Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-05-04
Think It Over.

Seattle is campaigning against the bill
board nuisance. In this land of match
less natural scenery, it it a great pity
that bilboards should be allowed TO Oh
struct the view. -Oiympian.
Like with most other things, it is
conditions which make bill boards OBJ
jectionable or otherwise, and it is want
of consideration that impels anybody
to use the word nuisance" when ap.
piled to we'll conducted system OF out
door advertising of this form, as any
other.
That it had not been liable to abuse
would be indeed surprising, with all
sorts of individuality displayed in its
management. No person of average
common sense or business sagacity
would insist upon thrusting objection.
able advertising in view, nor placing it
in positions that might offend the most
patrician eyes, and tina. well.kept
bulletin of passing events, has its place
in the business world, and that is an
indication OF thrift and enterprise in
trend of trade, is quite as true.
While the privilege of such display
has been abused, in theatrical adver.
Using by decollete gowns and sig
nificant wording, that offense against
good taste and gentle breeding will
cease on all boards controlled by the
National Association of Billposters,
who, at their last annual meeting,
adopted resolution condemning, and
absolutely prohibiting, the posting of
such paper. The lofty structures, CT
otherwise Objectionable sites sometimes
occupied in cities, are bound to stir up
feeling OF resentment at times, and
it is against these the P.-L, as we un.
derstand it, is waging warfare, and it
finds no defense from us; but that the
system should bs condemned by the
unwise acts of individuals seems un.
reasonable and unjust.
It might be we'll to compare the re.
ally artistic work displayed on the bill
boards with the grotesque signs some-
times hung over your head, in perma.
nent form, by some amateur artist Of
the paintbrush, or to the unsightly tel
egraph poles which line the streets in
even this favored city and in "this
land of matches scenery" destroy
ing about all that is beautiful. notably
on Sixth street, by their unconth ap-
pearance and the looping off Of the lux.
urious branches OF beautiful shade
trees that were the chief adornment Of
Capitol Square. The vandal act was
done by the Western Union Telegraph
Company.
The beauty of the billboard adver-
Using is that it changes monthly, keep.
ing always something new presented
and which is generally the work of
true artists. So general has been this
merit that the expression has arisen,
"The billboards are the poor mans
picture gallery" Compare it with the
placing OF homogeneous collection of
wares hung on tho door jam or de.
posted on the sidewalk, obstructing
more or less the passage.way designed
for the pedestrian, q form OF advertis-
ing generally accorded without becom.
ing a matter of faddish fault.6nding.
Compare it with the Owl, with which
some complainant householders allow
foreign paint-brush artists to decorate
their housetops, or possibly place let.
ters ten feet high all over the side OF
their buildings with the name OF some
cheap brand OF tobacco or Scent cigar,
to become an eye-sore to the commu.
nifty by its staying powers. It is safe
to say that such privileges would be
Indignantly refused to our local sign
painters, for even foreign artists bring
the I" Sea flavor" with their paint.
Then again billposting is an in.
FAINT" industry that even in tho small
er towns brings in several hundred
dollars each year, nearly all from
abroad, to add to the current circulat.
ing medium. Posting for the local
trade is small in proportion to the
whole, and is done at about one half
the rates charged for Eastern adver.
Using.
ANOTHER shipment OF clothing and
provisions will be made by the Buck
man, which sails from Tacoma to-