2 LH. Ey A®U DUUsB ON By Uris tees 
such a venture, it naturally failed. By now it should be obvious to any con- 
servationist that no great battle for civic improvement can be won with a 
single army. We need an Illinois Roadside Council comparable to the one 
which now exists in Pennsylvania: one of the most powerful groups of its 
type, it now lists over 58 cooperating organizations! 
Keep America Beautiful, Inc. (99 Park Avenue, New York 16) is a 
national organization for the prevention of litter. It is primarily concerned 
with the garbage and beer cans which now mar our roadsides. A fine kit 
of materials is available upon request. A conservation committee or educa- 
tion committee of an Audubon chapter could make excellent use of this kit. 
President Lyndon Johnson has called for a vigorous program to help 
beautify the American roadside. Driving for pleasure is described as 
America’s number one recreation. We have 8.5 million miles of thorough- 
fares. Mr. Johnson has called for more landscaping on highways, and % bil- 
lion dollars will be used for this purpose. Federal Highway Administrator 
Rex M. Whitten has declared that “our highway eyes need a feast, not a 
famine.’”’ More funds will be used to help states acquire scenic outlooks 
and preserve historical monuments. Billboard jungles may come to an end, 
if Congress places a tax on them, or ups the federal bonus to states from 
half of 1% to a full percent. The Federal Bureau of Roads has called 
upon state authorities to enforce laws against litter and dumping of trash 
on highways. All too often, in America one cannot see the trees for the 
wasteland of our highways. 
In a recent letter, Francis Lorenz, Director of Public Works for Illinois, 
wrote: “Subject to the approval of the Secretary of Commerce, Section 319 
of the Federal Highway Act permits states to use federal funds for the 
purchase of such easements of limited width adjacent to federal routes for 
the preservation of natural beauty of areas through which highways are 
constructed. The federal government will bear up to 100% of the cost; 
there is a limitation in amount, since it cannot exceed 3% of the federal 
funds apportioned to the state in a single fiscal year. After the 3% of 
federal funds has been used, it will be up to the state to match federal funds.” 
But Illinois needs added legislation. 
Wisconsin, under Governor (now Senator) Gaylord Nelson, inaugurated 
a program to obtain 3,000 miles of scenic rights at a cost of $2 million. 
With a 1 cent tax on cigarettes, Wisconsin is also adding 25 new lakes 
and nine new state parks, and expanding its state forests and wildlife areas. 
When Illinois citizens awaken from their slumber, the Illinois legislature 
will also act, but not before. 
Notes from the Nest 
A few copies of the Conference Report of the Natural Resources Council of 
Illinois, based on the meeting at Allerton Park last fall, are still available. 
They may be had by writing to Mrs. Lee Jens, 22 W. 210 Stanton Road, 
Glen Ellyn, Ill. 60137 .. . More than 200 counties in 43 states will receive 
a total of $337,279 as their share in net receipts on national wildlife refuges 
within their boundaries. The funds come from sale of timber and grazing 
fees. . . . Readers of National Wildlife Magazine have voted over-whelmingly 
that preservation of natural beauty is the prime conservation problem of 
1965 ... The world population of the rare Whopping Crane now stands 
at 42, the highest number in the last 25 years. Eleven of 12 possible nest- 
ings were successful ... If you have not yet read ‘Rascal’ by Sterling 
