Agate Fossil Beds Administrative History

Legislative Efforts Fizzle, 1963-1964

During the first week of January 1963, Senator Roman L. Hruska called Howard Baker and offered his strong support for the proposed monument. Hruska had already been approached by a Nebraska press delegation lobbying for a National Park Service unit at Agate. Among that group (whose other members are not known) was Joe Seacrest, a reporter for the Lincoln Journal. Seacrest's enthusiasm and appreciation for the quarries was contagious, both in his writing and his lobbying effort, and served to spark the staunch advocacy of Roman Hruska. The Cooks and the Agate Springs Fossil Quarries were by no means unfamiliar to Hruska who had toured the ranch and the fossil beds on a swing through the Nebraska Panhandle several years before. The press delegation approached Omaha-based Senator Hruska (elected to Congress in 1952 and the Senate in 1954) because of his important appropriations committee positions and other primary contacts vital to advancing the Agate initiative. Nebraska's other U.S. Senator, Carl T. Curtis from "out-state" Kearney County near Minden (elected to Congress in 1939 and appointed to the Senate in 1955), also supported the measure, but did not emerge as its principal Senate advocate.

Hruska thus began close consultations with the National Park Service, primarily with personnel at Scotts Bluff and the Midwest Regional Office, and later during the legislative process with the Washington Office. Hruska had considerable respect for the National Park Service and the dedication of its employees. He enjoyed particularly close working relationships with Park Service directors Conrad Wirth and George Hartzog and discussed the Agate program with them on several occasions. Close, too, was Hruska's acquaintance with Margaret C. Cook. The two corresponded frequently and held several meetings. The Senator admired Mrs. Cook's determination and dedication to the proposed park and believed her personal lobbying and testimony convinced members of Congress to support Agate Fossil Beds also. It was not until after the park's authorization, however, that Roman Hruska became aware of the different views of Mrs. Cook's stepdaughters. At no time did Mrs. Cook discuss this with Senator Hruska. [46]

On January 15, Howard Baker informed Mrs. Cook that it would be advisable to introduce a bill to establish the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument soon if it was to receive consideration and action during 1963. Baker offered Mrs. Cook a life tenancy; the Service would purchase her land within the proposed boundary and the ranching operations could continue for the rest of her life. Baker said a solution could be found to provide suitable access for the Cook cattle to and from the corral area, either by a bridge or culvert. As for the location of land donated for administrative and residential purposes, he suggested twenty acres east of Highway 29 for a Service residential area and six acres west of the highway for the visitor center and administrative offices. The later site would be bounded on the north by the Niobrara, on the east by Highway 29, on the south by an irrigation ditch, and the west by the old State Highway 29 alignment. Baker concluded:

Your offer to donate perhaps 30 or 40 acres of land and the scientific and historical library and collections to the Federal Government on the condition that the National Monument be established could not but help impress the Congress favorably. Authority to accept donations should be, and customarily is, included in any bill authorizing a new park or monument.

. . .I wanted particularly to point out to you that we should strive for early introduction of legislation and that many details concerning land acquisition, donations, and other matters can be worked out later. The big objective now is to get the Monument authorized. [47]

Predictably, Mrs. Cook signalled her concurrence by authorizing Senator Hruska to proceed and get the monument authorized. She assured Baker there would be no insoluable problems. [48] The wheels of progress did not gain much speed. During the same March 4 meeting with Superintendent Jones when the loan agreement was signed, Lester Danielson announced his intention to write Senator Hruska outlining his client's plan to donate the Cook Collection as well as land for an administrative site for the national monument. He agreed to delay sending the letter until Midwest Regional Director Baker contacted Senator Hruska about introducing the requisite legislation. [49]

The Agate proposal first came to public attention in mid-March 1963. The Omaha World-Herald featured the initiative, announcing Senator Hruska's interest and his impending trip to the area to meet with National Park Service personnel. The newspaper reported the Midwest Regional Office was preparing a study for Congress outlining the proposal and that "a good deal of the land is owned by Mrs. Harold J. Cook." Howard Baker told the news paper that "Mrs. Cook is anxious to carry out his [Harold Cook's] wishes that the National Park Service take over the site. Other owners of the land are favorable to the development." [50]

