University Hosts Road Conference

Every day, the Harvard crews row under two bridges that are on a national endangered-species list. Both the Salt and Pepper Bridge--which carries the MBTA's Redline--and the Harvard Bridge--which connects Mass. Ave--rate low on a federal index that measures bridge conditions.

Kennedy School Assistant Professor of Public Policy Herman B. Leonard yesterday cited these two local bridges as an example of the country's decaying infrastructure, the subject of a day-long conference at the K-School.

The conference--sponsored by the K-School's Center for Business and Government--attracted more than 25 business and public sector leaders, along with Leonard and three other faculty members. Officials attending the conference included the mayor of Newark. N. J. Kenneth Gibson, the mayor of Milwaukee, Wise., Henry Maier, and Congressman William F. Clinger (R-Penn.).

Closed

The day's proceedings were closed to the public, but participants outlined the issues discussed in a press reception following the session.

The object of the conference was to promote cooperation between the public and private sectors in maintaining the nation's bridges, highways and sewers--many of which are in dire need of repair, explained Winthrop Knowlton '53. Director of the Center.

Leonard's "Tale of Two Bridges" exemplifies a growing national problem which participants traced to three different factors. Knowlton added First, he said, the shift of responsibility from the federal to the state and local levels has caused a slowdown in the repair process.

In addition, participants felt that the present division of responsibilities for funding repair jobs among different levels of government, combined with the low growth rate of American industry, has exacerbated the problem, Knowlton added.

Topics raised at the conference included the city point of view of the infrastructure problem, the business point of view, and the different ways of financing repair projects.

Tax Base

One major point of discussion, Knowlton said, was how cities could regain the tax base which has eroded with the flight of industry to the suburbs. Such a tax base is considered vital for cities to keep their role in maintaining the country's network of highways and bridges.

One way of regaining the tax base would be for local government to make it easier for industry to expand within the city limits, said Joseph Cross, chairman of New Jersey's infrastructure committee. In Milwaukee, for example, the city bought up blocks of unused property and sold it to industries, he explained.