Agate Fossil Beds
Administrative History
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CHAPTER 3:
AUTHORIZATION OF AGATE FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, 1965
Statistics for a National Monument
The Department of the Interior's background report, Proposed Agate
Fossil Beds National Monument, was updated for the new 89th
Congress. Compiled by the Midwest Regional Office, the report was an
admirable document. In straight-forward terms it spelled out the precise
dimension of the initiative and left few "holes" open to question by
meticulous congressmen.
The Magdanz land appraisal was completed on January 14, 1965, and
incorporated into the updated report. Magdanz prorated the appraised and
assessed values which included both land and improvements. The following
is an excerpt from his report: [1]
SIOUX COUNTY |
Appraised Value for 1964 |
Assessed Value for 1964 |
Total 1964 tax for all purposes |
$32,003,733. |
$8,400,980. |
$406,848.69 |
TOWNSHIP 28, RANGE 55 |
$591,771. |
$155,340. |
$6,558.82 |
SCHOOL DISTRICT #43 |
674,400. |
177,030. |
1,664.08 |
ACRES TAKEN |
APPRAISED VALUE |
ASSESSED VALUE |
SCHOOL TAX |
TOTAL TAX |
|
Harold J. Cook Estate |
1104 | $31,163. | $8,180. |
$76.88 | $322.05 |
George H. Hoffman |
1350 | 91,123. | 23,920. |
224.85 | 941.73 |
Harold Skavdahl |
240 | 8,500. | 2,231. |
20.97 | 87.83 |
Mabel Morgan |
165 | 3,390. | 890. |
8.37 | 35.04 |
Hazel Harris |
60 | 1.050. | 275. |
2.60 | 10.83 |
William F. Buckley |
130 | 3,000. | 758. |
7.13 | 29.84 |
TOTAL OF LAND TAKEN |
3049 | $138,226. | $36,254. |
$340.80 | $1,427.32 |
The Department report stated that all the privately-owned land was
used primarily for grazing with some native hay production along the
Niobrara River. The Service recommended grazing eventually be
eliminated, but current grazing could be continued during the lifetime
of the landowners only in areas not needed for park development. Of the
six landowners, only three families actually lived within the proposed
boundary at two ranch headquarters. The Hoffman ranch consisted of a
house, cattle sheds, corrals, and other support structures at an
estimated value of $25,000. The second was the Cook's Agate Springs
Ranch with two houses, one for Mrs. Cook and the other for her ranch
foreman and family. Together with cattle sheds, corrals, irrigation
systems, and other support facilities, the improvements were estimated
at $50,000. With severance damages (five ownerships) combined with total
values of land and improvements and road rights-of-way, the Service
offer on the six ownerships of 3,080 acres was: [2]
Harold J. Cook Estate | $76,800 |
George H. Hoffman, et al. | 143,050 |
Harold Skavdahl | 22,675 |
William F. Buckley, et al. | 8,415 |
Mabel Morgan | 8,025 |
Hazel D. Harris | 2,900 |
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Total: | $261,865 |
Contingency and Administrative Costs: | $39,285 |
Grand Total: | $301,150 |
The report recounted Margaret C. Cook's offer to donate sufficient
land for a monument headquarters and quarrying rights at the fossil
beds, including road access and provisions for exploration and
development for scientific and educational purposes. Also outlined was
the promised donation of the famous Cook Collection if the monument was
established before the Nebraska centennial. Statements on the interests
and attitudes of the other principal landowners along with long-range
preservation goals were also included:
Three of the six owners appear to be willing to consider the sale of
their affected land. One of these, Mr. George H. Hoffman, is willing to
consider the sale of land essential for development of the quarries, but
is not interested in the sale of any other land now. He wants to
continue his cattle ranching operations. The other owner, Mr. Harold
Skavdahl, does not want to sell any land that is near the Niobrara
River. He is willing, however, to negotiate for the sale of right-of-way
for a road to the Stenomylus Quarry. One property, the estate of the
late Dr. Harold J. Cook, is now under joint ownership between his four
daughters with his wife retaining a life estate and control of
livestock. The collective attitude of this group is not known.
[Emphasis added by author.]
Preservation of portions of the area by easement might be a
possibility provided the costs were considerably less than acquisition
in fee simple. Certain arrangements, such as continued grazing and life
tenancy, probably could be worked out so as to achieve the long-range
preservation objectives of the National Park Service, and also minimize
the inconvenience to present landowners. Zoning in this portion of the
State does not appear to be effective enough at this time to be a
realistic means of assuring preservation. [3]
A staffing summary was included to prove the extent of the Service's
commitment to the future development of Agate Fossil Beds National
Monument:
POSITION AND GRADE |
YEAR AND NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES |
(Permanent Full Time) |
1st | 2nd |
3rd | 4th |
5th |
Superintendent GS-11 |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Museum Geologist (vertebrate paleontology) GS-11 |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Park Naturalist (Chief of Interpretation) GS-09 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Chief Park Ranger GS-09 |
|
| 1 | 1 | 1 |
* Museum Technician GS-07 |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Clerk-Stenographer GS-04 |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Caretaker |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Foreman IMaintenance |
|
| 1 | 1 | 1 |
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TOTAL PERMANENT |
4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
*The Museum Technician would assist the Museum Geologist in the
preparation of fossil exhibits, and his work, including quarrying and
reliefing of fossils in the presence of visitors, would be an important
part of the interpretive program.
POSITION AND GRADE |
YEAR AND NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES |
|
(Seasonal) |
1st | 2nd |
3rd | 4th |
5th |
|
Park Naturalist GS-04 |
0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
|
Park Ranger GS-04 |
|
| 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
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Laborer |
0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 |
|
Truck Driver |
|
| 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
|
* Museum Technician |
| 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
|
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TOTAL SEASONAL |
4.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.5 |
[4] |
*This position would be abolished after the fourth year when the
fossil reliefing planned at Carnegie Hill site as the major in-place
exhibit would be completed.
http://www.nps.gov/agfo/adhi/adhi3.htm
Last Updated: 12-Feb-2003
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