sufficient to make preliminary studies as to location, type of dam, damages, cost of construction and estimated benefits to be derived therefrom.
       (Page 316 Top) Congress was concerned with the benefit payout ratio, and while it favored construction, the Study seemed to indicate that in some proposed dams the benefits from flood control only did not offer a satisfactory benefit payout ratio. This situation led the Corps of Engineers to further their study to include dual-purpose dams-dams built primarily for flood control but with hydroelectric facilities and recreation as secondary benefits.
       Among the foremost proponents of the flood control dams in Arkansas, mention is made of a few of those who come to mind at this time: John P. Morrow of Batesville, R. F. Overman and a Mr. Murray of Little Rock. Mr. Rodman of Calico Rock, Judge R. M. Ruthven of Cotter, D. D. Terry of Little Rock, later served in Congress, Reece Caudle of Russellville, and Tom Shiras of Mountain Home. There were many others all along the Arkansas and White Rivers who devoted their time, their energies and their finances to keep before Congress the necessity of appropriating the funds necessary for construction of the authorized dams.
       It can be said to the credit of the entire Arkansas Congressional delegation in the late 1920's and in the l930's that the delegation favored the authorization of the flood control projects and voted for appropriating the funds necessary for construction.
       With the proposed addition of hydroelectric facilities in the dam, the question arose as to how the electricity produced at these dams would be marketed. Two ideas for the marketing were advanced: First, that all power generated at the power plants operated by the Corps of Engineers be sold at the bus-bar to the private power companies to be used in their transmission and distribution systems; second, that the government itself through some agency would market the power giving priority to public bodies, municipalities, governmental installations, and electric cooperatives with the surplus, if any, going to the private power companies.
       These proposals brought on a division among the proponents of the flood control dams-and also led to a difference of opinion among the Arkansas Congressional delegation. It might be well to point out here that the Congress itself was highly divided on that issue. Senator George Norris of Nebraska was the chief advocate of the public power group. Representative John Rankin of Mississippi carried the fight for public power on the House floor. A majority of the Congress early seemed to favor the idea of selling the energy to the private power companies at the bus-bar. In connection with public power marketing, the chief support came from the Pacific Northwest, Nebraska, and states in the newly-created TVA or Tennessee Valley Authority. Rumor had it that President Franklin B. Roosevelt, in his first term as president, had proposed the creation of an Arkansas Valley Authority instead of a Tennessee Valley Authority for complete harnessing of all the resources of the Arkansas and White Rivers, but the then Senator Joe T. Robinson, Senate Majority Leader, opposed such as he favored distribution by the existing private power companies and the matter was dropped.
       In 1938, although authorization had been made for construction of the Norfork Dam as a flood control project, no actual construction had been undertaken. In the Congressional campaigns in Arkansas in 1938, a young attorney from Bentonville who had served in the Arkansas House of Representatives and was at the time serving in the Senate, Senator Clyde T. Ellis, became a candidate for Congress for the Third District. He made cheap (Page 317 Top) electricity for every home and the installation of hydro-electric facilities in every flood control project where economically feasible with the energy to be marketed as set forth in Proposal II, referred to above, the chief issue. He was elected to the Congress and began his first term in January 1939 along with three other freshmen congressmen from Arkansas-Wilbur Mills, "Took" Gathings and William F. Norrell.
       In Congress, Mr. Ellis, with the help of some of the Arkansas delegation and the help of Senator Norris, John Rankin, and others, made a successful fight to have power facilities Stalled in the Norfork Dam and later with the support of many others in Congress power facilities were authorized for Bull Shoals, Table Rock, Beaver, and Dardanelle, as well as at the Narrows Dam, Blakely Mountain, and at Greers' Ferry.
       Since the actual construction of the dam, the cost, the size of the dam, area of the lake, amount of concrete and tons of aggregate number of working days, man hours expended in construction, the KWH capacity of the electric generators installed, the amount of KWH generated at Bull Shoals since operation began have been covered by bulletins from the Corps of Engineers and by writers in newspapers and professional magazines, no attempt will be made herein to repeat the statistics. Suffice it to say that this was the largest construction project ever undertaken in Marion County and, perhaps, no other project in Marion County will ever equal this.
