GREER SPRING MEASURE WOULD PROTECT A WONDER

It is ironic that one of Missouri's most peaceful hollows could cause such an uproar. Greer Spring, a natural wonder in Oregon County, has managed. The spring and 6,900 acres around it are at the center of a lingering political controversy. Legislation has again been introduced in the U.S. Congress to purchase and protect this garden spot without making it prey to environmentalists' overkill. We believe Missourians, particularly in the southern part of the state, would be well-served by the measure and hope it makes its way through Congress this session.

Congressman Bill Emerson of Cape Girardeau introduced the legislation last week with the backing of at least four other House members from Missouri. Emerson has been on one side of the dispute. On the other side is Leo Drey, who has wanted the same thing (a sales to the U.S. government) only on different terms.

Drey, a University City man, owns 154,000 acres of timber land and may be the largest private land owner in the state. He bought the Greer Spring tract for $4.5 million in 1987 and offered to sell it to the federal government with the provision that it be kept in its "existing natural condition." That means no commercial logging. Like Drey, Emerson wants to protect the core of the tract, about 2,500 acres, from timbering. However, the congressman wants the remainder of the acreage to be put under the management of the U.S. Forest Service, meaning selective timbering could be allowed at the government's discretion.

The measure to purchase the property was proposed by Emerson last year but never came to a vote. It then became a rather misplaced issue in the 8th District House campaign, with Emerson's opponent casting the congressman as an environmental bandit. Emerson draws a reasonable distinction between conservationism, which he favors, and preservationism, which he frowns on. A conservationist, Emerson explains, wants to be a steward of the land, making prudent use of its natural resources; a preservationist wants to lock the land away.

There is a philosophical dilemma at work here: should the government allow the seller of property to dictate that land's future public use? The answer is no. Beyond that, the entire Greer Spring tract does not need to be locked away. The core of the property is already protected within the Eleven Point National Scenic River boundaries; its beauty is forever safeguarded. The U.S. Forest Service manages 10 percent of the forest land in Missouri, including the Mark Twain National Forest, and we trust the protection that agency offers.

The majority of Missouri's House delegation agrees with the measure introduced last week. The Missouri Department of Conservation, Department of Natural Resources and the Conservation Federation of Missouri are also in agreement. If Mr. Drey is willing to sell, we think the U.S. government would be a good buyer ... and generations to come will benefit from the purchase.