6 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



factual basis for a fair and reasonable approach to the correction of 

 these past errors. 



I am asking the Secretary of Agriculture to work with State and 

 local organizations in developing a cooperative program for improv- 

 ing the beauty of the privately owned rural lands which comprise 

 three-fourths of the Nation's area. Much can be done within existing 

 Department of Agriculture programs without adding to cost. 



The 28 million acres of land presently held and used by our armed 

 services is an important part of our public estate. Many thousands 

 of these acres will soon become surplus to military needs. Much of 

 this land has great potential for outdoor recreation, wildlife, and con- 

 servation uses consistent with military requirements. This potential 

 must be realized through the fullest application of multiple-use 

 principles. To this end I have directed the Secretaries of Defense 

 and Interior to conduct a "conservation inventory" of all surplus 

 lands. 



Highways 



More than any country ours is an automobile society. For most 

 Americans the automobile is a principal instrument of transportation, 

 work, daily activity, recreation, and pleasure. By making our roads 

 highways to the enjoyment of nature and beauty we can greatly 

 enrich the lives of nearly all our people in city and countryside alike. 



Our task is twofold. First, to insure that roads themselves are 

 not destructive of nature and natural beauty. Second, to make our 

 roads ways to recreation and pleasure. 



I have asked the Secretary of Commerce to take a series of steps 

 designed to meet this objective. This includes requiring landscaping 

 on all Federal interstate primary and urban highways, encouraging 

 the construction of rest and recreation areas along highways, and the 

 preservation of natural beauty adjacent to highway rights-of-way. 



Our present highway law permits the use of up to 3 percent of all 

 Federal-aid funds to be used without matching for the preservation 

 of natural beauty. This authority has not been used for the purpose 

 intended by Congress. I will take steps, including recommended 

 legislation if necessary, to make sure these funds are, in fact, used to 

 enhance beauty along our highway system. This will dedicate sub- 

 stantial resources to this purpose. 



I will also recommend that a portion of the funds now used for 

 secondary roads be set aside in order to provide access to areas of 