       In this discussion, attention will be directed more to the part played by citizens of Baxter, Boone, and Marion Counties and by groups of interested citizens from Springfield and Branson, Missouri, in convincing the Congress and the Corps of Engineers that power facilities should be installed at the flood control projects. This was not an easy task, as the private power companies, fearing that the electric energy generated at these projects might not be available to them at the bus-bar for transmission and distribution to their customers, launched an all-out advertising campaign calculated to convince Congress and the public in general that no additional power-generating facilities were needed anywhere in Arkansas, and that there was, in fact, a surplus of capacity then, and that these companies could and would construct from time to time the needed facilities and thereby save the government this needless expense and extravagance. Since the companies were able to buy full page advertisements in local newspapers and had successful lobbyists in Washington, most, though not all, newspapers and many Congress men agreed with their arguments.
       It became apparent early in the discussion that Congress wanted an expression of the people directly affected by the dams authorized as to whether they desired flood control only or dual-purpose dams. In keeping with this idea the Corps of Engineers arranged for a series of public hearings at various towns in the area and citizens were invited to appear in person or to select their representatives to present their views on whether or not the dams should be built and their views on whether or not they should be built as flood control projects only or should they be built as multi-purpose projects. Such meetings were held at Newport, Batesville, Harrison, Mountain Home and, perhaps, at other locations. Opinions and ideas were not unanimous. In fact, many opposed the dams for any purpose. It was said by some: "The man above the dam didn't favor a dam. The man below the dam favored it. The man at the dam didn't give a damn". In general, the majority of the people in (Page 318 Top) Baxter, Boone and Marion County looked with favor upon construction of the dams and many favored multi-purpose dams.
       Among the most ardent advocates of multi-purpose dams on White River was the late Judge R. M. Ruthvin of Baxter County who attended all the hearings held by the Corps of Engineers and presented arguments supported by statistics and facts as to the desirability of multi-purpose projects over flood control projects only. He would recite the undesirable features of flood control only projects and cite the Wappapello dam on the St. Francis River in Missouri as an example of the mud, filth and slime that followed a flood when the water receded. He would point out that the farmland could not be cultivated and the water in the reservoirs would be of little value for recreational purposes. Another ardent advocate of multi-purpose dams was the late Tom Shiras, Editor of the Baxter Bulletin. In an appearance before a Congressional Hearing on the construction of multi-purpose dams, Mr. Shiras in his plea pointed out that there were millions of wild horses running untamed and unharnessed down White River doing untold damage, bringing death and destruction to the people of the White River Valley. He concluded with this plea: "Tame and harness these wild horses and put them to work for the people whose property they have destroyed." His plea carried a convincing note to the Congress.
       After the Public Hearing by the Corps of Engineers, a recommendation was submitted to the Congress that the dams be constructed primarily for flood control with production of hydro-electricity and recreational facilities where desirable and economically feasible.
       Upon learning of the recommendation, Congressman Clyde T. Ellis asked for and received the approval of the Congressional Committee considering the matter to have delegations from Baxter, Marion and Boone Counties to appear before the Committee to voice their views on installation of hydro electric facilities in the Norfork Dam soon to be under construction and for the other dams to be constructed later on White River. Delegations from these counties and, perhaps, from other areas did go to Washington and appeared before the Committee. Among those from Baxter County attending were: Tom Shiras, Judge R. M. Ruthven, Ben Dearmore, Clyde Bryant, Rex Bodenhammer, and, perhaps, there were others whose names cannot be remembered at this time. From Marion County those names remembered were: Luther Cavaness, G. B. Keeter, Gus McCracken, Leslie Clem, Lon Berry, Earl Berry, Glenn Johnson, and perhaps one or two others whose names cannot be remembered at this writing. Since the Boone County delegation did not appear on the same day as the Baxter and Marion County delegations appeared, the names of the delegates are not remembered with certainty but memory seems to recall that among the Boone County delegates were the late Virgil Willis and the late Len Jones.
       The Hearing before the Committee was brief and no long speeches were allowed. It was largely a matter of stating your name and address and then the question by the Chairman: "Do you favor the installation of hydro electric facilities in the Norfork Dam?" The answer given by all the dele gates from both Baxter and Marion Counties was: "I do." Presumably the Boone County delegation gave the same answer. We have earlier referred to the plea made by Tom Shiras about harnessing the wild horses of the White River Valley. The Chairman usually followed each speaker with: "Thank (Page 319 Top) you: Next witness, please."
