Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1924-02-08

less agitation of the problem but nothing definite so far
has resulted Now is the time to get the question before
the public that will not be overlooked in the next
legislative session On this question of abolshng sign
boards the State of Massachusetts advanced position
and the Boston Transcript recently printed the following
edoral-which is worth consideration by Delaware
people and is as follows:
The current controversy the power to regulate
the erection and display of biboards along public high
ways is invested with certain piquant emphasis by the
that Massachusetts being by other and far
distant peoples eXempar in the notably
France despite supposion of Laurence Serne that
hey order this matter better there The peasants and
nnkeepers of Normandy and the Basques, fragments of
forgotten peoples the slopes of the Pyrenees object
have their picturesque scenery beloved artists
tourists disfgured with hideous advertising signs and
they have caused their senators at Paris introduce
providing the desired projections in urging the
enactment of which the example Massachusetts, is often
cited There will be those who will think that thus too
credit is given to this State Certainly will be held
that any rate must take backward step from the
position thus imputed to but rather must make good"
and live up to our reputation.
There must indeed be general agreement save, of
course by those sOrddy interested the very abuse
which is sought to abae, that the public is entitled
protection from oenses to the eye The senses must
respected 1t would be ntoerabe to flavor our drinking
water with something which, while quite nnocuous to
health it unpleasant TASTE Unnecessary noises
which distress the rack the nerves. and odors
which sicken the of SMELL rightly regarded as
lusances No less Objectionable unnecessary struc-
displays which obsruct the vision offend
sight
Nor such things to be condemned only in places of
exceptional beauty grandeur along what regard
ID scenic highways. In such places prohibition de-
acement is obviously imperative But senses and tastes
equal right to protection elsewhere The public
ling along the least picturesque most common
lace roads, and people dwelling in places quite devoid of
Genie distinction, entitled to exemption from all
hings that would unnecessarily affront them annoy
hem community whose seat amid scenery of pictures
lie charm is perhaps its chief asset may well claim
nat priceless possession protection against impairment
tut lacking such natural endowment may as legiti-
atey claim the right to make the best of its meagre
of scenery and not have them needessy despo
Whether such regulation should be State or local
the whole State is interested the scenery every
art of it, Certainly it to be logical the State
have authority the steadily increasing of
ate roads, for their adornment and for their protection
Disagreement Obviously too, it is highly desirable
have uniformity of practice throughout the State so
lat travellers will not find town and the
x town cursed with billboard nominations Nor it to
overlooked that only through State control the
at the margin of town be protected against signs
the adjacent town which may be just directly often
We to them though they in their own On the
her hand it intolerable that town which wants
protect itself against nusances should unable to do
simply because the State will take action in the y
after
Probably the ideal arrangement would be for the State
have effective law for general application and then
the individual towns to have the privilege adopting
ditional ordinances increasing they wish but
otracting from the stringency of the State law.