236 



percent overall since 1985. Pioche and Alamo experienced minimal 

 growth because low income retired people are moving in more and 

 more. 



The current total assessed value of the country is $46 million, 

 down from $49 million over a year ago. Aerojet's land exchange 

 would increase our county's acreage by half again. 



Once the project is complete, our tax base could triple and then 

 some. Our county assessor stressed that these are low figures. He 

 estimates the project could improve our net worth to $205 million. 

 This does not include all the new housing, sister industry, and 

 growth of local businesses in our communities. 



Can you imagine the impact of increasing our budget 2.5 times? 

 A county which was forced to go to our state legislature to ask for 

 $600,000 to allow our local government to exist. 



Our land values are dropping. I lived and worked on a ranch in 

 the northern half of the county, which is now bankrupt. This place 

 has been for sale for four years going on five. 



The asking price four years ago was $4.5 million. Today it is 

 going for over $2.5 million. Two million dollars cash would buy you 

 a ranch with 1,300,000 acres of public grazing, 9,000 acres in pri- 

 vate land, over 30 livestock and irrigation wells, over 100 natural 

 springs, three hot springs, three reservoirs, four sets of apartments, 

 10 homes, a huge shop, numerous corrals, a 1,000 head capacity 

 feed lot, an outdoor and indoor arena, stables for horses, and a 

 beautiful natural pasture at headquarters. 



All in a beautiful high desert setting, with Mount Wheeler to the 

 north, and all for $54 an acre. A beautiful place with improve- 

 ments, water, fishing, hunting, and all for $54 an acre? 



My first thought when I asked the asking price for Aerojet's 

 Coyote Springs land was that they were overcharged. The conserva- 

 tion district gives land ratings by agricultural value on a scale of 

 one to eight, one being the very best. 



Coyote Springs is a very low eight. The soil is skeletal and acres 

 of water would not make it suddenly fertile again. The acreage is 

 desolate. The Federal Land Bank estimates land values- in the West 

 by how many head of stock can be supported by a tract of land. 



The highest rate given is $1,000 per head. Geyser, with all its 

 beauty and water and forage, can support 4,000 head of cattle. It 

 should be worth more than $2 million, at the lowest at least $250 

 an acre, and it goes for $54 an acre. 



The Aerojet land can support 40 head of cattle for only 30 days 

 every four to 10 years, making it worth less than $3,400 30 days 

 every four to 10 years. The BLM says that this land is rarely used 

 because it rarely has forage that lasts any longer than 30 days. 



The highest possible use for Coyote Springs is what Aerojet pro- 

 poses. The good to Nevada and Lincoln County is immeasurable. It 

 is funny that the Federal Land Bank charges $1,000 per animal 

 unit while the Federal government charges $60,000 per animal 

 unit. I wish Geyser could sell so well. 



Coyote Springs Valley is north of Las Vegas, 57 miles in the 

 middle of a vast rubble desert. The plant life is hostile and wildlife 

 is minimal. I feel secure in my concerns for the environment, that 

 Aerojet is a responsible and effective addition to the environment. 



