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<br />1970 AND THE U, S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
<br />Bv BRIGADIER GENERAL W. M. GLASGOW, JR.
<br />Division Engineer, South Pacific
<br />U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. San Francisco, California
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<br />when Tom Rice called me, some months ago, inviting me to speak to this association, I conld
<br />give him only a tentative affirmative answer. Truly, I didn't know, then, whether or not I wonld be
<br />in the Army on the 20th of November,
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<br />Knowing I had a tentative commitment, and more than that, hoping I would be able to keep it,
<br />I did begin formulating thoughts about what I could say. I realized for one thing that I would be
<br />speaking as an Army Officer about to retire, For another thing, I would be speaking as a representative
<br />of, and I would speak about, an organization whose people and the work they do has been my life
<br />interest for 29 years, since my entrance into West Point. Finally, I would be speaking to a group of
<br />people whom, although I have known you for less than two years, I have come to greatly admire and
<br />to hold in high esteem for your capabilities, integrity and the downright pleasure of working with you.
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<br />What would I - what should I say? Well, Lve had a lot of time to think. I've also talked to a lot
<br />of people, listened to a lot of people, and read a lot of words written by a lot of people.
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<br />Throughout this period of conversation, reading and listening, there seemed to be a central
<br />theme-What is going to happen in 1970? Refining that theme, the question seems to revolve around
<br />people and money, both heavily weighted by politics and emotionalism.
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<br />Let me explain it, the way I see it related to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers,
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<br />We in the Corps for 194 years have been concerned for and worked closely with the citizens of
<br />these United States. And we have seen many changes. For example, the affluence of our Nation by
<br />individuals, in small communities and as a whole, has grown tremendously. At the same time, our
<br />population has experienced explosive proportions. We always have been a Nation desirous of and
<br />dedicated to peace. Yet it seems we are continually embroiled in conflict. We have lived and worked
<br />with the people as they moved from a life oriented to agriculture to one oriented to industrial
<br />development, and now we see "leisure world" on the horizon. With the advent of better-now almost
<br />instantaneous-communication, we have seen political changes that once would have been unheard of.
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<br />With these changes has come change in public desire and beyond that a change in the values
<br />placed on their desires.
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<br />....
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<br />Where once the primary concern was production to satisfy limited requirements, now the public
<br />economy is geared to abundance and a continual drive to consume more. Greater emphasis is placed'
<br />on education-not the simple high school education, but an expectation that a bachelor degree is
<br />minimum and higher degrees necessary to achieve the personal goals of wealth and abundance.
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<br />With the advent of improved transportation, suburban living has lengthened the work day and
<br />for relaxation, a second home in the mountains or at a lake has become common.
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<br />Suddenly, people became aware that the highways to their second homes, to their lakes and to
<br />their other areas of recreation, were being cluttered by debris. They found the waters near their
<br />homes and on their favorite lakes were being fouled from a lack of adequate sewage disposal. They
<br />also found in their cities and the adjoining snburbs that the air was thick and smelly from the
<br />emmission by industrial plants, from buses, airplanes, cars and the general practice of burning trash
<br />and refuse.
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<br />-7-
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