The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1906-12-13
Bill Posting.

The substitute for the section VI
the city ordinance relating to the
peace, good order and we'll being of
the city, which provides regulation
for the posting OF bills. notices and
advertisements upon private or pub
lie property. nov pending in the city
council may be intended along the
right line but no good reason why
it should be enacted mo law as
it reads now to take he place of the
old section which is also made
quate to cover the abnse Of the privi-
lege many advertisers in their zeal
have INDUCED in.
There are two main features con-
tanned in the ordinance which the
council has just passed on its first
reading. One is that permission
must be procured from the mayor
as well as the owner of the bill
boards or. other property letting any
posting bills or advertisements. The
old ordinance required permission
only from the owner OF private prop
erty. The other main feature is that
which prohibits the owner of bill
boards or other property to let any
advertising remain posted thereon
for more than twenty-four hours af-
ter the show or other thing adver-
tised has taken place. There
ought to be a provision included
which requires the mayor to cause
all those who have been given per-
mission to post bills or advertise
ments on public property also to re-
move such advertisements within
a certain time limit after the thing
advertised has taken place.
There might be some difficulty
experienced in ascertaining the
.ength of time after which a certain
thing advertised has taken place, for
instance in the case Of an advertise
ment of cascarets. but the mayor
could use his own discriminating
sense Of judgment on rhese matters
without lot of further regulations
being included in the new ordnance.
Nothing detracts from the appear
ance and beauty OF our streets and
rublic places as unsishtly and un-
pleasing bills and advertisements
do. And an old, weather worn, dirty
bill or advertisement OF a show or
other thing that has long since TAX
en- place, is not only unpleasing to
the sight but actually offensive; it
also betokens somewhat of retro
erosion instead of hustle and pro-
erosion. That the old ordinance
has been taken advantage of and
property public and private made
ugly and unsightly was Demonstrated
in the recent campaign when cam
saign chromos and bills of various
kinds we're stuck up in very prom
jrent place along the horoughfares
Of the city many of witch are hang
ing to this day, SOM anartistically
.e,nbellished with quids of tobacco,
gobs of mud and other INNINGS.
Comment on this ordinance also
suggests regulation OF some kind for
signs that people hang up in public
places denoting information of To-
c.tion of people and 5ssiness con-
Germs. Some are yer unattractive,
,,any are mispelled and others are
actually hideous. The iufuence these
r.isspelled, hideous things have on
the Young is Injurious and the effect
an the ordinary artistic sense is any
thing but uplifting. Signs hung up
for the benefit Of the public ought to
be made to conform to some respect
ale standard
The ordinance is perhaps too
harsh and certainly 100 crudely
drawn In reference to private bin
boards and delegating distatorial
power to the mayor in the matter of
consent to post bills. 1t is very
doubtful whether such an ordnance.
as nov drafted, would stand the test
in court Though it is intended
along the right line. yet the ordi-