56 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



Presently established procedures of the BOR, as well as other 

 government agencies directly involved in recreation and natural 

 beauty, prescribe organizational patterns and procedures which 

 States must follow. While it is necessary to have some uniformity 

 in State procedures, it must not be forgotten that the ultimate objec- 

 tive of the Federal Government is to get the job done, to get it done 

 as effectively and as quickly as possible, and to dispense funds where 

 and when they are warranted. The States themselves, therefore, 

 should have more to say about plans and procedures. 



This suggests that a continuing State advisory group should have 

 a hand in working out and expediting procedures. It is conceivable 

 that this could be done either by having a permanent State advisory 

 group, working in conjunction with the BOR, or by a subcommittee 

 of the Advisory Committee. There are assets and liabilities in either 

 case which need to be analyzed carefully. 



The relationships of the municipalities to the State and to the 

 Federal Government are a matter of concern in this program. It 

 might be wise to suggest the establishment of an advisory committee 

 within each State, consisting of representatives of 



( 1 ) The State agencies involved ; 



(2) The major cities; 



(3) Typical municipalities; and 



(4) Local representatives of the most directly concerned 

 Federal agencies. 



Such committees would not only clarify Federal-State-municipal 

 responsibilities and relationships, but would keep the States and 

 municipalities aware of the possibilities of Federal participation, 

 since many agencies, in addition to the BOR, are directly concerned 

 with this problem, and many have funds available for specific types 

 of projects. BOR representatives could meet with these committees 

 when possible and could thereby keep a firsthand check on progress. 



Because so many Federal agencies are concerned in recreation and 

 beautification, and have aids available, the BOR should establish a 

 clearinghouse unit to provide information about procedures and all 

 departmental aids. In this way, States will be kept aware of all 

 of the potential Federal participation and support. Running this 

 down now constitutes a major enterprise on the part of any State 

 setting out to do it, and the hurdles are many and difficult. Yet the 

 States are entitled to all the help and all the support they can get; 

 and since the Federal Government is promoting recreation and beau- 