Thus began a succession of favorable press accounts in Nebraska. The World-Herald editorialized that the price for developing the new park would be $1,750,000, but that "Preservation of one of the greatest of scientific treasures should be worth that much, and more." [51] The Lincoln Journal believed it would assist in the continued growth of the Nebraska Panhandle while providing a "great educational service" in helping the State realize it possessed one of the richest fossil concentrations in the United States. The newspaper added, "The national monument would not only be a fine thing in itself, but it could further stimulate Nebraskans to greater development of points of interest and recreation. The fossil monument is evidence of the potential that could be realized by this state." [52]

The Midwest Regional Office's "Summary Statement for a Proposed Agate Fossil Beds National Monument" was ready for distribution on April 15, 1963. It stated that park headquarters—a visitor center, campground, staff housing, and administrative facilities—would be "in the vicinity of the Agate Springs Ranch," and that "Mrs. Cook has expressed the desire to donate sufficient land for these headquarters developments." The report recommended an area of 3,150 acres for the monument. It continued, "The proposal has been discussed with the owners who have all indicated an interest in it and a willingness to negotiate with the National Park Service concerning their property." The Summary Statement concluded with a map, drawn originally in March 1961 and revised in April 1963. All of the Agate Springs Ranch headquarters area on the west side of Nebraska Highway 29 fell within the "Developed Area" for park headquarters. [53]

On April 17, Senator Hruska led a press delegation to the Agate Springs Ranch for an inspection tour of the proposed monument. Declaring his full support, Hruska told reporters, "It is my intention to introduce such a bill [authorizing Agate Fossil Beds National Monument] at a very early date." [54] Hruska advised that Nebraska 3rd District Representative David Martin would introduce a similar bill in the House. Regional Director Howard Baker added that if the bill passed during the current session, the Park Service would be authorized to seek funds to begin construction in fiscal 1965, but it was unlikely development would be completed by Nebraska's centennial year. Scotts Bluff Superintendent Jones commented that the proposed visitor center at the Agate Springs Ranch headquarters could be finished as early as 1967. Mrs. Margaret Cook hosted the delegation of twenty-three with a dinner and then led them on a tour of the Carnegie Hill quarry. She made it clear that "establishment of a museum and paleontologic[al] study center was a dream of her late husband and that she was attempting to bring that dream to a reality." [55]

One of the most significant questions newsmen asked during the Hruska visit concerned the land acquisition program. Service officials responded that since no appropriation was available, no offers had been made. They quickly added, however, that the landowners involved were all contacted and "agreeable," and they foresaw no obstacles. In direct opposition to these statements, however, was George Hoffman who stated no one had even discussed land acquisition with him or any of his neighbors, with the obvious exception of Margaret C. Cook. Indeed, Mrs. Cook had not even invited the Hoffmans to participate in any of the events of Hruska's visit.* Subsequent to his visit, however, a Park Service official did discuss the matter with Hoffman and showed him a map. Prior to this, Hoffman asserted he had no idea how much land the Service wanted to take for the park. When he learned he would be left with only a small strip of land which would effectively make future ranching impossible, he was told the Park Service would take his entire ranch to alleviate this problem. [56]

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*While Mrs. Cook declined to include the Hoffmans (and thereby prevent dissenting viewpoints from being aired), the Hoffmans were not dropped from Senator Hruska's mailing list for the occasion. The Senator's staff sent out letters under his signature expressing how he "enjoyed the day with you," and "we will keep in close touch." It continued, "Again, my thanks for your long standing and active support of legislation to preserve this historic area." A search of the files revealed no further correspondence to the Hoffmans. See Roman Hruska to Mr. and Mrs. George Hoffman, letter, 20 April 1963, Box 24: Correspondence, Alphabetical, 88-89th Congress, folder 123, Papers of U.S. Senator Roman L. Hruska, Nebraska State Historical Society.

