THE UNDERGROUND INSTALLATION OF UTILITIES 393 



It seems to me that there is another avenue of approach to 

 aesthetics that may be worthy of consideration; we might make much 

 more pleasing in appearance the overhead tower line structures being 

 built today. For example, we are right now designing a 138,000 volt 

 double circuit tower line using high strength tubular steel poles with 

 simple tubular upswept arms in place of the conventional lattice 

 tower made of angle iron steel. Such modernistic designs (and some 

 have already been built elsewhere) can be pleasing to the eye and 

 be built economically. I think much can and should be done along 

 these lines. 



The problems posed here are certainly most challenging and will 

 demand the very best efforts of manufacturers and electric utilities. 



ROBERT L. PERKINS, Jr. Although overhead transmission lines 

 have a dramatic effect on scenery and produce acute special prob- 

 lems such as the destruction of bird life particularly at concentra- 

 tion points in wet lands and shallow water areas, underground utili- 

 ties such as pipelines can also do great damage to scenic and natural 

 values. This is particularly true on lands with forests and streams 

 and small waterways. 



As is the case with highways and other construction projects, 

 particularly those backed by the power of eminent domain, a major 

 need is to provide some orderly means of finding the relative values 

 involved. Route locations and construction methods should be 

 determined insofar as possible by an objective weighing of the eco- 

 nomic and convenience factors against the destruction that will be 

 caused, including that to scenic and natural assets. This means 

 that those with a knowledge and appreciation of such assets must be 

 involved in making the decisions. 



In cases where the Federal Power Commission is involved there 

 is at present no real opportunity for such a process since the Com- 

 missioners and the supporting administrative staff who make the 

 decisions are not selected for their knowledge of matters relating to 

 natural beauty. Further, many citizens who have an interest in a 

 project site may have no practical means of finding out about pro- 

 posals until after a decision has been made, since most people do not 

 maintain a scrutiny of the Federal Register where notice is given. 



R. J. McMuLLiN.* Let me begin by saying that I am very cog- 

 nizant of and deeply concerned about the problem we are gathered 

 here to talk about. 



*This is an extension of the remarks made by Mr. McMullin during the panel 

 discussion. 



