Wilson's Creek issues

This is an excellent rundown of the Wilson's Creek Battlefield predicament. I have just one thing to add to the report: notice how presevationists are inveigling government support with easement/tax roll arguments. This involves getting money into a farmers pockets in exchange for an agreement not to build on land adjacent to a battlefield; the farmer's land stays on the tax rolls, which this newspaper writer labels a win/win.

But if tourists must stay off the farmer's land, it is really a lose/lose proposition. The measure of success of a public battlefield is public visitation; embargoed, no-tresspassing land (under "easements" or more accurately "restricted use covenants") defeats the whole purpose of having a public battlefield.

If your preservation society is into easements, fire them now and hire an organization that will buy battlefield land for public enjoyment.