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It was during the early spring of 1963 that Margaret C. Cook terminated all communications—up to her death five years later—with her four stepdaughters (whether this occurred before or after the Hruska visit is not known). As for her local relatives, Mrs. Cook requested that Margaret Hoffman discontinue receiving her mail at the Agate Post Office in order to avoid contact. Apparently, Mrs. Cook was angry over the suggestion that, if deemed appropriate by a judge, she pay her equal share of the Federal estate tax and mortgage encumbered on the ranch. She viewed this as a personal affront and, combined with her stepdaughters' unwillingness to embrace her position on the monument, Margaret C. Cook redoubled her efforts to ensure Congressional authorization for the park with boundaries which encompassed the ranch headquarters. Ingrained with this bitter attitude, Mrs. Cook referred to her stepdaughters' legal appeal as a blatant attempt to break Harold Cook's will and, thereby, her prerogatives. [57]

Hruska believed in the importance of including the Agate Springs Ranch headquarters within the boundaries of the national monument. He later recalled:

I think it is of prime importance for the normal tourist—aside from those who are scientifically qualified and interested—or the normal tourist that has a more or less superficial appreciation of paleontology. Unless there is on-site concrete evidence of the products of that site, it is most difficult to enlist support, enthusiasm, or interest. Without a display and without the ranch headquarters and exhibit hall, it's almost impossible to get attendance and interest. [58]

The Hruska visit spurred Margaret Cook to intensify her vigorous letter-writing campaign lobbying for legislation. People of influence, particularly members of Congress, were invited to come to the Agate Springs Ranch as her guest and see the fabulous fossil quarries firsthand. Referring to the bone-wearying effort, "I have to live outside of myself," she declared to a family member to whom she also confessed disappointment and frustration:

I do wish so much that the family would all get back of Harold's plans for the Monument. It grieves me that M. and G. [Margaret and George Hoffman] are behaving so queerly. I only wish them the best, and George will be the only one in the family to really profit by the project. He will receive a very fine price for his land. As he was going to sell anyway, it seems to me this is merely putting a very unusual opportunity for profit in his path. Why he behaves as he does is perplexing to me. I have studied psychology, but I confess these two baffle me.

I feel very, very strongly that since Harold and I have saved the ranch, have put it on a fine, businesslike, profitable basis, and have improved it considerably, and then have so drawn our Wills that it goes to the family, we both deserve fair consideration and deserve to have Harold's wishes and those of his father respected. This is my strong feeling. [59]

In an attempt to involve and inspire other family members in the monument proposal, Margaret Cook discussed the possibility of her son-in-law Grayson Meade's employment as the paleontologist at Agate Fossil Beds. The position, according to Bob Jones, could probably be arranged, although the potential salary would not be an incentive. [60]

A severe disappointment for Margaret Cook came in May 1963 when Director Conrad Wirth demanded Bob Jones' immediate transfer to the Washington Office to head the Park System Studies Division. To Margaret Cook, Bob Jones was the National Park Service official most committed to the proposed monument. His transfer would be a severe blow. Both Howard Baker and Margaret Cook wrote Director Wirth asking for a delay of the transfer until authorization occurred. Thanking Mrs. Cook for her effort, Jones admitted, "Our requests may not prevent my transfer, but at least we tried our best." [61] Jones was correct. By early June, he was on duty in the Washington Office.

The long-awaited day for introducing legislation for establishment of Agate Fossil Beds National Monument came on May 8, 1963, during the First Session of the 88th Congress. In the Senate, Roman Hruska introduced S.1481, while in the House, Dave Martin submitted H.R. 6149. The identical bills were referred to each chamber's Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. [62]

If Roman Hruska did not already know about the dispute in the land acquisition at Agate, he became informed through a June 8 letter from Scottsbluff attorney Robert Simmons, Jr. Written in response to statements in the Congressional Record upon the introduction of legislation. Simmons wrote that the quarries were not on Agate Springs Ranch land, but owned by George and Margaret Hoffman. Simmons explained that Harold Cook had conveyed the land in a property settlement to his first wife, Eleanor B. Cook, in the 1920s. Eleanor Cook later conveyed the property to her daughter and son-in-law to form the Hoffman Ranch. Simmons stated that Margaret C. Cook, responsible for breaking up the marriage of Harold and Eleanor Cook, was fully aware of the quarries ownership, but chose not to elaborate the fact during Hruska's April visit. He added that the Hoffman Ranch was quite small with only 140 cows and the Hoffman could not understand why they had to relinquish all of their land when a mere thirty-acre area was involved. The Hoffmans contended that not even Harold Cook had favored such a large area. "Now that Harold J. Cook is deceased, Mrs. Cook has made it as her personal project, to create a monument there and has suggested an area which included all of Mr. Hoffman's ranch and has offered very little additional land that is actually owned by herself." [63]

