The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1907-09-13

Effective Measures Taken by California
Towns to Abolish Nuisance-Ger
man Governments Good Work to
Guard Fine Sites From Misuse.
In the midst OF Los Angeles fight
against the billboard nuisance it is.
pleasing to note that not only Califor-
mia and the United States, but nearly
all European countries, are taking up
the obliteration of these blots in a
more decided and effective manner
than heretofore, says the Los Angeles
Times.
A superior court Judge Of Santa
Clara county has decided that East
San Jose d city of the sixth class.
has a right absolutely to prohibit the
erection Of any billboard whatsoever,
which news, coming from our own
state, is very encouraging to those
who have for many years persistently
and consistently fought this desecra-
ton of our landscapes.
1t is a far cry from Germany to Cali
fornia, but we nevertheless hear
welcome voice in the Continental Cor
respondence (Berlin) when it records
the passage of a sweeping law by the
Prussian government for the protec-
ton of natural scenery and fine out
looks. It says in brief that the new
law will be very sweeping in its effect
and will restore to their primitive
beauty many landscapes hitherto van
dalized BY the introduction Of frightful
blots. Such attractive natural features
have in many instances been desc
Grated by billboards, in others by
buildings. They are in the same tur-
moil regarding the country landscapes
as we find in California, as witness the
following extract:
That the beauties Of country scenery
also need legislative protection was sad
ly proved by some Industrial installations
on some beautiful spots Of the famous
banks Of the Rhine river. The naturally
pretty valley of the upper Spree imlnedi-
ately above Berlin has already been spoil
ed by encroachments of industry beyond
any hope of recovery and the lovely
country between Dresden and Nielsen is
losing more and more of it's charms by
inconsiderate construction. These are only
the best known instances among many
ny the time has come for superintendent,
as Ruskin demanded it for England
Commenting upon the passage of the
above law, the Literary Digest says:
The German government has for some
years exercised parental care in pro-
tecting the best sites of it's cities from
misuse or deprivation. Venerable or pic
turesque historical buildings are kept safe
from destruction or thoughtless altera-
ton. The squares and streets are not left
to the whim or bad taste of the property
owners to mar or dsfigure by works Of
architecture or sculpture of offensive ug-
Illness or inharmonious design. The new
bill recently passed by the Prussian par
lament goes further and provides against
anything in the way of building or adver-
Using placards which tends to destroy the
beauty of mountain, meadow or river
scenery. Germany, by such legislation, is
practically leading the world and those
whose sensibilities are Jared by the gau-
dy advertising signs which are becoming
more numerous and more hideously OBJ
trusive along our railway lines every year
will applaud the action taken by the Prus-
sian parliament and pray that it may be
taken as an example by other countries.
including our own.
Eastern periodicals devoted to park
news, landscape gardening, etc, all Of
which are waging war on the offensive
billboard, keep in close touch with the
fight in various parts of California. It
would appear from the following,
clipped from Park and Cemetery Of
Chicago, as though we were we'll to
the fore in this commendable warfare.