New-York tribune., 1901-07-21
FINE SCENERY DEFACED.
HUGE SIGN ON DUNDERBERG NOUN
TAIN-NEED OF NEW Law.

TAIN-NEED OF NEW LAW
'If city people are distressed over flaming
posters and hideous signs. how do they think
we who live in the country and river towns, like
seeing our picturesque scenery ruined by such
thing as that?" said a prominent resident or
Peekskill as, from a favorable outlook. he
pointed to a huge advertising board Dun
derberg Mountain. just across the river, but
about mile and half away. The sign indi-
Gated was at least fifteen feet high by seventy
five feet long. and all it bore was the name of a
NewYork department store in letters large
they could have been plainly read at a much
greater distance. The point selected for its loca
ton was about one hundred feet above the river
and the eye could not rest any portion of the
northern part of the mountain without being
offended by this manifestation OF the commercial
spirit of the age.
Last summer" he added, this huge sign
board was erected by that firm its agents. 1t
went up with incredible speed. and the last nail
had scarcely been driven before the painters
at work upon it. When they had finished
there was the firms name with such a gorgeous
yellow background that you could not any
thing else if you looked out upon the river.
Many PeekskiI people were justly indignant
that one of the pillars of the southern gates of
the Highlands OF the most beautiful spots
along the entire river. should be so desecrated
the best and most influential families in the
village, protests TO the firm about IT. At
least one received a letter in reply that
the firm considered the location the best along
the river but that If those interested in its re-
moval would find another site and pay for
moving the sign the firm would consent TO the
change This only added fuel 10 an indignation
that had been growing and spreading among
the people, and various means of getting rid OF
he llV date
mined to petition the firm 10 remove IT, the pre-
sumption 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
accordingly printed, circulated, signed and sent
TO New York. In due time most of the signers
received circular letter to the effect that while
the firm did not like 10 abandon the location,
they valued the good Will Of Peekskill too highly
to offend with their sign. Shortly after the
name painted out. but the board was not
taken down. 1t remained until this summer.
when. the good will of Peekskill having probably
fallen below par, the firms name again appeared
upon it, this time with a blue background
which, perhaps. renders IT a trihe less offensive
to the eyes than the yellow. Still it ruins a
beautiful spot and offers a stepping stone to
other firms who advertise not wisely bat too
promiscuousy.
1T seems to me that in the removal of such
eyesores the Sons Of the Revolution could do
most commendable work which is peculiarly
f., within their province. They are interested T..
marking historical spots. why should they not
also be interested in preventing historical coun-
try from being marred by the hand of the ad-
vertser? In this work they should also have
the cooperation of the Hudson River passenger
boats and the New York Central and West Shore
railroads, who should certainly be interested iii
preserving the picturesque beauty of the river.
Thousands of persons travel up and down the
Hudson every year just to enjoy its scenery, and
to suddenly come upon a huge advertising board
is distressing.
That firm" and the resident waved 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 still
altogether too large, are placed conspcuously
not only along the Hudson and the railroads
that traverse its shores. but also throughout the
Mohawk Valley. The legislature passed a law
some years ago regarding the DETACHMENT of
, rocks and natural scenery with painted signs
which had most beneficial results. Now another
law should be enacted regulating and restricting
the disfigurement of scenery by signboards, for
unless something is done / expect within the
next few years to see our most beautiful and
cherished places hidden behind gigantic boards
advertising all sorts of things.
Il wish The Tribune, which is doing much
good by agitating against the sign nuisance,
would take up the cudgels In our behalf also. but
carry it further than the endeavor to have post
ers and advertisements taxed for the small
amount realized in that way on such disgrace
as that yonder would be compensation for
what we have to endure in looking at it all the
year.
sign? We certainly are, but l do not know just
what yet. 1t has got to come down. Unless it
does. neither / nCr any member Of my family
shall trade at that firms store. / also know Il
number of other people who will not either"
Investigation proved that good many per-
sons in the village were indignant the re-
newal of the sign on the Dunderberg. while near
ly every one of them expressed regret that there
not some law by which the sign could he re-
moved. The one mentioned above will not ap-
ply. 1t is Section 6i3 of the Penal Code. and pro-
vides that
"A person who places upon afilxes TO, or
/ causes or procures to be placed upon affixed
to- real property not his own or a rock tree,
wall, fence or other structure thereupon, with
out the consent of the owner. any words, char
acters or device notice of reference to
any article business exhibition, profession, mat
ter event. is punishable by Imprisonment for
not more than six months, or by fine or not
more than $3.50 by both"