THE TOWN SCAPE 79 



The citizen oriented battles to save a great Federal building in St. 

 Louis, a historical park in New Jersey, a Victorian Mansion in Iowa, 

 indicate that now is the time when leadership can do what must be 

 done. President Johnson has provided the inspiration and suggested 

 the method. 



Renewed public awareness of the problems of a rootless, ugly 

 America augers well. Basic is the need to know what exists and 

 what is worth keeping. Once identified, sympathetic means of 

 ownership must be established. 



New and imaginative uses must be devised for the worthy structures 

 that are to be found in almost any city. 



A broad educational program dwarfing current efforts is manda- 

 tory. This must be conceived to generate wide public participation. 

 It must infiltrate the collective consciousness of every public and 

 private agency to bring into focus an obligation to the citizenry for 

 an attractive environment. 



As part of the creative endeavor for monuments of tomorrow, this 

 awareness must be so indelibly marked on the subconsciousness of 

 each individual and agency that its necessity is accepted and de- 

 manded as categorically as safety and cleanliness. 



The National Trust stands ready actively to participate in this 

 total effort and to work toward an acceptable future urban environ- 

 ment of quality, distinction and continuing individuality in the de- 

 veloping society and history of America. As the only private non- 

 profit organization chartered by the Congress to labor in the land- 

 mark vineyard, it accepts its enlarging obligations. 



Let me suggest a few specifics variously involving government at 

 all levels as well as private organizations and citizens. 



Let us have a national survey to inventory landmarks of all types 

 and grades of historic, architectural and unique community value. 

 Certify these with accompanying legal protection for those so cer- 

 tified. We should continue to develop and protect historic districts 

 in our urban areas. Compensation should be paid to private owners 

 for losses incurred in preserving certified landmarks. Other devices 

 should include tax relief (inheritance, income, personal and corpo- 

 rate, property, admissions) and scenic easements. Restraining cov- 

 enants should be placed on historic properties; and an increasing 

 number of them should be brought into public ownership. The 

 FHA bank loan system should be revised. Zoning ordinances need 

 strengthening. Machinery to veto government expenditures which 



