614 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



by several, the criteria for a wild river, and methods of land acqui- 

 sition, preservation, or development for natural beauty enhance- 

 ment. Out of this could arise the sense of urgency, agreement on 

 goals and objectives, mobilization for action, financing, and staffing 

 needed to implement a national natural beauty program. 



NORMAN S. JOHNSON. Recognizing the problems of coordination 

 at all levels of government, but with particular reference to the Fed- 

 eral departments: pressure should be placed on the Department of 

 Defense to extend itself to be more conscious of total environment. 



Little or no attention is given at many military bases relating to 

 aesthetics. With manpower in hand, plus support from the Eco- 

 nomic Opportunity Act, much could be done. 



Too little attention is given by the Army Corps of Engineers in 

 acquiring land for various projects so as to insure that beautification 

 and recreational developments are obtained. Landlocked basins are 

 designed with no public access or marginal areas of conflicting uses 

 allowed to remain around the perimeter of acquired areas. 



Miles and miles of fenced concrete flood-control channels wander 

 through cities with no specific multipurpose or beautification 

 consideration incorporated. The program could be the complete 

 source for parkways, riding, hiking, and bicycling trails. 



Plans should be reviewed by landscape, recreation, and architec- 

 tural personnel to insure maximum public benefit by multiuse con- 

 cept rather than present single purpose. 



JAMES E. LASH. Far more attention must be paid to the en- 

 trepreneurs of construction, public and private, whose works add 

 nearly $70 billion worth to our environment every year. How 

 they make the intrusions on nature required by increasing population 

 and economy can either destroy, preserve, or enhance natural beauty. 

 What they build is the greatest determinant of environmental beauty 

 in our central cities and suburbs. Make beauty pay for the con- 

 struction entrepreneurs and you energize perhaps the greatest force 

 for environmental beauty in this country. 



Public construction entrepreneurs are the elected officials and 

 legislators who authorize construction and the money for it, along 

 with the appointed officials who let the contracts. If memory serves, 

 they account for about a third of the Nation's annual construction 

 bill. Making beauty pay for them is expressed in terms of elections 

 won and public approval for the expenditures or tax moneys for 

 beauty. 