The new superintendent of Scotts Bluff, Keith E. Miller, first met Margaret Cook at the Agate Springs Ranch on July 23. During the four-hour meeting, the two discussed the problem of George Hoffman. Hoffman's lawyers had already contacted the Midwest Regional Office proclaiming Hoffman's opposition to the national monument. Superintendent Miller reported to the Regional Director:

She [Mrs. Cook] requested that I not approach Mr. Hoffman on the proposal at this time. She stated that there was some difficulty, but that it was a family affair; and, although there were friendly relations between all members of the family, that Mr. Hoffman was uncooperative. She was certain that Mrs. Hoffman would see the value of the project and would bring him around. She also stated that she was certain the government would pay what Mr. Hoffman wanted for his land and probably more than he expected. I did not attempt to enlighten her on that prospect at this time.

On our return from the tour of the quarry, we drove behind Mr. Hoffman's pickup through the gate and by the Hoffman residence. Mrs. Cook indicated that she would prefer not stopping at the house although she was sure Mr. Hoffman would be quite friendly.

My general impression at this point is that there is considerable conflict in the family and that Mr. Hoffman will not cooperate to the extent that has been previously indicated. Some mention was made by Mrs. Cook of the land that Mr. Hoffman claims an option on of $10.00 an acre. Her statement was that he desired to acquire the land for $10.00 so he could sell it to the government for $40.00. [64]

Miller also conveyed Mrs. Cook's plans to occupy a three-room suite in the Agate Springs Ranch House, while visitors could see the remaining rooms. She also wished to retain the old Agate Post Office (of which she remained the postmistress) as part of the historic scene of the ranch. Miller concluded he was impressed with the woman's desire "to be closely associated with the National Park Service. This was manifested in many ways, some too subtle to attempt to delineate. The presumption here is the probable alienation of George Hoffman and possibly other principals. . . ." [65]

While the April 1963 "Summary Statement" failed to clarify the land acquisition situation, the August 1963 Agate Fossil Beds National Monument: A Proposal, which was published by the Midwest Regional Office for public information, did elaborate on the point:

Mrs. Cook. . . has expressed a desire to donate sufficient land in the vicinity of the Agate Springs Ranch quarters for the Monument headquarters, and to donate quarrying rights at the principal Agate Springs Fossil Quarries (an area including Carnegie and University Hills). These rights include provisions for exploration and development of the quarries for scientific and educational purposes and for road access.* The surface rights for this area belong to Mr. George Hoffman. [66]

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*The "quarrying rights" refer to the stipulations Harold Cook inserted in the 1926 deed conveying surface rights to Eleanor B. Cook. The legality of these rights upon his death passing to Margaret C. Cook was never challenged in court.

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The August 1963 report repeated the figure of 3,150 acres recommended for the new park. The boundaries were justified in order to preserve principal paleontological sites and a "scenic stretch of the Niobrara River bluffs which today is somewhat indicative of the ancient scene here in Miocene times." It further explained that the proposed boundaries would "protect from unsightly developments the unspoiled scene along the existing roads; preserve the locale at the Agate Springs Ranch where scientific groups based their early historic operations; and provide space for the necessary public and administrative facilities." [67]

On February 7, 1964, following a report by the Budget Bureau that the Johnson administration did not object to the establishing legislation, Senator Hruska predicted speedy congressional approval before the fall adjournment. Unlike H.R. 6149, S. 1481 was blessed with a broad base of support. Joining Senator Hruska as co-sponsors were Carl Curtis (R.-Nebr.), Milward Simpson (R.-Wyo.), Gordon Allott and Petere Dominick (R.-Colo.), Gale McGee (D.-Wyo.), and Karl Mundt (R.-S.Dak.). [68] A week later, the Department endorsed the legislation and submitted recommendations to the Senate and House committees on Interior and Insular Affairs. In March, the Secretary of the Interior presented each member of the Nebraska Congressional Delegation and other sponsors of the bills copies of the Department's full report on the proposal. [69] Hruska confided to Margaret Cook confidence that his bill would pass the Senate by Easter, and clear the House by early summer. [70]

