5
Preservation, Progress and Bicentennial An Editorial THE ENTIRE FUTURE of Nantucket is based on two key fac tors — Preservation and Protection. To avoid the fate of so many places which have been sustained by their historical back grounds, but have fallen prey to that fallacious term "Progress," this island and town has no second choice. The unique attraction which has built up the economy of Nantucket is being so dam aged by the trends of modernity that it can not sustain further deterioration. Not only has the developer destroyed some of the stretches of the heathland that had served as a major asset, but the apathy of the islanders themselves continues to contribute to the decline of efforts to check the destruction of our natural assets. True progress means striving toward the attainment of certain goals. One of the real goals for Nantucket is to retain its position, as not only a summer resort which annually at tracts visitors from many States and countries, but as the resort that has preserved and protected its characteristic features — commodities that are as much a "stock in trade" as saleable qualities as the produce of a chain store. As islanders — both as visitors and residents — our task is first to preserve these assets and then to protect them. An elected town official has a duty to the community in the exercise of his particular role. The present is merely an oppor tunity to build for the future. Many decisions in recent years were made as expedients, with little thought of the years ahead. At a town meeting a few years back it was voted to make the entire island an Historic District. What has been done to make this declaration of the will of the people into a vital factor for the future? Preservation does not mean wrapping Nantucket up as an embalmed mummy. It means maintaining an arterial flow of blood to sustain the life of this island community. Protection does not mean the creation of a police state, but it does mean the exercise of legal functions that will keep at bay the developer and the "get-rich-quick" operator. Nantucket as an historical landmark within the framework of the United States must be protected from modernity. Once destroyed, it will never be quite the same — despite millions spent for restoration. As a contribution toward the nation's Bi-Centennial celebration islanders and summer islanders should devote their time, energy, thoughts and money toward preserving and protecting this town and island, which is a priceless legacy to America, left as a heritage by a race of people who, in their own time, created this "Kingdom of the Sea."
