Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-13
NAL 1O The WALL
NEW sign SLOGAN
No More Hanging Signs Will Be
Permitted; Must BE Parallel
to Buildings
INSPECTOR WILL BE EMPLOYED
When Signs Are Found to Be Danger
Gus to Public Traffic They Must Be
Abandoned, is Rule Of New Ordin-
ance - Mcdonald Only Member to
Register Objection.

Hereafter. in Marshaltown, If Hem
nv George wants to tell the public that
IT am for men," or the Gold Dust
twins should care TO shake wlggie-
stick in an electric sign, they must
hack up against the buildings, and not
spread themselves out all over lile
street. Councilman Herman may be a
good Catholic, consequently not
lodge man, but he believes IN some
kinds Of signs. He never took much
stock in a viaduct and much less III an
overhead sign. and it was for that
reason that he Insisted Monday night
that his sign ordinance be pushed to
final disposition.
II took the council from O'Clock last
night until 1925 this morning to dis
pose of the business or the reg uiai
Iuly meeting. Psenicka and McMa1ns
were absent Mr.. Hermans sign Or
dinance came early in the session. ana
was adopted after general DISCUS
sion. The new ordinance, offered as
substitute for one more drastic pre-
scented at a recent meeting. does away
with all new overhanging signs in the
future. and puts the present ones QUIZ
of commission as soon as they become
dangerous to public traffic.
The ordinance prescribes that no
more overhanging signs or adVerus-
ing mediums OF any kind shall be con-
structed within the corporate limits OIL
the city, and those that are now OF
such a character shall not be renewed
or resupported, and must be abandoned
when they become dangerous to the
public traffic. The mayor is empoW-
cred to appoint competent mecnanlc
to inspect all signs, and when 1ounu
dangerous to take them down ana
charge the costs to the owner. Here
after people erecting signs must nle
plans and specifications Of same, to be
approved by the city council or its au-
thorized agent. 1t is the sense OF the
ordinance that all overhead signs be
abandoned, and that all signs erected
in the future must be placed close to
and parallel to the building. and not
extend over the property line.
Mcdonald Defends Present Signs.
Mr.. Mcdonald was the only member
who raised any serious objections to
the ordinance. and he was in favor OF
certain provisions. He thought the in
spection a good point, and believed
that all low signs protruding out over
the sidewalks, such as caught UNI
brellas or tall pedestrians, should be
ordered removed. He did not, how :
ever, believe the city had any right to
compel a business man to remove an
expensive sign that had been well hung
by competent mechanic. He cited one
instance where a merchant had ex-
pended $3.50 for an electric sign, and
s25 to hang It, He did not believe he
should be compelled to put such an in
vestment in the scrap heap. He also
believed that if merchant moved from
one place to another he should be per-
mitted to take his sign with him.
Mr. Herman defended his ordinance,
and declared many of the present over
hanging signs as dangerous He said
that merchants who had placed expen-
sive signs had taken the precaution OF
having them well hung, and that or
dinarily they would not be dangerous
for many years. Consequently the or
dinance would not work hardship on
them
sMr Gregory believed the ordinance
could be even more drastic and still be
worthy of adoption. He said he failed
to see the beauty of street contain
ing so many signs of all shapes and
sizes, set at all angles, as was now the
case on Main street.
The rules were suspended and the
ordinance passed to its final adoption,
with all the votes favoring it with the
exception of McDonald's.