Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-06-13

Sdi, upOii WliOSc yellow sue you ToaO
in large black type-"Buy of the
Leader here you get something for
nothing" Then too in our own town not
only every available board and fence
barn and building has been utilized
but the very rocks of the river have
been pressed into service. Even the
bridge is not free from the desecra-
lions and the kindly view down the
river is spoiled by blatant bill-boards,
which no one wishes to see, but
which are thrust upon all alike.
Looking up toward the dam, the
view is worse, if possible, for the
pier unsightly enough in itself is
covered with hodge podge of lettering
while the backs of the buildings
AUDITING upon the river, are covered
with placards and signs, which ac-
complish nothing, unless it is the
heart-ache they give to every true adj
mirer OF natural beauty and decency.
Now it does not behoove "people in
s
am well aware and willing to accept
my quote Of blame, as having helped
to make and tolerate these conditions.
But having awakened at last, as many
Others have with a moral nausea to
what this spelling of real nature
means, am willing to do my little
toward betterIng conditions here.
| finely believe most business firms
in town. have little or no inclination
for this kind of advertising, and 1
think if we look into the matter as
a general thing, its some wholesaler
who has something he wishes to foist
upon the public who sends out men to
deface the natural beauty of towns
and hamletS. These same producers
have no interest in these places fur
ther than to gather as much profit as
possible from these startling signs,
which never will offend their sight
but which they willingly infiict upon
Others. viii you find one of these
signs upon their barn or fence or
street or yacht? not if you searched
with microscope, could one be dis
covered. But so long as there is no
protest against it, l suppose in
way they are justified in spreading
these 'destroyers of beauty" abroad
through the land. At last the coun-
try is becoming aroused and incenSed
upon this matter. What was only
mild amusement at some mems
auiacity, has now grown into deep
resentment of corrupting evil which
has spread the length and breadth Of
our fair land and it seems to me
significant thing that it has been
proven, that where The intellige nee is
lowest, the sign board is most promi-
,nent. Shall we let our community be
labeled, as lacking in intelligence and
refinement and appreciation Of the
good things the Creator has so law
ishly provided for US? If instead Of
allowing new signs to be foisted upon
US, we would let il be we'll known
that the tOwn-folks intended to
strictly boycott, any wholesaler or
business man, who thus displayed his
goods; these signs would disappear as
if by magic. l feel confident too,
that to our own merchants and
dealers, word Of protest is all that
would be necessary. 1t is their town
to make or to mar, the better the
town, the better the trade of the
merchant and dealer.
Now signs and bill boards have their
own places and like all other things
should be kept in them. take it a
sign is for the convenience Of those
wishing to purchase, not for the pur-
pose of wneedling one into buying
things he does not need, nor did not
wish to buy. If one has something
new which would be Of service to
mankind and fair profit to him who
handles it the newspaper is large
field in which to exploit it's good
qualities. His own shop window may
be made attractive in it's display, and
l am very sure these are the best and
sanest ways to put it before the public.
A word about The sign above the
door. What opinion would you form
of a person whose visiting card was
typed in red or blue with gilt ginger
bread trimmings? Well the sign over
many place of business is in equally
bad taste. Many of US find the cleo
trio signs which flash light then
darken, to light and darken constantly,
little trying, they may be appro-
pirate for some things but fancy it
| would be somewhat limited list. l
think We are most of US so accus-
toned to these m alters that we have
given them but little thought yet you
know it is minute details that event
ually lead to perfection" So let US
begin today to see what can be done
to rid us of the bill board nuisance.
| Let US each see to it that our own
yard and the streets beside US are
clean and as far as possible free from
signs. We have no desire to inter
fere with anyone's business, nor IN
anyway work to its deteriment, but 1
really believe if all the merchants and
business men in the town, resolved TO
do without these signs. not one
Hi When ro,, aal for the