THE CONFERENCE GALL 9 



doned railroad right-of-way is being developed as a "Prairie Path." 

 In Mexico utility rights-of-way are used as public trails. 



As with so much of our quest for beauty and quality, each com- 

 munity has opportunities for action. We can and should have an 

 abundance of trails for walking, cycling, and horseback riding, in 

 and close to our cities. In the back country we need to copy the 

 great Appalachian Trail in all parts of America, and to make full 

 use of rights-of-way and other public paths. 



Pollution 



One aspect of the advance of civilization is the evolution of respon- 

 sibility for disposal of waste. Over many generations society grad- 

 ually developed techniques for this purpose. State and local govern- 

 ments, landlords and private citizens have been held responsible for 

 insuring that sewage and garbage did not menace health or con- 

 taminate the environment. 



In the last few decades entire new categories of waste have come 

 to plague and menace the American scene. These are the tech- 

 nological wastes the byproducts of growth, industry, agriculture, 

 and science. We cannot wait for slow evolution over generations to 

 deal with them. 



Pollution is growing at a rapid rate. Some pollutants are known 

 to be harmful to health, while the effect of others is uncertain and 

 unknown. In some cases we can control pollution with a larger 

 effort. For other forms of pollution we still do not have effective 

 means of control. 



Pollution destroys beauty and menaces health. It cuts down on 

 efficiency, reduces property values, and raises taxes. 



The longer we wait to act, the greater the dangers and the larger 

 the problem. 



Large-scale pollution of air and waterways is no respecter of 

 political boundaries, and its effects extend far beyond those who 

 cause it. 



Air pollution is no longer confined to isolated places. This genera- 

 tion has altered the composition of the atmosphere on a global scale 

 through radioactive materials and a steady increase in carbon dioxide 

 from the burning of fossil fuels. Entire regional airsheds, crop plant 

 environments, and river basins are heavy with noxious materials. 

 Motor vehicles and home heating plants, municipal dumps, and 

 factories continually hurl pollutants into the air we breathe. Each 



