654 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



8. That the Secretary of Commerce require erosion proofing on 

 all completed segments of Federal-aid highways to prevent siltation 

 and pollution of water. 



9. That the Secretary of Commerce establish an organizational 

 unit responsible directly to the Federal Highway Administrator to 

 assist States and local communities in adopting legal measures for 

 controlling roadside areas. 



10. That civic groups such as garden clubs, roadside councils, 

 conservation groups, and similar organizations which are seeking 

 to achieve the objectives set forth in the President's Message on 

 Natural Beauty, be given an educational status for tax purposes 

 in order that individuals and foundations will be encouraged to make 

 contributions. 



11. That roadside councils be organized in States that do not 

 have such organizations at the present time. 



12. That a national clearinghouse be established to disseminate 

 information and to provide assistance to such councils. 



13. That the Federal Government provide legal assistance to 

 States whenever the constitutionality of State laws is questioned. 



The Farm Landscape 



The Chairman, Dr. GRAHAM. Less than 3 percent of our land is 

 devoted to urban uses. Because of this fact, efforts to preserve and 

 improve natural beauty and to create a more attractive America 

 must rely heavily on what is done in rural areas. Some three-fourths 

 of the land in these areas is in private hands. It therefore follows 

 that for the greater part of America decisions about planning use 

 and management of the resources which constitute the landscape rest 

 in the hands of private individuals and their local organizations. 



The panel gave special emphasis to the need to use existing organi- 

 zations and institutions rather than to devise new ones, to approach 

 preservation and enhancement of natural beauty by positive pro- 

 cedures, to maintain in all efforts maximum flexibility and diversity, 

 and to recognize that our efforts are concerned as much with people 

 as with resources. 



The panel made 10 recommendations. 



1. That use of land capability classification and other resource 

 inventories be made a condition for local and area planning, land 

 use determinations, and zoning. 



