396 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



2. For those stretches of these lines approaching cities, why not 

 start right now to find ways and means to go underground even at 

 present costs? 



3. As a corollary to the ideas I have just mentioned, perhaps public 

 agencies such as cities, counties, States, and even the Federal Govern- 

 ment should assume proportionate shares of the added cost of follow- 

 ing out these suggestions. This might be accomplished by granting 

 the electric utilities specific tax credits which would have the effect of 

 relieving them of the entire burden of the added cost attributable to 

 improved appearance and preservation of natural beauty. 



All costs of utility operations must finally be paid by the customers, 

 as we all know. It can be forcefully argued that to pass these added 

 costs on to the electric consumer would be an inequity, because the 

 benefits of beautification work do not accrue solely to these customers. 

 We can all find illustrations of this fact, I'm sure. For example, a 

 transmission line might be rerouted to preserve the natural beauty 

 and public view of the Painted Desert or Meteor Crater in Arizona. 

 How much of the cost to do so should be paid by the electric cus- 

 tomers of the city of Los Angeles, or the Salt River Project or the 

 Arizona Public Service Co.? In my opinion, there is merit to the idea 

 that such costs should be spread over a broader base. The base 

 should be determined by examining the question, "To whom do the 

 benefits flow from the beautification work which caused the added 

 cost?" 



My comments are not intended to represent pat answers to a 

 problem as complex as this one. I do hope though that they might 

 provoke constructive thought. This is one of the greatest challenges 

 ever to confront the electrical industry. If we probe our imagina- 

 tions, if we turn our creative resources to the task, if we can have the 

 support of our government's leadership (as is being evidenced here at 

 this meeting), the electrical industry will be able to measure up to 

 the job and continue to occupy a position of major leadership in the 

 growth and progress of our Nation. 



JACK B. ROBERTSON. Except for the United States, the industrial- 

 ized nations have generally adopted a policy of undergrounding of 

 utility lines. Modern insulation materials have now made possible 

 the long life undergrounding of utility lines within the economic reach 

 of an affluent nation. 



To facilitate the burial of utility lines, the following is recom- 

 mended : ( a ) Require utility lines be buried leading to all newly con- 