On March 11, 1964 following Baker's* transfer as Assistant Director for Operations under new Director George B. Hartzog, Jr., Mrs. Cook wrote Lemuel A. ("Lon") Garrison welcoming him as Baker's replacement. Baker's move, coming less than a year after Jones', was another setback. While the constant shift of personnel must have proven mystifying as well as un settling, Margaret C. Cook expressed full confidence in the National Park Service. She invited the new, regional director to attend the April 17 organizational meeting of the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument Association. [71]

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*Howard Baker stated he never considered acquisition of the Agate Springs Ranch headquarters vital to the authorization of the park. His primary concern was for the protection of the fossil quarries and a natural entrance-way into the park. See Howard W. Baker, interview with author, Omaha, Nebraska, 13 May 1986, transcript, p. 4.

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On March 17, Superintendent Miller drove to the Agate Springs Ranch to discuss the formation of the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument Association. He wrote, "I was unable to determine the specific motive for the formation of the organization except that it will undoubtedly be a prime pressure group. It can be hoped that their efforts can be directed primarily in assisting the National Park Service." [72]

Because Garrison had not yet entered on duty in Omaha,* Acting Regional Director Harry Robinson and Superintendent Miller attended the April 17 event. Earl Cherry, a Mitchell rancher and member of the Nebraska Centennial Committee, was elected president. Gene Ramsey, Crawford (Nebraska) Tribune publisher, was elected vice-president; Father Robert L. O'Neill, Harrison, was elected secretary, and Paul Hefti, executive vice-president of the Bank of Chadron, was elected treasurer. Other members of the board of directors were Margaret C. Cook; Lester Danielson; Gene Kemper, publisher of the Alliance (Nebraska) Times-Herald; W. E. Mumby, Harrison attorney; and Gerald Bardo, copublisher of the The Harrison (Nebraska) Sun and Lusk (Wyoming) Herald. [73]

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*Lon Garrison did meet with Mrs. Cook at the Agate Springs Ranch on the morning of May 14, and was reported to be "impressed with the quality of the area and in the possibilities for development." See Harry Robinson to Margaret Cook, letter, 18 May 1964, box 46, Cook Papers.

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The Agate Fossil Beds National Monument Association was incorporated with the State of Nebraska on May 19, 1964, with the purpose of promoting the establishment of "Agate Springs National Monument." The day before, the same officers and directors filed incorporation papers for a separate entity, the "Agate Springs Foundation." Its purpose was to "receive and maintain a fund for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes in connection with the Agate Springs National Monument." [74]

During the early weeks of spring the uneasy truce in the Cook family shattered. No longer willing to sit idly by and allow their stepmother free reign regarding the future of the family ranch, Winifred C. McGrew Howard wrote a candid letter in which she expressed the four daughters' position that they, not Margaret C. Cook with her life interest, were the actual owners of the Agate Springs Ranch. The letter, which received only polite responses from public officials, along with other circumstances served to rupture the already strained relationship between stepmother and stepdaughters. Margaret C. Cook continued not to speak to Margaret and George Hoffman or any other family member who opposed her views. With this communication source terminated, information concerning Park Service plans at Agate had to be obtained by direct request as no attempt was made to inform the four heirs. [75]

Another chapter in the growing public anticipation for the monument came in April. Senior architecture students at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln revealed plans and sketches for visitor facilities at Carnegie Hill. The students proposed elaborate plans for multi-level chambers to view excavations and a subterranean auditorium for interpretive purposes. [76] Covered extensively in the press, the students' concepts were more grandiose than the popular public conception which held Dinosaur National Monument as the model. The University hoped the Park Service would incorporate these ideas when construction drawings were prepared. The highly imaginative plans served to heighten public expectations throughout Nebraska for the Congress to act quickly on the Agate Fossil Beds proposal.

