Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-01
By the Associated Press

sage to Congress on conSer-
patton:
We must reaffirm our dedi.
cation to the sound practices
of conservation, which can be
defined as the wise use of oul
natural environment-it is, ir
the final analysis, the highest
form of national thrift the
prevention of waste ano
despoilment while preserving
improving and renewing the
quality and usefulness of al
our resources. And we must not
neglect our human resources
The Youth Conservation Corps
proposed as a part of the ad-
ministration's youth employ.
ment opportunities bill, should
be established to achieve the
dual detectives of conserving
and developing the talents Of
our youth and of conserving
and developing our outdoor re.
sources
To provide an opportunity
for the exchange of further
ideas and to permit those who
have dedicated their efforts tt
the principles of conservation
to participate in evaluating the
progress that has been made
and to seek the best possible
advice in prescribing what must
be done in the future-I pro.
pose to convene a White House
conference on conservation this
year.
The need for an aggressive
program Of recreational de.
velopment is both real and i'm
mediate.
/. More than 20 different
Federal departments ano
agencies have responsibilities
of one sort or another in the
field Of recreation. I shall ap-
point an outdoor recreation
advisory council made up Of
the heads Of departments ano
agencies principally concerned
with recreation-to provide 9
proper forum for considering
national recreation policy ano
to facilitate co-ordinated ef-
forts among the various
agencies.
2. Another organizationaI
recommendation of the ORRRC
(Outdoor Recreation Resources
Review CommiSsion) report tt
be adopted is the creation
within the Department of the
Interior of a Bureau of Out
door Recreation. This bureau
will carry out planning func-
tons already assigned to the
Department of the Interior anC
will administer the porgram Of
Federal assistance for State
agencies I am proposing below
This new bureau will serve as
a focal point within the Fedora
Government for the many &C.
tivities related to outdoor recre.
alton.
Matching Grants
3. The interest and invest.
ment in recreational develop.
ment by the various States
have been irregular and un.
even. I urge the Congress tt
enact legislation which will
shortly be transmitted tt
establish a program of match.
ing grants for the development
of State plans for outdoor
recreational programs. This
program will supplement that
enacted last year which autho-
rized assistance to State anc
local governments in planning
and acquiring open space lands
in urban areas for recreation
conservation and other pur-
poses =.
4. Expansion of our perma-
nent recreational land base car
best be achieved by investment:
in our future in the form Of
modest user payments from
those who now enjoy our SUI
perb outdoor areas and from
recreation and land related re.
ceiptS.
To meet our national needs
for adequate outdoor recrea-
tional lands, I propose crea-
ton of a LAND conservation
fund" to be financed by Q)
proceeds from entrance, admis.
sion, or user fees and charge.
at Federal recreation areas
90 Annual user charges or
recreation boats; CD Diversion
from the highway trust func
of refundable, but unclaimed
taxes paid on gasoline used ir
motor boats; and "a receipt.
from the sale of suplus Fed
eral non-military lands.
To prevent costly delay If
beginning an acquisition pro.
gram, I recommend authorize.
ton be granted to include ad.
vances from the Treasury moi
to exceed $500 million over ar
eight-year period in the pro-
posed "land conservation fund
which will be repaid from the
regular revenue sources of the
fund. Money would be made
available from the fund fol
land acquisition by annual ap'
preparations by the Con-
gresS. -.
S. I urge favorable action OF
legislation to create Poin
Reyes National Seashore II
California, Great Basin Ma
tional Park in Nevada, Ozarl
Rivers National Monument II
Missouri, Sycamore Hill Ma
tional Historic Site in New
York, Canyonlands Nationa
Park in Utah, Sleeping Beal
Dunes National Lakeshore II
Michigan, Prairie Nationa
Park In Kansas, Padre Islant
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