       An interesting sidelight to the trip to Washington to appear before the Committee may be given here. Four of the Marion County delegation made the trip to Washington in a car, spent one day and one night in Washington, two days and two nights on the trip to the city and two days and one night on the return trip and the total cost of the trip for lodging, food and gasoline was less than $75.00. It seems unbelievable today with hamburgers selling at one dollar each or above; rooms not less than $8 to $10 per person and gasoline at sixty cents per gallon and gasoline consumption at an average of 14 or 15 miles per gallon. At that time hamburgers and sandwiches cost 10 cents, a plate lunch 35 cents and breakfast with bacon, eggs, toast and coffee for the same; rooms in tourist homes-there were few motels then-at 50cents per person; room in Washington, D.C. then cost each one of the delegation $1.00 per night and gasoline was from 14 to 16 cents a gallon and the car in use averged about twenty miles to the gallon.
       Construction of the Norfork Dam began the following year with power facilities included. With construction of Norfork, the economy of both Baxter County and Marion County was changed. Many men in Marion County were employed on the Norfork project and this employment gave them the experience needed to qualify for better jobs on many war projects that sprang up all over the nation when we were engulfed shortly thereafter in World War II.
       Soon after World War II ended, construction on the Bull Shoals Dam began. Many of the men in Marion County who had been employed in various war-related projects during the war and now closed, and many returning veterans to Marion County found no jobs. The building of Bull Shoals Dam was a lifesaver for the economy of Marion County. Men found employment here in the county. New businesses sprang up in Yellville and Flippin. A new town-Bull Shoals -came into being. The need for new homes and additional housing became apparent. Construction of these followed both in the towns and in the areas surrounding the towns. A paved highway from Flippin to the dam site was constructed as was a highway from Highway 5, at Midway in Baxter County to the dam.
       With these roads built, it became apparent that a bridge across the top of the dam was a necessity but such had not been provided for in the appropriation. The Arkansas Congressional delegation was contacted and through their cooperation and the Arkansas Highway Department, the road from Flippin to Midway was made a state highway with a bridge across White River at the dam.
       Many problems arose in the county as a result of the building of the Bull Shoals Dam. Among the problems was the relocation of life-long residents of the valley who, as the reservoir began to fill up, were obliged to leave their farms and re-locate. In many instances this meant leaving Marion County as there was not enough fertile land in the county to take the place of the river bottoms and creek bottoms which they had farmed. Another problem was the re-location of the roads and bridges which had been inundated by the reservoir. That part of Marion County north of White River including Northfork Township, Cedar Creek Township, and Keesee Township were isolated from the remainder of the county as there were no bridges or ferries across the lake by which the residents could reach Yellville. One of the most (Page 320 Top) emotional problems that arose was the removal of the remains of loved ones buried in the cemeteries that would soon be inundated by the reservoir. Many cemeteries were re-located and remains from some cemeteries were taken to nearby already existing cemeteries. This was a tedious and time consuming project but due to the understanding, courtesy and cooperation of the Corps of Engineers and the Contractors who did the work, no serious problems developed. Among the cemeteries re-located, perhaps the largest one, was the Wild Cat Cemetery which was re-located on the highway near Fairview and renamed the Fairview Cemetery.
       Another problem that arose was the damage to buildings in Flippin and the area near the rock quarry located on the Wilson farm on Lee's Mountain, brought about by the heavy blasting at the quarry. Damage was extensive and practically every business building in Flippin and many of the residences suffered damages to a greater or lesser degree. The contractor and property owners could not, in most cases, reach an agreement as to the amount of damage to the property. The matter was taken to court and damages running into many thousands of dollars were fixed by the court and paid to the property owners by the contractor.
       It was necessary for the Corps of Engineers to secure title in the name of the United States Army, Corps of Engineers, to all land to be inundated by the reservoir at its predicted highest level and an additional narrow strip above this level. This was an ardous task as the title to each parcel taken had to be examined, the property appraised, an offer made to the owner, and if the offer was unacceptable and an agreement to price could not be reached, condemnation proceedings were instigated under the government's power of "Eminent Domain". The next step was a trial in the Federal District Court in Harrison. Often the judgment rendered as to the value of the property taken was not satisfactory to either the government or the property owner but few appeals were taken.