Swift congressional action was not to be. The Senate became bogged down with the debate over the proposed Civil Rights Act and other Kennedy era New Frontier legislation advocated by the Johnson administration. Senator Roman Hruska vowed to Mrs. Cook that he would press for prompt consideration of S. 1481 "in every way possible." [77] Under Roman Hruska's direction, the Senate approved the bill on August 3, authorizing "$275,000 land acquisition of the Agate Springs Ranch." The bill went to the House where no action was taken by the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee despite repeated pleas from Dave Martin. [78] The reason for the lack of lateral support in the House involved a failure to solicit the hearty support of the Nebraska and other regional state delegations. [79]

At a September 3 meeting of the Western Nebraska United Chambers of Commerce (WNUCC), Keith Miller read a telegram from Senator Hruska confirming the bad news: the House would not likely act on the bill before adjournment for the fall general election. Hruska expressed optimism that strong support in the Senate would ensure early approval in the next Congress.

While the announcement was met with general disappointment throughout the state, there were few more chagrined than Nebraska Governor Frank B. Morrison. Midwest Regional Director Lemuel A. Garrison met with Governor Morrison in Lincoln on June 24 to discuss Agate Fossil Beds. Garrison praised Morrison's letter to Senator Henry Jackson, Chairman of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs in which he pledged full support of the State of Nebraska to the bill. [80] Governor Morrison sent a similar letter to Jackson's House counterpart Wayne N. Aspinall, who also happened to be a good friend. In a response explaining the matter would have to be held over for the 89th Congress, Aspinall included a handwritten note: "I'm sorry, Frank, but if I'm back next year this will have priority." [81] Governor Morrison also personally lobbied Secretary of the Interior Stuart Udall and the Washington establishment which doubted Nebraska's commitment to Federal involvement. In a letter to father Robert O'Neill, he wrote:

I am dedicated to the matter of the Agate Beds Monument and am working for it. I discussed the matter fully with Secretary Udall when he was here recently.

It is difficult to get these things when the representatives are always giving the administration fits for spending money. If it hadn't been for this sort of thing it probably would have been obtained.

There is a question in Washington whether people in Nebraska want federal projects. I have been doing all I can in spite of this difficulty. [82]

More than 200 people attended the WNUCC meeting which was held at the Agate Springs Ranch. Superintendent Miller informed the WNUCC that the establishment would result in nearly $2,000,000 in land acquisitions and construction funding, and provide an annual payroll of more than $100,000. With surrounding national monuments and State areas, the Agate site would naturally become a major tourist attraction. [83]

Evidence of the intra-family disagreement over the scope of the monument surfaced when one stepdaughter, Mrs. Grayson (Dorothy Cook) Meade, wrote to Director Conrad Wirth and other officials complaining that she and her sisters, having equal interests in the ranch, were being ignored.* Acting Assistant Director Ira B. Lykes responded that the Service had dealt with Mrs. Harold Cook as the family representative, but would require the Midwest Regional Office to keep all the daughters informed. Lykes affirmed the Park Service would not retreat on any planning goals:

In following out the wishes of your father, Mrs. Cook has discussed the possibility of a donation of a headquarters site for the national monument with the full understanding that this could only be done with the concurrence of all of the daughters. Although the exact acreage or location of this site was not finally determined, it was felt that the daughters would approve of this donation on behalf of their father. Your father's original offer of this donation was predicated on his active continuation of the ranching operations as a primary source of income. The new set of circumstances brought about by your father's death increases the urgency for the National Park Service to acquire those lands needed for development of a visitor and service facilities for national monument purposes before the occasion arises in which these lands might be sold to settle an estate. However, we are willing to negotiate with the members of the Cook family and the Hoffmans for the purchase the other lands involved with reservations for a life tenancy or a term estate for a specified number of years at the option of the present owners. We realize that none of the lands in the Cook estate can be purchased without the concurrence of all four daughters and Mrs. Cook. [84]

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*Because Mrs. Margaret C. Cook had decided to cease communications with her stepdaughters, Mrs. Meade emerged as the spokesman for her sisters and began writing to Senator Roman Hruska to forward copies of the Senate hearing and draft legislation. A copy of the final bill was obtained in this same manner. See Roman Hruska to Mrs. Grayson E. Meade, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, letter, September 29, 1964, Box 26 Correspondence Alphabetical 88-89th Congress, folder 178, Hruska papers, Nebraska State Historical Society; and Mrs. Grayson E. (Dorothy Cook) Meade, interview with author, Agate Springs Ranch, 22 May 1986, transcript, p. 9.

