The evening world., 1912-08-29
Commissioner Fosdick Reports
Against Eyesores in Every
Part of the City.
COMPLAINTS ARE MANY.
Not Only Are Devices In
slightly, but They Add TO
Danger of Fire and Crime.

Commissioner OF Accounts Fosdlck has
Instituted crusade against obnoxious
hiliboaris and sky signs" which offend
the public view everywhere In tho
Greater City. In n report TO the Mayor
to-day Mr.. Fosdick quotes numerous
court decisions. indicating that while
formerly the courts proclaimed against
Interference on the ground that the
aesthetic taste" alone was being Of
Tended, recent decisions show a grow
ing tendency on the part Of the courts
TO recognize the fact that an offense
TO the eye Is just as much a nuisance
as an ofYensc TO the ear or nose, and
that the power OF the State to place
restrictions on the use OF private prop
erty for the purpose of promoting the
beauty and attractiveness OF the street.
park and building In as vahd an exer-
else OF authority as restrictions against
offensive sounds and odors."
The Commissioner points out that an
ordinance adopted by the City OF Roch-
ester prohibiting the erection of bill
boards exceeding six feet In height was
declared constitutional The constitu-
tionality OF the present ordinance as
applying 10 New York has never had the
acid test OF the courts. e,
Commissioner Fosdick's report Is ac-
oompanied by scores OF photographs OF
unsightly billboards and signs thrust
everywhere throughout the city obnox-
iously before the public gaze. These
nh nh .hA IL
dillon Of affairs. blurring. obscuring. dis
figuring many OF the most beautiful
streets. avenues, public places and build
ings In the greater city. They are
worse even than eyesores. the COM
missioner finds. for huge billboard
fences are not only In themselves fire
dangers. but behind tho boards-many
OF them covering entire blocks-are
refugees for the commission OF crime as
well as the creation OF unsanitary con-
ditions Hidden from tho public gaze
behind these fence shields are accumu-
lations OF debris which threaten the
health Of the city.
In his communication 10 the Mayor.
Commissioner Fosdick. stating that
many complaints by residents OF the
city In relation to nuisances in connec-
ton with biliboards and signs used for
advertising purposes" adds:
Some Of these were found upon in
veetigation TO be OF a particularly ag-
gravatins nature. For example. on a
block on Riverside Drive a large bill
board, erected In violation OF law. shut
out from the lower floors OF the resi-
dences on the two adjoining streets the
entire view Of the Drive. both north and
south. leaving an ugly exterior back OF
the sign facing the houses. At the base
Of the signs rubbish and litter in an
unssnitary state had congregated. In
another instance q large sign with a
metal front and metallic skeleton frame
was found on the top Of building so
placed ~ to prevent escape In case OF
nss by the ladder leading from: the fire
escape.
Under the circumstances Il was de-
eided TO make an extended study OF the
conditions relating to billboard adver.
Using in the city"
The Commissioner goes on to saw
The extent TO which the billion nd
bustness has grown 10 evident to any
one who has occasion to pass through
our streets. On every side, IN ever,
part OF the city. whether In restricted
residential locations. park surroundings
or business sections. an unceasing ex,
hibition OF signs OF every conceivabi,
construction. color and form confront.
the eye.
The reports of the Bureaus OF Build
ings In the various boroughs show tina
there are approximately three thousan,
locations occupied for billboard advertis
Ing In the city. This figure ,0,es no
include sky signs. The capital stock o
eight OF the leading concerns engage,
In the billboard business In the cit.
amounts to nearly two million Collars
There are approximately 500 bill
boards In the city. 25 per cent. o
which. from actual inspection In IN
different boroughs. We have found (
be OF the double-decker character; tina
10. two signs, ten feet each In height
one placed above the other, maxim
about t.eoo facings for Advertisements.