       The construction was delayed somewhat by floods that occurred and by a "wild cat" strike. This strike was not settled for some time but it did not stop work altogether.
       An unusual feature in the construction of the project was the seven mile belt line built to convey the crushed rock used in the concrete from the quarry on Lee's Mountain just northwest of Flippin to the dam site. At the time it was built, it was reported to be the longest conveyor belt system ever built for such transportation. According to the study made by the contractors, it would have required enough trucks, bumper to bumper, traveling to the dam with the aggregate and the same with the empty trucks returning to the quarry working full time to have transported the aggregate to the site within the required time. This unusual method of transportation received both national and international attention and was the subject matter of many articles in magazines and professional journals.
       Much of the success for the completion of this project on time was due to the ability and untiring labor of the very capable and efficient Harvey Slocum, Construction Superintendent, and to his able assistants. He was recognized internationally as one of the best in the business and at the conclusion of the construction of the Bull Shoals Dam, Mr. Slocum, with a number of his foremen, went to India for the construction of a big dam there.
       The dam was completed in 1951 and the huge reservoir behind the dam (Page 321 Top Photo: View of part of Seven Mile Belt Line from Lee's Mountain to Bull Shoals Dam during construction) began to slowly but surely fill. About this time an interesting and unusual event took place. Reported leaks in Bull Shoals Dam were circulated but such reports had been circulated relative to Norfork Dam. These reports were common in practically all dams.
       The reported leak itself was not unusual nor of particular interest but some of the particulars of the reported leak were unusual and interesting as reported hereafter. That there was a leak was confirmed by the Corps of Engineers, not in the dam itself nor was the leak the fault of the Corps of Engineers or that of the Contractor who constructed the dam. They could only confirm the leak but could not, at the time, locate the leak nor explain it. One of the interesting and unusual situations that first attracted attention was a change in the flow of water at the Due Eddy Spring located about one mile below the Bull Shoals Dam on the Baxter County side of White River. As the Bull Shoals reservoir began to fill, a noticeable increase in the flow of water at the Due Eddy Spring was observed. By the time the reservoir was full, the flow of water at the spring had increased to several times its normal flow.
       This situation led the Corps of Engineers to begin a series of drilling tests on three sides of the spring in an effort to determine the direction from which this additional flow was coming. They found that the pressure of the increased flow was terrific with a constant boiling action that brought small stones to the top of the water, a depth of approximately four feet, but were unable from the drilling tests to determine the direction from which this increased flow came.
       The second situation which drew attention was that in 1954 as the water level of the lake declined, due to a prolonged drouth, reports were (Page 322 Top) circulated to the effect that water along the shore line of the Jimmies Creek arm of the lake on the farm formerly owned by Simon Osborn was running into holes along the shore line at that location. The location of these holes was some twelve to fifteen miles shore line above the dam and three or four miles almost due west of the Due Eddy Spring and on the opposite side of White River. Fishermen reported that they had found a place on the shore line where the water was flowing out of the lake into a hole and they reported that they could hear the water falling as over a waterfall. This was reported to the Corps of Engineers and they investigated the report and it was found to be true.
       Following the investigation, the Engineers poured colored dye into the hole where the water was leaving the lake in an effort to determine where it would surface. The next day traces of this colored dye appeared in the flow of water at the Due Eddy Spring. This water had to flow under part of the lake, under a state highway, under Bull Shoals Mountain, and under the White River-a distance of some three or four miles to make its appearance in the Due Eddy Spring.
       The Corps of Engineers conducted a study to ascertain the amount of water lost in this leak and determined that the loss was enough to justify a considerable expenditure of funds in an effort to stop the leak. The method used was known as "grouting", that is the placing a series of pipes in the leaks and forcing a mixture of cement and lime into the openings. Some of the mixture showed up in the spring. It was thought at the time as the lake level lowered that the problem had been solved, but as the lake filled again the flow and pressure of water at Due Eddy Spring increased. This situation and the mystery thereof remain unsolved.