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The dispute even reached the attention of Representative Dave Martin. In a reassuring letter, Margaret Cook convinced him to continue his efforts in Congress:

I can assure you, very strongly, that I am not opposing the view of Harold's daughters as to the reduced acreage, but I do not agree. I know Harold's views and wishes and I sent copies of his letter to the National Park Service to his daughters. Harold thought carefully, with a scientific thoroughness, for six months before he wrote his letter longhand, then I copied it and we sent it to [Regional] Director Howard W. Baker in Omaha. In this letter Harold stated his wish to give land to the N. P.S. for their Visitor Center, Indian and Historical Museum and headquarters buildings. This land is opposite the post office, on the east side of Highway 29, as described in Harold's letter.

This is why I am devoting my time, health, and the best of my abilities and wisdom to carrying out his dearest wish: that of establishing a Monument to protect the fossil quarries at Agate for future generations. [85]

Why did the four Cook daughters choose to remain virtually silent while Margaret C. Cook acted as family spokesman and monument champion? The reasons are personal and rooted in family loyalty and love. Margaret Cook Hoffman, an extremely shy woman and fearful of public controversy, was the only daughter residing in the area and the one most directly affected by the new park. Her other three sisters had their own families and lived far from Agate. Because they did not wish to be "quarrelsome within the family" and did not want to embarrass Margaret Hoffman, they resigned themselves to writing letters stating their positions to Congressional and Park Service officials. That decision, Dorothy Cook Meade later admitted, was a mistake:

We just shut-up and said nothing. That's how we went through the whole thing. It was more or less just shutting-up and saying nothing. I feel now we made a serious mistake. I feel now we would have had less trouble with the Park Service actually if we had expressed ourselves strongly, early. All we did was write and say in a very civilized way that we were the actual owners, and that they should know that, and that we'd like to be kept informed. And then we didn't nag or carry on or anything else. I think probably we should have tried to because, you see, she was talking to the Rotary and Kiwanis and so forth, and my sister would sometimes send a copy of the report of the talk. She was talking about how she was going to give this land and give that land. Right then a person should have xeroxed that and sent a copy of it to the relevant Park Service individual, whoever that might be, and say, "Now, this is a mistake. If you'll look up the deeds, you'll see. If you look up the will, you'll see." Perhaps we would have gotten into less trouble if we would have done that, but we were trying not to be quarrelsome within the family." [86]

An October 1964 meeting of Midwest Region superintendents held at Fort Robinson (Nebraska) State Park included a field trip to the proposed Agate Fossil Beds area. On October 2, the group arrived at the Agate Springs Ranch where Margaret Cook, Father O'Neill, and Charles Mumby greeted them. As she had done on countless opportunities, Mrs. Cook delivered a speech on the area's history. [87]

On November 1, Keith Miller visited Agate to meet with Mr. and Mrs. George Hoffman. Miller informed the couple of an impending appraisal of the Hoffman Ranch to be used in a supplemental report to Congress. Mr. Hoffman was primarily concerned that local ranchers were trying to keep land prices down so that he would not receive a favorable appraisal. Miller assured him that it would be conducted by an independent certified appraiser. [88] When approval by the Regional Office was received to permit Mr. Elmer Magdanz of Scottsbluff to make the appraisal, Miller met with Margaret C. Cook, George Hoffman, and Harold Skavdahl, the three principal landowners. Miller experienced great difficulty with George Hoffman who finally agreed to the appraisal only after considerable coaxing.

Miller's goal was to have the Magdanz appraisal ready for submission to the 89th Congress by mid-January. [89] The Service hoped that the appraisal, together with the Department's report, would make a strong case and result in early passage of the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument organic act.