474 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



The legislative committee, in other words, is the forum where con- 

 flicting proposed uses are analyzed. And, while we will, I believe, 

 make conclusions that will lead to over-all enhancement of appear- 

 ance, I want to make it clear that, where private development is 

 appropriate, we must not stifle the ability to make profit through 

 the imposition of burdensome unrealistic requirements under the 

 guise of seeking beauty. A balance will be achieved through a com- 

 mon sense application of the conservation principle. 



We have introduced this principle in the authorization we enacted 

 in the last Congress for the disposal of some public lands during the 

 period of the Public Land Law Review Commission study. This 

 temporary authority for the sale of public lands that have been classi- 

 fied for disposal provides that no sale shall be conducted until zoning 

 regulations have been enacted by the agency having local authority. 

 This, of course, will permit integration of the public lands into a 

 comprehensive plan developed by the people who know the area best. 

 We have established a procedure that can provide harmonious and 

 compatible adjacent uses. It is my own opinion that, aside from 

 the actions of thoughtless individuals, the greatest contributing factor 

 to ugliness is the failure to develop land for its highest and best use. 



In the long range uses of the public lands, I trust that the Public 

 Land Law Review Commission will keep in mind, during its study, 

 the principle of traditional conservationism which will permit a 

 balance to be struck, thereby assuring maximum protection of the 

 countryside. 



Another example of how we have sought to encourage wise plan- 

 ning is the legislation passed by both Houses of Congress, with minor 

 differences to be reconciled between the two Houses, to establish 

 uniform policies for the evaluation of recreation and fish and wild- 

 life benefits at Federal multiple-purpose water resource projects and 

 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide for recreational 

 development of projects under his control. Here again we are 

 applying the traditional conservation standard of effecting the best 

 possible use for as many purposes as possible, thereby reaching the 

 maximum number of people. While we must insist that Federal 

 projects be based on solid principles, we, at least, can provide for 

 the amenities which the financial pressures may cause a private 

 investor to forsake. 



In this discussion I have focused attention on those aspects of our 

 committee jurisdiction relating to the over-all category of the "coun- 



