as former owners or local officials, still deplore the lack of explanation of 

 procedures and plans and of local participation during the course of acquisi- 

 tion. Tlieir feelings are that efforts to reach all those affected were less than 

 desirable. While not questioning the integrity of individuals involved, they 

 |joint out that the appraisers were on the Corps' payroll and that there was 

 very little local representation involving individuals not connected with the 

 action agency. 



Probably many misunderstandings arise inadvertantly, but the reactions 

 of people to the New Hampshire projects seem to parallel those observed 

 in similar situations in other states. Some of the remedies suggested for 

 other areas are equally applicable to local conditions. In studying the local 

 effects of the Wappapello Reservoir (Missouri)^ to find ways of lessening 

 undesirable effects of reservoirs, it was recommended that ( 1 ) greater 

 cooperation exist between the federal, state and local governments relative 

 to informing the public more fully about plans for a reservoir and local 

 effects which can be expected, (2) advisory committees of local citizens be 

 established to facilitate necessary local adjustments, and (3) explanation of 

 appraisal methods and appraisal values be provided property owners. Relative 

 to the New Hampshire projects under study, a recommendation made in 

 another study- that, "Local people should be organized so as to enable them 

 to work effectively with federal agencies", might, if carried out, enable the 

 increased cooperation and local participation so many indicate as desirable 

 and necessary. These reports stressed the necessity for prompt payment for 

 the land to give the landowner an opportunity to look for another farm 

 and to make a gradual transition. 



e' 



In the case of the New Hampshire projects, it was pointed out that the 

 most noticeable impacts were short run in nature. Hence, with respect to 

 future projects in this area, increased emphasis should be placed upon the 

 lessening of these. This included measures to facilitate an orderly transi- 

 tion, preferably over a period of years, as well as broadening the concept 

 of just compensation to include compensation for determinate costs of 

 moving from the area. 



The Tennessee Valley Authority included a relocation program carried on 

 by the Extension Service in cooperation with TVA. and "fair market" value 

 was interpreted to mean the price required to leave the landowner in the 

 same financial position after as before the taking of his property.^ The 

 Wappapello study recommended that consideration be given to the cost to 

 an owner of purchasing com.'iarable property when appraising the value 

 of his property."* 



One point called to attention was the claimed inequity of the acquisition 

 of certain tracts of forest and woodland at present "market value". Former 



1 "Local Effects of the Wappapello Reservoir, Wayne County, Missouri, with Sug- 

 gestions for Lessening Undesirable Effects of Reservoirs," Missouri Division of Re- 

 sources and Development, Jefferson City, Missouri, February, 1950, p. i. 



- "Reducing Adverse Effects of Reservoirs," Great Plains Council Pub. No. 6, 

 Kansas Agr. Exp. Sta. Circ. 293, October, 1952, p. 4. 



3 "TVA Land Acquisition Experience Applied to Dams in the Missouri Basin," 

 Great Plains Council Pub. No. 9, South Dakota Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 432, August, 

 1953, p. 42-43. 



^ "Reducing Adverse Effects of Reservoirs," Great Plains Council Pub. No. 6, Kansas 

 Agr. Exp. Sta. Circ. 293, October, 1952, p. 4. 



39 



