AUTOMOBILE JUNKYARDS 429 



have given rise to a great red tape barrier hindering the efficient dis- 

 posal of valueless hulls. Cooperation between the various en- 

 forcement agencies is necessary before this matter will be resolved. 

 I urge that the White House Conference on Natural Beauty adopt a 

 resolution which will support my premise : that State and local red 

 tape administration must be streamlined so as to facilitate the effi- 

 cient disposition of these automobiles. 



ELINOR C. GUGGENHEIM ER. The all-encompassing problem that 

 faces this country in its efforts to conserve and enhance natural beauty 

 is that of controlling the automobile. This is particularly true in our 

 cities where the increasing majorities of our people live, and will 

 live. The uncontrolled growth of automobile use and of the auto- 

 motive accessory facilities has desecrated the landscape and polluted 

 the air. 



The automobile represents a great good but we are suffering today 

 from unplanned and excessive dosages. The approaches to our 

 cities are made hideous by badly designed shopping centers, sur- 

 rounded by acres of parked cars; by neon-lighted frozen custard 

 parlors and drive-in restaurants; by second-hand-car lots, and garish 

 service stations. It is time for both management and labor within the 

 industry to join with architects and planners on a nationwide basis 

 to police the automobile and to control its excesses. In the long 

 run the industry will profit. I, therefore, propose a Federal task 

 force to consist of representatives of government; of top management, 

 and top labor in the automotive industries; (both direct and acces- 

 sory) ; representation from the AIA; from the Society of Landscape 

 Architects; and from among the top city planners to deal with 

 the complex of problems resulting from the uncontrolled growth 

 of automobile and accessory uses. 



Such a group should devote itself to the Federal philosophies and 

 policies that are needed to influence design in the building of the 

 many accessory facilities, as well as in the discussion of the wider 

 range of problems that the automobile, valuable, as it is, has brought 

 to cities. Such a highly appointed task force or commission could 

 prepare zoning models, guidelines and design criteria, and model 

 legislation for localities. It could suggest both the pattern for place- 

 ment of parking areas and the kinds of landscape designs that would 

 make them less intrusive. No proceedings from a conference on 

 natural beauty should be published without a section devoted to 