       The Bull Shoals Dam was officially dedicated by President Harry S. Truman in 1952 and the dedicatory services attracted, perhaps, the largest crowd to ever assemble in either Baxter or Marion County. In addition to President Truman and his party, other notables present were Senator John L. McClellan, Governor Sid McMath, Chief of the U.S. Corps of Engineers of Washington, D.C., the District Engineer of the Little Rock District of Engineers, Congressman J. W. Trimble, who introduced the President, former Congressman Clyde T. Ellis, then Executive Manager of the National Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives and the one, who, perhaps more than any other individual, was responsible for getting construction on the White River dams started and for their being made dual-purpose projects rather than flood control only. In addition to those mentioned above, most county and city officials of both Baxter and Marion County attended as did many prominent citizens and officials of the surrounding counties. A host of friends and well-wishers from President Truman's home state of Missouri were there to welcome him. All in all it can be said that this was probably the most exciting event that had transpired in the lives of most of the native citizens of Marion County. Children of that day will be telling their children and their grandchildren of the time when a President of the United States was in the county.
       No one can estimate in dollars and cents the advantages of the Bull Shoals Dam. Since it was constructed primarily as a flood control dam one must say that judged on flood control alone it has proved its worth. In the 1957 flood and again in the flood of 1973, had Bull Shoals Dam and the other flood (Page 323 Top Photo: General view along downstream face of Bull Shoals Dam showing construction progress. December, 1951) control dams not been in existence at the time, the White River Valley would have been devastated as in 1915 and in 1927. Captain Mike Husted of the U.S. Engineers, in an article he wrote relative to the flood control projects, estimated that had these projects not existed in 1973 that damage from that flood alone would have exceeded 14 billion dollars. The damage from the 1957 flood would likely not have been as high as the estimated 1973 damage, but it must be kept in mind that several lesser floods since 1952 have been averted by Bull Shoals Dam and other of the flood control projects.
       As was pointed out earlier the Bull Shoals Dam and the Norfork Dam changed the economy of Baxter County and Marion County. Before construction the economy of both counties was largely agriculture. That is no longer true, as industry and recreation lead agriculture, perhaps, both in the number of people employed and the income derived therefrom. The agriculture economy itself has changed dramatically. Earlier agriculture was largely row crops with some livestock. Today agriculture is largely hay, pasture and livestock with little row crops.
       Not only has the economy of Marion County changed but the social and political conditions also have changed. Prior to the building of Bull Shoals Dam, a vast majority of the people were natives of the county and were generally considered as being typical Ozarkians-friendly, hospitable, and closely bound by family ties. Politically the people were predominately Democrats. Due to the great number of people who have chosen Marion County as their retirement home, it is likely that these people constitute a majority of the residents of Marion County. While the natives have played an important (Page 324 Top) part in making Marion County a good place in which to live, let it be said to the credit of the new citizens that they have brought new ideas, a new culture, energy and enthusiasm, and have in every sense of the word become good citizens, boosters of the area, and the fusion of the old and new has been harmonious and good for Marion County. It might be said also that the population of Marion County has been on the increase for the past ten years or more and it is anticipated that the 1980 census will show the population count to be the highest ever, and this growth may be attributed largely to the changes brought about by the Bull Shoals Dam.
       Politically the one party system in Marion County-Democrats- is a thing of the past. Although a majority of the citizens still vote as "Democrats", many more vote Republican than formerly and a great number now consider themselves Independents. No nominee of the Democratic party for county office in Marion County can feel assured of election prior to the November election.
       In conclusion it must be pointed out that the contribution made by the hydro-electricity generated at the Bull Shoals Dam can hardly be over emphasized during this energy shortage. This energy is largely peak power and when used as such becomes much more valuable. It prevents the installation of costly generation that would be used only during peak hour usage and thereby helps to prevent extra increases in the cost of electric energy.
       To be mentioned also is the valuable recreational facilities that Bull Shoals Lake provides and the related industries that have come into being, particularly the boat industry and tourists. The latest official count shows that in 1975, 4,385,656 tourists visited Bull Shoals Dam. It is hoped that these tourists were impressed by the advantages to be found in Marion County and that many of these will return to make Marion County their home and help to make this a better and happier place in which to live.