Request from the WVHC Archivist, Dave Saville - The West Virginia Collection has archived the Conservancy's records and publications in Colson Hall at WVU. In researching their inventory I have found the following issues of the Voice missing. If anyone who has been around that long has these issues and would like to donate them, it would be doing the Collection, and the WVHC, a big service; Vol.1 #s 1,2 & 3; Vol 2 #s 5 & 6; Vol 3 #4; vol 4 #4; vol. 6 #8

29 years ago, Volume 1 No. 4, August 1969
President-Tom King
Voice Editor-Bob Burrell

Strip Mining and Esthetics (sic). The Conservancy was defending a DNR decision not to permit a strip mine across from Grandview State Park because it would "destroy the aesthetic value of the scenic place." The entire surface mining industry had much at stake and their use of a "stalking horse" was expected. Court action would have national significance. By Zip Little

Bruce Sundquist reported on a trail maintenance outing in the Cheat Canyon from Jenkintown (sic, Jenkinsburg) to the head of Cheat Lake.

Wilderness Committees were formed to take on the cause of Dolly Sods, Otter Creek, and Cranberry.

25 years ago, Volume 5 #4, August 1973
President - Dave Elkinton
Voice Editor - Bob Burrell

Wilderness protection was recommended for Dolly Sods and Laurel Fork. The Conservancy was disappointed that the Cranberry and Otter Creek areas were assigned to further study.

C&P Telephone made a sizable donation to the Conservancy from a recycling drive they held. Half the proceeds from recycled phone books were donated.

Us District Court in Elkins held hearings on the clearcutting of National Forests. The Conservancy had brought suit based on the Forest Services Organic Act that stipulated only dead and mature trees could be cut.

20 years ago--August 1978
President- Linda Cooper Elkinton
Voice Editor- Tom Dunham

Headlines- "Victory at Duo" A test case was won regarding the surface mine permitting process for a mine near Duo in Greenbrier County. The application was deemed incomplete because no details were provided regarding a "complete reclamation and mining plan." In the author, Nicholas Zvegintzov's, closing remarks about the case he says "It is unpleasant to think that the state would force the people to spend around $1200 in legal fees plus countless hours of volunteer labor, to force them to administer the law as plainly written." and "If Charleston now complains of the heavy hand of Washington, they have only themselves to thank."

Wilderness Status for Cranberry. The US Forest Service has recommended 35,500 acres of the Mon National Forest in Webster and Pocahontas Counties be designated Federal Wilderness. Of the 7 alternatives considered the one chosen is the one the Conservancy has supported the past years.

The biggest controversy on the Monongahela National Forest since the clearcutting battle occurred when the Rainbow family visited the forest. Governor Rockefeller called them "disruptive", while Sec. of State A. James Manchin called them "leeches". The Conservancy was in the middle of a long fought battle to get permanent Wilderness Status for the Cranberry. We were worried about the stereotype that anti-Wilderness spokesmen use that wilderness areas are only playgrounds for out-of-state hippies, since their encampment was to be at the Three Forks of the Williams River, adjacent to the then proposed Cranberry Wilderness area. The Charleston Gazette reported that "Forest officials Gail Lantz and Robert Gipe toured the site Tuesday and noted that the large number of people who visited the encampment had very little adverse effect on it."