390 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



ment, a major step could be taken to overcome obstacles of somewhat 

 greater initial cost in the provision of underground utilities. 



2. To secure the cooperation of utilities in this program, it is rec- 

 ommended that underground utilities be included in the "billboard" 

 and "scenic" provisions of the 3 percent money made available under 

 the Federal highway program. If underground utilities are further 

 added to the requirement for one-half percent bonus money made 

 available to municipalities for scenic controls under this act, munici- 

 palities and other civil subdivisions would have tangible incentives 

 for local regulations and other actions which might be taken to secure 

 underground utilities. 



3. Grants and loans made available to local governments under 

 the community facilities program should be restricted to those im- 

 provements which do not violate scenic amenities. If 20 percent 

 Federal aid money were made available for new utilities develop- 

 ments employing acceptable underground techniques with an in- 

 crease to perhaps 30 percent aid for the relocation of utilities which 

 are asthetically substandard, municipalities and locally owned or 

 controlled utilities would be able to overcome any cost disadvantages 

 resulting from the somewhat heavier initial capital outlay required 

 by underground utilities. 



4. Municipalities should take the initiative in creating economies 

 of scale in which all utilities might participate. As an example of 

 such economies, localities might consolidate easement and create a 

 technically superior single trench system for the joint use of various 

 utilities. Federal assistance for research in the technical problems 

 of utility trenches could easily be made available under existing 

 programs. 



5. States should overhaul legislation under which assessment dis- 

 tricts might be formed to provide long-range financing of improve- 

 ments, including the redevelopment and relocation of existing utilities 

 systems that scar or deface scenic areas. 



6. A public information program should be mounted to make 

 available accurate data on the real costs, and the public stakes, which 

 are involved in the substitution of unobtrusive utility systems for 

 presently offensive ones. 



H. J. JENSEN. Manufacturers serving the electrical transmission 

 and distribution industry, in our observation, are devoting a great 

 deal of effort and have made considerable progress in developing 



