WITHIN THE LAST 30 YEARS WE HAVE CHANGED FROM AN AMERICA WHICH WAS TWO-THIRDS RURAL AND ONE-THIRD URBAN TO JUST THE REVERSE. RURAL YOUNG PEOPLE CONSTITUTE A LARGE PORTION OF THIS MIGRATION PATTERN WHICH HAS ADDED TO THE INCREASED CONGESTION OF OUR LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS. ANOTHER RELATED PROBLEM IS THAT SUDDENLY DURING THE 1960'S WE HAVE AWAKENED TO FIND THAT MAN'S ENVIRONMENT-- THE OUTDOORS, THE WATER, THE AIR, THE BEACHES, THE PARKS--HAS NOT BEEN PRESERVED AS IT SHOULD HAVE. THESE TWO PROBLEMS CALL FOR OUR CONCENTRATED EFFORTS WITH THE SOLUTION POSSIBLY BEING THE REVERSAL OF THIS MASS MIGRATION. IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS REVERSAL, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE GOOD RURAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND THE VARIOUS SERVICES TO THE RURAL YOUNG THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEIR CITY COUNTERPARTS. THIS SPEECH WAS DELIVERED AT THE NATIONAL OUTLOOK CONFERENCE ON RURAL YOUTH, OCTOBER 23-26, 1967, WASHINGTON, D.C., SPONSORED JOINTLY BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE, HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE, INTERIOR, AND LABOR, OEO, AND THE PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON YOUTH OPPORTUNITY. (ES)