The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-09-26
Highway Advertising.

The conviction which, according to our
news articles, has come to Edward S.
Cornell, secretary of the National High
way Protective society, TO William D..
Sohier, chairman of the Massachusetts
highway commission, and TO others having
like interests in and like regard Tor the
preservation of the scenic beauty OF the
nation, the state and the community
that, when all is said, success of the agi.
tation against billboard advertising along
the routes of vehicular travel is depend.
ent upon local authorities is founded
upon experience. Where there Is local
pride such laws as exist at present for
protection against advertisement deface-
ment are sufficient; where there is no
civic spirit, or where there is laxity in
communal administration, the most dras.
tic laws have failed to prevent disiig
urement of rosdwsys and streets.
Therefore, what seems to be most
necessary at this juncture is not the
adoption of more laws or ordinances
against billboard and other Objectionable
advertising methods, but a movement
that will arouse the public TO a proper
sense of its own duty and responsibility
in the premises. Through the awakening
of local sentiment against outrages upon
good taste, and even upon good morals,
in the form of advertising signs along
what otherwise would be beautiful rural
highways or urban avenues, local public
bodies can be brought to perform their
duty. Counties, villages, towns and cit
les governed with regard, first OF all to
n,,h1tn tpalgarn Fact IIast South
perience no difficulty either in curbing |
or abolishing the highway advertising
nuisance. The old fashioned police laws
are found to be sufficient for all purposes |
where the disposition to rid the commun
ity of advertising signs really exists.
Where it does not exist even special |
statutes and ordinances are unavaiing.
1t is tentatively proposed that if adj
vertising signs are to be tolerated along
the highways, they should be taxed for
the upkeep of the roads. II the uutaxed
is a nuisance, and nobody ques
tions it, then the nuisance would con
tnue, in fact be legalized, under taxa
ton. 1t seems plain that it is not reye
nue., but rather relief, that is wanted in
this connection, and the taxation propos
Il
pie it would be, were the disposition
present, to tax advertising signs COM
pletey off the roads But taxing the
for revenue would be on par
With licensing the saloon. This form of
taxation is not wanted Revenue from
t is not wanted, What is wanted is
hat the sight of the public shall be
from the billboard offense. No
halfway measures will work satisfactorily
the moment compromise enters into the
consideration of moral and esthetic
question, occasion arises for another be. .
ginning at the bottom. A billboard that
,ays tax is no better than a billboard
hat escapes taxation. 1t is, in fact,
worse, because of its pretensons to le :
,ality and respectability. And this very !
,oint of responsibility is raised, oftener /;
han not. with the result of impeding !,
he march of public decency. The bill
,oard that advertises legitimate trade :,
5 standing excuse for the existence ;,
f the billboard that advertises some \
armful article or project. !,
A great need everywhere is that pub. !,
ic sentiment shall be aroused to the :,
itch of rebuking concerns that persist !;
ntly defy it by using obnoxious forms >
+ advertising In short, the way to n
ut an end to billboard advertising is !
o make it disreputabe Only public =
pinion can do that.-Christian Science
ionitor. 4