360 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



In 1962 only about 20 percent of new residences were served from 

 underground facilities. By 1964 this had increased to almost 50 

 percent and by the end of this year it will undoubtedly exceed 60 

 percent. The change in the pattern of service to new residential 

 subdivisions has been even more spectacular. In 1962 less than 10 

 percent of all new subdivisions were served underground. Right 

 now 60 percent are going in underground, and by the early 1970's, 

 this should approach 1 00 percent. 



A similar trend, although not so radical, has been experienced in 

 other phases of our distribution system. 



The reduction in cost of underground as much as 60 percent 

 in some areas has been a great factor in making this change pos- 

 sible. The primary motivation, however, which started this revolu- 

 tion and has maintained its momentum, is the increasing desire of 

 people to raise the standard of beauty of their own environment. 



I have painted a very rosy picture and one that is surely consistent 

 with the purpose of this meeting in Washington. This raises in 

 your mind, as it has in mine, a very logical question and that is: 

 if all of this underground is going in, how does it happen that we still 

 see on the face of America so many poles and wires? 



In the answer to this question lies the two major problems, which 

 we are faced with. 



1. The improvement of the appearance of overhead lines where 

 underground can't do the job, because of load density, topography, 

 soil condition, or other factors. In other words, improving the 

 appearance of those facilities that must go overhead now in this in- 

 terim period. 



2. The conversion of existing overhead systems to underground. 

 Much progress has been made on the first of these problems, as 



a result of a comprehensive program of research and development 

 involving the manufacturing as well as the utility segment of our 

 industry. New materials and methods have made outstanding con- 

 tributions to the aesthetic impact of these essential overhead facilities. 

 Examples of these are metal poles of graceful design, without cross- 

 arms, serving the dual function of street lighting and distribution 

 with service wires underground; light-colored poles without cross- 

 arms and with bare wires on side-mounted insulators; low silhouette 

 designs deliberately planned to blend with the background of trees 

 and buildings. 



In the west we are acutely aware of this problem and are actively 

 working on methods of solving it. 



