THE UNDERGROUND INSTALLATION OF UTILITIES 373 



Similarly, I think, when we look at the problems, we ought to 

 perhaps distinguish those which are technical and economic from 

 those which are basically, at the present stage of the game, engineer- 

 ing problems. In the long haul, a good deal will have to be done 

 in the way of State planning and Federal planning to create the 

 real possibilities for choice for communities operating vis-a-vis the 

 utility problem. As bitter as it may be, State planning in particular 

 is going to have to rationalize the present pattern of distribution, so 

 as to avoid some of the most unfavorable aspects of the present in- 

 fringement, on the scenic beauty. 



I remember when I was a boy in the Niagara frontier, where a lot 

 of power was generated by Niagara Falls, that we had the most 

 extraordinary pattern of crisscrossing of utility lines, all through 

 Ontario, because the utility companies were trying to cut each other 

 out of specially favored territories, and engaged in an intricate game 

 of real estate dominoes. 



In a certain respect, this is what will have to be controlled and 

 controllable in the future by State planners. 



When I say State planning, I mean the activities of the public 

 utilities commissions themselves. 



Very likely, too, as Mr. Bennett suggests, we will have to suggest 

 long-range funding. We will have to facilitate the prospect of creat- 

 ing public funds by a system of charges needed to build up the re- 

 sources for the research and development activities which will 

 eliminate some of the more undesirable features of the present-day 

 transmission pattern. It is very likely, too, that we will have to ask 

 for Federal cooperation at the planning level for Federal use of 

 some of the powers which already exist in Federal agencies to bring 

 about some of the more difficult changes with respect to our present 

 undesirable pattern. 



For example, the Federal Housing Administration is in a position 

 to greatly facilitate the relocation of some unsightly utilities by 

 simply supporting the value, the increment, in its own loan policy. 

 If it is willing to recognize an absolute premium on properties which 

 are not blighted scenically, then it has the potential for creating a 

 very favorable loan situation. This is one of the things that you 

 need to get at. 



The problem is that we have high costs on the capital side and 

 very long amortization periods. The Federal Housing Agency 

 could help out by its valuation policies. 



