The Washington times., 1901-07-22
FINE SCENERY DEFACED.
PeekskiIl. \. ". Residents Complain
of Huge Sign.

|
of Huge Sign.
| NEW YORK, July H.-"If city people
| are distressed over flaming posters anC
| hideous signs. how do they think We who
| live in the country and river towns, lik,
seeing our picturesque scenery. ruined by
such a thing as that?" said a prominent
resident of PeekslIill. as, from a favor
| able outlook, he pointed to a huge ad-
vcrtising board on Dunderberg Mountain
J just across the river. but about mile
ana a half away. The sign indicated was
| at least fifteen feet high by seventy-five
| fe-t long. and all it bore was the name
| Of New York department store in let
ters so large they could have been plainly
read at II much greater distance. The
point selected for its location was about
| one hundred feet above the river. and
the eye could not rest on any portion of
! the northern part of the mountain with
: ont being offended by this manifestation
of the CONNIE rcial spirit of the age.
Last summer he aCded. this huge
sign board was erected by that firm or
! its agents. II went up with incredible
speed, and the last nail had scarcely been
driven before the painters were at work
upon it. When they had finished there
was the firms name with such gorgeous
yellow background that you could not see
anything else if you looked out upon the
river. Many Peekskill people were justly
indignant that one of the pillars of the
southern gates of the Highlands, one of
the most beautiful spots along the entire
river, should be so desecrated and n num-
Der of wumen and men, representing the
best anG most influential families in the
village, wrote protests to the firm about
ii. At last one man received letter in
reply. that the firm considered the loca-
tion the best along the river, but that if
those intere sted in its removal would find
another site and pay for moving the sign
the firm would consent to the change.
This only added fuel to an Indignation
that had been growing and spreading
among the people, and various means of
getting rid of the sign were discussed.
Finally. it was determined to petition the
firm to remove il, the presumption being
that the firm would rather have the good
than the i'll will of the people here who
did much shopping in the city. Petitions
were accordingly printed, circulated, sign
ed, and sent to New York In due time
most of the signers received a circular
letter to the effect that while the firm
did not Ike to abandon the location. they
valued the good will OF Peekskill too
highly to offend with their sign. Shortly
after the name was painted out, but the
board was not taken down. 1t remained
until this summer. when, the good will
of Peekskill having probably fallen be-
low par, the firms name again appeared
upon it, this time with blue background
which, perhaps, renders ii a trifie less
offensive to the eyes that the yellow.
Still il ruins a beautiful spot and offers
a stepping stone TO other firms who ad-
vertisa not wisely but too promiscuously.
1t seems TO me that in the removal of
such eyesores the Sons of the Revolution
could do most commendable work which
is peculiarly within their province. They
are interested in marking historical spots,
why should they not also be interested in
preventing historical country from being
marred by the hand of the advertiser?
In this work they should also have the
cooperation of the Hudson River pas
senger boats and the New York Central
and West Shore Railroads, who should
certainly be interested in preserving the
picturesque beauty of the river. Thou
sands of persons travel up and down the
Hudson every year just to enjoy its
scenery. and TO suddenly come upon
huge advertising board is distressing.
That hrm,' said the resident waving
his hand toward the offending sign, lis not
the only offender even now. There are
scores more, and their signs, not so large
as that yonder, but stiil altogether too
large, are placed conspicuously not only
traverse its shores, but also throughout
the Mohawk Valley. The Legislature
passed law some years ago re
garding the DETACHMENT Of rocks and
natural scenery with painted signs
which had most beneficial results.
Now another law should be enact
ed regulating ard restricting the dis
hgm ement of scenery by signboards, for,
the next few years to see our most beau
tiful and cherished places hidden behind
gigantic boards advertising all sorts of
things.
Il wish the public would take up the
cudgels in our behalf also, but carry il
further than the enceayor to have posters
and advertisements taxed. for the small
amount realized in that way on such
disgrace as that yonder would be no COM
pensation for what We have to endure in
looking at it all the year"
Are we going to do anything about
the new sign? We certainly are but l
do not know just what yet. 1t has got
to come down. Unless it does, neither
nor any member of my family shall trade
at that firms store. / also know a num-
ber Of other people who will not either"
Investigation proved that a good many
persons in the village were indignant over
the renewal of the sign on the Dunier-
berg. while nearly every one of them eX-
pressed regret that there was not some
law by which the sign could be removed.
The one mentioned above will not apply.
1t is section 6i3 of the Penal Code, and
provides:
"A person who places upon or afIiXes TO,
or causes or procures to be placed upon
or affixed to, real property not his own.
or rock, tree, wall. fence, or other
structure thereupon, without the consent
of the owner, any words. characters or
device, as a notice Of or reference to any
article, business, exhibition profession,
matter or event is punishable by i'm
prisonment for not more than six months.
or by fine Of not more than $3.50, or by
both"