EDUCATION 557 



heritage shared by all. They express their awareness of beauty and 

 history in poems, paintings, prints, essays and letters. As one mother 

 remarked, "the children are having a love affair with the city". 



In contrast to the success of the children's program, the effort to 

 educate local financial institutions and property investors to eco- 

 nomic and aesthetic values in the historic district is a dismal failure. 

 The incongruous land developments supported by these interests 

 are disastrous to beauty in the one-third of a square mile comprising 

 the historic district, an area approximately one-tenth of the total 

 city area. Seminars (The Annapolis Round Table Conference, 

 1960, The Growth of Historic Town, 1962), publications, radio 

 discussions, support from out of town news media have only solidified 

 opposition. It is we, the preservationists, who have been educated to 

 the connections between entrenched political customs, property own- 

 ership and transfers, local financial institutions, rising real estate 

 prices and damaging propaganda. Annapolis is a prototype of 

 countless other cities where such customs are a normal part of the 

 American scene, as traditional as turkey on Thanksgiving. The 

 danger to the President's program stems from our new association 

 with the economics of nearby metropolitan centers. 



In consequence, we who presently carry the burden of preserving 

 America's heritage desperately need help. We ask for the essential 

 tools to educate the controlling political and financial powers. These 

 tools are beyond the scope of volunteer civic and preservation groups. 



They include accurate financial studies and forecasts, market 

 analyses and advice on political action made by independent research 

 groups not subject to local pressures. These studies must precede 

 city planning in order to gain acceptance for the innovations and 

 creative solutions required to retain beauty and order in old cities. 



Additionally, a system of tax benefits for harmonious develop- 

 ments in old towns is a fundamental need. We ask also for a review 

 of the impact of Federally funded programs on urban land use. If 

 under present regulations builders find that there are investment 

 advantages in ugly structures, no pleas for beauty will deter them. 



