368 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



which would be a significant innovation and a most worthwhile 

 contribution to landscape attractiveness. This design would take 

 up only one-twentieth of the real estate space required by existing 

 substations. This small, compact substation would be completely 

 enclosed, and all of the live parts of the substation would be insulated 

 with pressurized gas. 



This design eliminates contamination, radio influence and light- 

 ning problems. As in the case of point-to-point transmission appli- 

 cation, this substation would be considerably more expensive in first- 

 cost than a conventional open-bus substation. But where space and 

 land values are important considerations, the added cost would be 

 offset by the inherent advantages, both practical and aesthetic, of this 

 design. 



Again attacking the problem of increasing underground power- 

 carrying capacities, Westinghouse engineers are also looking to circuit 

 transmission utilizing conducting material which is refrigerated to 

 a cryogenic temperature of 450 F. Such a superconducting trans- 

 mission line might be constructed with a center region containing 

 two superconductors and liquid helium flowing from a refrigerator. 

 Surrounding the center region would be multiple radiation shield 

 thermal insulation. The very high current which can be achieved 

 with this system would permit the use of low voltages of 13,000 to 

 25,000 volts, such as those employed in large generators and dis- 

 tribution systems. 



These are but a few of the advanced concepts which can contrib- 

 ute to the objectives under discussion here today. They are evidence 

 of the possibilities ahead of us and also are evidence of the keen inter- 

 est which the electric utilities and the electrical manufacturers have 

 in enhancing the appearance of our residential communities, of our 

 cities and of the Nation as a whole. 



Major research and development programs will be required to im- 

 plement these ideas and to translate designs into working realities. 

 Large expenditures will be necessary to support such research and 

 development. I would like to suggest a thorough evaluation of the 

 problems and of the potentials as the basis for a possible support pro- 

 gram in the form of research and development funding by the electric 

 utility industry. 



Mr. SWIDLER. Standards of beauty are not eternal; each genera- 

 tion develops its own. I think that public administrators and the 

 electric utilities industry must accept the standards of beauty which 



